Trade Show News

Denver hosted eight of the largest trade shows by net square footage in 2025, including the National Safety Council Congress & Expo. The Colorado Convention Center's expansion, which added the 80,000-square-foot Bluebird Ballroom, had its first full year of operation in 2025. Visit Denver reported $10.5 billion in tourism revenue for the city in 2025.

Visit Denver reported a total group economic impact of $1.022 billion for 2025, a significant increase from $845 million in 2024, highlighting strong convention demand. Downtown Denver also saw April 2026 foot traffic at 95% of 2019 levels, with large meetings contributing to this activity.

Local officials are proposing a $600 million, 27-story, 1,000-room Omni convention center hotel at the former Sugar Mill site in Denver. However, the project's timeline remains uncertain as it navigates legislative and tax-incentive hurdles.

Visit Denver, a nonprofit trade association, continues its efforts to market Denver as a premier destination for conventions and leisure travel, significantly contributing to the city's economic growth. In 2025, Denver welcomed more than 37.6 million visitors, generating $10.5 billion in spending. This robust tourism activity supported tens of thousands of jobs, solidifying tourism as one of Denver's largest industries.

Denver was recognized for hosting eight of the largest trade shows by net square footage in 2025, including the National Safety Council Congress & Expo and IACP 2025, at the Colorado Convention Center. The convention center's recent expansion, featuring an 80,000-square-foot Bluebird Ballroom, completed its first full year of operation in 2025. Visit Denver reported that the city attracted 37.6 million visitors in 2025, generating $10.5 billion in tourism revenue.

Cayti Stein will join Visit Denver in late November as the new Vice President & Chief Partnership and Business Development Officer. She will guide partnerships, sponsorships, advertising, co-op programs, and industry events, and provide strategic oversight for the Visit Denver Foundation.

Rich Carollo has been named Assistant General Manager of Operations at the Colorado Convention Center in 2026, after serving as Director of Event Operations since 2023. He is actively involved in environmental and arts initiatives.

Quest Events, a provider of event drape and scenic solutions, has opened a new location in Denver, Colorado. This expansion aims to strengthen the company's ability to provide local inventory and experienced teams for trade shows, corporate programs, and large-scale productions across the Rocky Mountain region.

Quest Events, a leading provider of event drape and scenic solutions, has opened a new location in Denver, Colorado. This expansion aims to strengthen the company's ability to provide local inventory and experienced teams for multi-market events, corporate programs, and trade shows across the Rocky Mountain region.

The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) congratulated the winners of the 2026 Midterm Elections, emphasizing the industry's role in supporting U.S. small businesses and communities. The business and professional events industry employs 2.6 million Americans and drives over $400 billion in direct spending annually.

The Apartment Association of Metro Denver (AAMD) has announced that its Elevate 2027 Education Conference & Trade Show will take place on Wednesday, May 12, 2027. Exhibitor setup is scheduled for May 11, 2027, offering opportunities for over 2,000 industry professionals and decision-makers to connect.

ThriftCon, a pop-up convention that originated in Denver in 2019, was noted for a past two-day event at the National Western Center in Denver, which featured over 140 vendors. The event focuses on independent resellers of vintage clothing, streetwear, and collectibles.

The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) is providing comprehensive information for its 56th Anniversary Convention in Denver during 2026. The page includes details on convention tours, trading hall policies, and registration procedures.

Denver International Airport is hosting a Procurement Tradeshow on November 8-9, 2026, providing businesses with an opportunity to connect with prime contractors, professional services consultants, and DEN Procurement Teams. Attendees can build relationships with key decision-makers and obtain valuable information on doing business with DEN and its partners.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers will host its 2026 IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC) at the Denver Marriott Tech Center from November 7-12, 2026.

The Colorado Convention Center recently completed an expansion that includes an 80,000-square-foot, column-free Bluebird Ballroom, a 20,000-square-foot rooftop terrace with Rocky Mountain views, and a 35,000-square-foot wraparound pre-function concourse. This expansion significantly increases the venue's capacity and versatility for large-scale events.

The City and County of Denver has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Construction Manager/General Contractor Services for the Boettcher Concert Hall Renovation Project. This project will renovate and rehabilitate the existing concert hall within the Denver Performing Arts Complex, addressing critical repairs, system upgrades, and program needs.

Partner DMC Rocky Mountain announced a redesigned webpage for the Colorado Convention Center, promoting Denver as a convenient destination for meetings and conferences. The video highlights the convention center's proximity to hotels, restaurants, and unique event venues, emphasizing its appeal for attendees.

The Colorado Convention Center expansion, now fully operational, has enabled Visit Denver to secure 28 new citywide conventions, projected to bring over 176,000 attendees and generate more than $430 million in economic impact.

The recently completed Colorado Convention Center expansion has enabled Visit Denver to secure 28 new citywide conventions. These new bookings are projected to bring over 176,000 attendees and generate more than $430 million in economic impact.