Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Likely Democrat HQ for Convention, to Open in Denver This Week

Visitors to Denver can stay at the new Ritz-Carlton hotel opening this week on January 11. According to the Rocky Mountain News, however, the entire hotel has been reserved by the DNC for the Democratic National Convention, so reserve after that if you want a bed slept in by the party elite, as it will likely be a party headquarters for the convention.

News reports have given an opening date that has been gradually moving forward since last summer. With the opening finally confirmed for this week, Denver's new premier hotel will have eight months to prepare for the convention. Elway's restaurant, a satellite of the popular Cherry Creek establishment, has moved their opening forward as well, citing the need for everything including training to be perfect, says the Denver Post.

The new hotel, with 202 rooms, is located at 1881 Curtis Street near the 16^th Street mall in downtown Denver. A recent press release gave rates from $249 weekends and $349 weekdays for a deluxe room at the five-star hotel, significantly above the going rate in the city, but comparable for rates encountered by business travelers crossing the country. Of the 202 rooms, 47 will be suites, 32 Club-Level rooms, and one a Ritz-Carlton Suite. An adjoining development of residences is being developed as well.

Amenities in the hotel include the biggest hotel rooms in the city at over 550 square feet each, says the Ritz press release, and they will be lavishly furnished for comfort, including LCD High Definition Televisions and five-fixture bathrooms. The hotel includes meeting space, a business center, grand and junior ballrooms, a lobby lounge and Elway's, named for NFL hall of famer and former Broncos quarterback John Elway, as the signature restaurant.

Mysterious notes in the Rocky Mountain News' article suggest that the Ritz may be the place to be to see the Democratic Party's elite in August, as the city's only five-star hotel. With tens of thousands of visitors arriving for the convention, it will be a busy week for Denver's hoteliers who, along with the new Ritz-Carlton, will be ready to serve.

The Ritz-Carlton is located near the heart of Denver downtown, with quick access to rail and bus transportation and a short trip to the Pepsi Center, where the Democratic National Convention is schedule to be held in late August, 2008. Visitors to the Ritz can conveniently dine in Lower Downtown (LoDo) restaurants as well as visit attractions such as the Denver Art Museum. The convention center is a short distance away as well as the financial district and Coors Field. Ribbon cutting on January 11^th is scheduled for 11:30 AM.

"Ritz puts on finishing touches", John Rebchook, http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jan/04/ritz-puts-on-finishing-touches/

"THE RITZ-CARLTON, DENVER NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS", http://corporate.ritzcarlton.com/en/Press/Properties/Denver/Releases/RESERVATIONS+NOW+OPEN.htm

"THE RITZ-CARLTON, DENVER NAMED ONE OF DENVER'S TOP THREE "BEST PLACES TO WORK"", http://corporate.ritzcarlton.com/en/Press/Properties/Denver/Releases/BEST+PLACES+TO+WORK2007.htm

"Elway's goes into OT for perfection", Bill Husted, http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_7644628