COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. The Broadmoor, Colorado’s only
Five-Diamond, Five-Star resort, has emerged revitalized after
2002’s widely publicized drought and wildfires put a damper on the
region’s tourism.
Last year, The Broadmoor’s aggressive marketing paid off, and
this year it will continue to emphasize package sales, Andre
Gutierrez, director of reservations, said.
The Broadmoor, about 90 minutes south of Denver International
Airport, will work more closely with travel agents and increase the
number of packages listed in GDSs. Agents earn a 10 percent
commission on the entire price of a package, not just the room
portion, Gutierrez said.
The hotel also features a special agents-only area on its Web
site, and offers a 25 percent discount to agents on individual
fams.
Essentially, the hotel is borrowing an idea from cruise lines:
bring in customers with attractive base prices and then get them to
spend on food, beverages, golf, tennis, a children’s camp and its
biggest revenue producer, the full-service spa.
Despite the soft economy, the 700-room Broadmoor completed a $75
million improvement project in 2002, which restored original
European artwork and fixtures, and upgraded rooms and public
areas.
In April, the property unveiled its new and improved spa, which
was enlarged to include more state-of-the-art treatment facilities,
a more elegant decor and a number of new amenities.
Renovations like these as well as an attention to detail have
helped The Broadmoor maintain its AAA Five-Diamond rating (earned
every year since 1976) and its Mobil Five-Star rating (every year
since 1960). So have its 11 restaurants (including the Four-Diamond
Charles Court and the Four-Star, Five-Diamond Penrose Room), its
first-run movie theater and 114,000 square feet of meeting
space.
In yet another honor, the publication Resorts & Great Hotels
designated The Broadmoor a “Connoisseur’s Choice” for 2004.
Health- and fitness-conscious clients will never run out of
things to do here. Besides the spa, there’s a first-rate fitness
center, three designer golf courses, nine tennis courts and three
swimming pools. Guests can also hike and bike the scenic trails in
nearby Cheyenne Canyon.
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, The Broadmoor runs supervised
day and evening programs for children ages 4-12 complete with arts
and crafts, picnics, paddle boating, horseback riding, golf
clinics, tennis lessons and day trips. Kids will also love the
dual-tube water slide built into a new infinity-edge pool.
With the recent renovations, the resort is trying to attract
more families and a younger clientele.
“We’re not their parents’ Broadmoor,” a spokesperson said.
Nearby attractions include the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Pikes Peak
and the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the U.S. Figure Skating World Hall
of Fame and Museum and the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, the world’s
highest suspension bridge in a 5,000-acre park.
High season is May 1 to Oct. 31. Golf, holiday, spa and romantic
packages are available, as are summer tennis camps with pro Dennis
Ralston.
The Broadmoor is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide.
800-634-7711
www.broadmoor.com
| Broadmoor Refresher
The truly hard work at the Broadmoor’s new 90,000-square-foot spa
was narrowing down my selection from the menu of 100 spa services.
I opted for “The Refresher,” which included a 30-minute massage,
mini-facial, bath of choice and the spa’s signature service called
the “Broadmoor Falls.”
At check-in, I was led to my locker and told to memorize the
number “once people get relaxed they tend to forget it,” said
Chantell, my attendant. When it was time for my Broadmoor Falls treatment, Chantell
brought me to a secluded shower with a battalion of sprays, and
directed me to stand there as she arranged 17 showerheads and
turned on the torrents. After a couple of minutes, she re-entered the room and sprayed
my back with a showerhead wand, concentrating on various muscle
groups. End result? I felt like the proverbial wet noodle. Then Chantell led me to a relaxing Jacuzzi bath, after which
came my Swedish massage and finally the mini-facial. When my spa treatments came to an end, I was led to the Quiet
Room, where I slipped into a lounge chair with stunning views of
Cheyenne Mountain. In my spa-induced trance, the real world seemed
very far away. My biggest problem at that moment was remembering the number of
that darned locker. |
