New direction for Telluride Conference Center
Telski wants more exclusive, new events
By Collin McRann
Staff Reporter
Now that Telluride Ski & Golf is in charge of the Telluride Conference Center, the company has a few changes in store for the facility.
Telski has been managing the Conference Center, which is located in Mountain Village, since this fall when it took the reins from Cadence Hospitality. Cadence had been managing the center, which is owned by the Town of Mountain Village, since 2009. With the transition over to Telski, a new five-year management agreement has been signed, and according to the company, some new ideas are in the works to get more bookings at the center.
In October, when the Mountain Village Town Council gave its approval for the transition to take place, there was some concern that Telski might not be the best entity to manage the facility. But now, the company believes it can help the center boost the number of events and people it brings to the area.
“[Telski owner] Chuck Horning feels that, long-term, we know that the conference center is an amenity to bringing groups and conferences here,” said Telski Director of Sales and Marketing Ken Stone. “But it certainly runs at a deficit, and the ski area was willing to look long-term at that deficit and say, ‘What does it mean to the community to operate this?’ The business that it brings here benefits other business in the area, including the ski area, but also lodging, food service and retail.”
Telski has been managing the Conference Center, which is located in Mountain Village, since this fall when it took the reins from Cadence Hospitality. Cadence had been managing the center, which is owned by the Town of Mountain Village, since 2009. With the transition over to Telski, a new five-year management agreement has been signed, and according to the company, some new ideas are in the works to get more bookings at the center.
In October, when the Mountain Village Town Council gave its approval for the transition to take place, there was some concern that Telski might not be the best entity to manage the facility. But now, the company believes it can help the center boost the number of events and people it brings to the area.
“[Telski owner] Chuck Horning feels that, long-term, we know that the conference center is an amenity to bringing groups and conferences here,” said Telski Director of Sales and Marketing Ken Stone. “But it certainly runs at a deficit, and the ski area was willing to look long-term at that deficit and say, ‘What does it mean to the community to operate this?’ The business that it brings here benefits other business in the area, including the ski area, but also lodging, food service and retail.”
Part of the company’s plan to get more activity at the center involves the Telluride Tourism Board. Stone said the TTB wants to get different aspects of the community involved with the center, including lodging. But a main point of change has been to make the center more easily accessible with fewer hurdles to jump through when events are booked.
Stone said some of the main challenges facing the center involve the area’s remoteness. However, Telski is hoping to utilize the TTB’s marketing expertise to help increase the center’s exposure and get the word out across a wider audience.
“We think one of the opportunities we have is to work with the community and even with second homeowners that want to start, hold or bring their events here on a permanent basis,” Stone said. “Having events that originate here in Telluride that have a reason to be here year after year, we support those and make it easy to work with all the entities to make them happen.”
Though this summer the town council decided it would not consider making any upgrades or expansions to the center, Telski plans to look into some improvements. Stone said the company is talking with sales teams to see what infrastructure or technological improvements could be made that would be most beneficial.
A major component at the center in the future that could be upgraded is its videoconference equipment. Stone said the equipment is in demand and in the past has been used heavily, especially by smaller groups or businesses.
It might be early, but Telski is anticipating some new groups and events at the center.
The Governor’s Tourism Conference is planned for the end of next October at the conference center. The three-day conference will include a number of speakers and groups from around the state — which Telski and the TTB anticipate will be a good showcase of not only the center, but the area as well. Last year the governor’s conference was held in Steamboat Springs.
“We’re excited to work with the community and the town to make this a successful part of the equation,” Stone said.
Stone said some of the main challenges facing the center involve the area’s remoteness. However, Telski is hoping to utilize the TTB’s marketing expertise to help increase the center’s exposure and get the word out across a wider audience.
“We think one of the opportunities we have is to work with the community and even with second homeowners that want to start, hold or bring their events here on a permanent basis,” Stone said. “Having events that originate here in Telluride that have a reason to be here year after year, we support those and make it easy to work with all the entities to make them happen.”
Though this summer the town council decided it would not consider making any upgrades or expansions to the center, Telski plans to look into some improvements. Stone said the company is talking with sales teams to see what infrastructure or technological improvements could be made that would be most beneficial.
A major component at the center in the future that could be upgraded is its videoconference equipment. Stone said the equipment is in demand and in the past has been used heavily, especially by smaller groups or businesses.
It might be early, but Telski is anticipating some new groups and events at the center.
The Governor’s Tourism Conference is planned for the end of next October at the conference center. The three-day conference will include a number of speakers and groups from around the state — which Telski and the TTB anticipate will be a good showcase of not only the center, but the area as well. Last year the governor’s conference was held in Steamboat Springs.
“We’re excited to work with the community and the town to make this a successful part of the equation,” Stone said.
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