Summary:
- Denver’s hospitality industry generates $7B, supports 34,000 jobs, AHLA reported.
- City hotel guests spend more than $4 billion annually.
- AHLA Hospitality Show: Oct. 26 to 28 at Colorado Convention Center, Denver.
DENVER’S HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY drives growth, with hotels generating $7 billion in economic activity, supporting 34,000 jobs and contributing $1.1 billion in taxes, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Hotel guests spend more than $4 billion annually in the city.
The Oxford Economics report examines how Denver hotels contribute to communities, showing their role in supporting small businesses and local employment. Visitor spending in the city supports industries including restaurants, retail, arts and entertainment, while hotel operations and guest visits fund public services such as schools, infrastructure and first responders, the report said.
“Hotels are the fabric of every community,” said Rosanna Maietta, AHLA’s president and CEO. “This new data confirms what hoteliers experience every day: when hotels thrive, communities thrive. Every guest stay supports small businesses — from restaurants and coffee shops to transportation providers and retailers. That shared success story defines our industry and it is imperative that local and state governments continue to promote policies that keep our industry healthy.”
Amie Mayhew, president and CEO of the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association, said Denver’s hotel industry links small businesses and local economies.
“Hotels generate nearly $1 billion in tax revenue, fueling the public services our city and state rely on,” she said. “Beyond the tax revenue, the hotel industry creates thousands of meaningful careers for Colorado residents.”
Meanwhile, AHLA is hosting The Hospitality Show 2025 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Oct. 26 to 28, the association said. The three-day event brings together hotel owners, operators, general managers and more than 400 exhibitors to explore opportunities and show how hotels support local economies and jobs nationwide.
“As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, The Hospitality Show remains a catalyst for innovation, leadership and shared success — both for hotels and the communities they serve," Maietta said. "I’m excited for Denver to see how hotels are fueling communities across the country."
More than 100 speakers will lead sessions on technology, workforce development, sustainability and guest experience, focused on helping hotel professionals operate efficiently, grow and support their communities, the statement said.
In May, more than 250 American Hotel & Lodging Association members met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss key hospitality legislative priorities.
