Denver’s Growing Status as a Business Hub

Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, Denver has long been heralded for its proximity to nature, but recently the Mile High City has seen a boost in sectors beyond wellness and wilderness. In September, CBRE released its 2024 Tech Talent Report, ranking Denver eighth on its list of the 50 top technology talent markets in the U.S. As the city has grown as a business center over the last decade, it has also ranked consistently as a top destination for millennials. Additionally, Denver International Airport—a hub for United Airlines—is among the top 10 busiest airports in the world. Discover what makes Denver such an appealing professional locale.

The Airport

Denver International Airport / Photo: Brad McGinley Photography/Getty Images

At Denver International Airport, direct routes connect business travelers to many North American hubs, including 21 daily departures to Houston, 18 to Seattle, 15 to San Diego, and 10 to Boston. Internationally, the airport’s newest nonstop routes extend to Dublin, Paris and Istanbul. By the end of next year, the United Club will offer more than 100,000 square feet of space to accommodate more than double the number of travelers it could previously host. The concessions program is anticipating the opening of 40-plus concepts between now and the end of 2025. And the airport’s golf simulator will soon be attracting company outings.

Business Hotels

The climate-friendly Populus hotel has just opened with 265 rooms, an outdoor terrace that can accommodate 150 guests, and five creatively designed “gather” rooms, ranging from 326 to 769 square feet. The Kimpton Claret Hotel is another new property in the burgeoning Belleview Station neighborhood. With the motto, “Where residential living meets work, retail, dining and play,” the hotel features 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space. In 2023, the swank Aspen-based Limelight hotel established its first urban location, with an ideal setting steps away from Denver’s Union Station.

Power Meals

Beckon Restaurant / Photo: Courtesy of Beckon

Denver’s culinary scene got a long-awaited upgrade with the debut of the Michelin Guide in Colorado. Noteworthy business lunch options include Bib Gourmand-rated Tavernetta’s two-course Italian menu and Mister Oso’s laid-back Latin American fare. Meanwhile, multicourse dinners at the one-starred Beckon or The Wolf’s Tailor will impress any client.

Conference Centers and Venues

In the heart of downtown Denver and within walking distance of more than 13,000 hotel rooms, the Colorado Convention Center is outfitted with 577,000 square feet of exhibit space, 63 meeting rooms, a 5,000-seat theatre, and a new expansion that includes Colorado’s largest ballroom. Downtown Denver is also home to three major sports stadiums—Coors Field, Ball Arena and Empower Field at Mile High—within a few miles’ radius of one another, totaling more than 145,000 seats. There’s also the Denver Performing Arts Complex (the nation’s second-largest), the Denver Art Museum and the History Colorado Center, which offer unique meeting spaces to host events or simply for entertaining clients between business engagements.