The Cvent Fort Collins meeting planning guide is a comprehensive city guide for Ft. Collins meeting planning professionals. Approximately 60 miles north of Denver, Fort Collins is notable for such a relatively small place in that it has seven breweries. (Very impressive considering that the city was dry until 1969.) The city is celebrated for having opera and ballet companies and a symphony orchestra. It is also home to Colorado State University. Which means that meeting venues in Fort Collins can deliver a surprisingly full complement of amenities.
For the huge majority, access to Fort Collins is via Denver International Airport (DEN), which is connected to all of the U.S. The airport is 70 miles to the south. Much closer (nine miles southeast of Fort Collins) is Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport (FNL), but its only commercial carrier is Allegiant, which serves Phoenix and Las Vegas.
While there are no dedicated convention venues in Fort Collins, the 50,000-square-foot Lory Students Center at the Colorado State University is able to host events for up to 1,200 persons in its 12,728-square-foot ballroom, 18 meeting rooms and six conference rooms.
Hotel venues in Fort Collins are buoyed by the presence of the university. Among these are the 255-room Hilton Fort Collins, which has 11 meeting rooms and the CSU Ballroom for 1,300 persons; the 230-room Marriott Fort Collins, which has 10 meeting rooms and a ballroom able to host up to 650 persons; and the 43-room Armstrong, which has the Mantz Hall for 72 persons.
Groups can also book the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, which can be rented and has 380 seats, regular shows and a Rocky Mountain view. Or to Gardens on Spring Creek, the city's botanical garden, which has three gardens that can be used after 5 PM and has a classroom for 45 persons. Also available in the city are the Fort Collins Brewery, which has a tasting room, the Community Room for events and the Gravity 1020 restaurant with private dining room; Fort Collins Museum & Discovery Science Center, which has its Heritage Courtyard for events, and the 13,000-square-foot Drake Center, an events center that can cater to up to 650 persons in its bar and two banquet rooms.
Restaurants here run a wide gamut; choices include CooperSmith's Pub & Brewing, in Old Town Square, which has 12 billiards tables and room for groups of up to 200 persons; Jay's Bistro, with suave design, a jazz lounge and room for groups of up to 50 persons in the Columbine Room and 30 in the Fireside Room; Moot House, specializing in steaks, with three banquet rooms; Sundance Steakhouse, with live country music, a huge dance floor and, in warmer months, bull riding, as well as a banquet room for 50 persons and overall space for 250 persons for dinners, 350 persons for a reception; and, lastly, Silver Grill Cafe, for breakfast and lunch, which has function space for up to 250 guests.
