Beyond the Beltway: Colorado Springs

As we mentioned last week, we will be looking at cities nation-wide that are great options for hosting events for the government audience. We picked locations with a high concentration of federal employees in reasonable travel proximity. Today, we highlight Colorado Springs, CO.

Colorado Springs has approximately 55,000 federal workers in the immediate metro area working at military installations including Fort Carson, the Air Force Academy, Peterson Air Force Base and Schriever Air Force Base, and U.S. Northern Command as well as large numbers of employees working for the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey and federal prison system.  The city is a reasonable travel distance from Denver as well as a number of major western/central cities.

For events, a google search will pull up a number of hotels you could choose as a great location for your event. We've done a bit of digging and found a couple unique venues you may want to consider:

• Norris Penrose Event Center - for large events requiring the amenities of a conference center, consider this location just two miles from downtown with views of the city and mountains.
• Pikes Peak International Raceway - We're all racing at a fast pace, why not use a facility that can accommodate speed? The facility offers catering, meeting rooms, and necessary meeting amenities. Events can also include activities on and around the racetrack itself.
• The Abbey - Located about an hour from Colorado Springs and two hours from Denver, this sprawling campus can meet any event need from small, intimate events, to large gatherings. It also offers onsite lodging.
• Cottonwood Center for the Arts - this art gallery recently played host to Indie Spirit Film Festival and is well equipped to handle meetings and social events in a one-of-a-kind space. Maybe the art will spark some creativity among attendees.

Have you hosted any events in the Colorado Springs area?  What are your go-to venues?

Image: Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of American on flickr.