The Inverness Hotel Inks Partnership with the University of Denver Div. of Athletics & Recreation

Sept. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- The Inverness Hotel and Conference Center today announced it is officially a corporate lodging sponsor for the University of Denver Division of Athletics and Recreation (DU Athletics and Recreation). In a continued effort to augment local marketing efforts and pursue new business opportunities, The Inverness Hotel signed a one-year sponsorship agreement that gives students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and Ritchie Center visitors preferred discounts and perks valid on hotel accommodations, dining, golf, spa, meetings and special events year-round. In exchange, The Inverness Hotel receives online and offline marketing visibility in association with athletics, recreation and entertainment programs at the Daniel L. Ritchie Center, participation opportunities at the annual University Benefits Fair and a business listing on the university’s campus resource web page.

In 1982, DU Athletics and Recreation was one of the first universities to launch a Corporate Sponsor Lodging and Transportation program in Colorado. Initially, the program was created to meet two specific reasons. The first was to build a portfolio of hospitality partners willing to offer preferred rates for out-of-state students, parents and sports teams traveling to the university. The second was to create a new revenue source to help fund DU Athletics and Recreation programs. Since inception, the program has evolved to also meet the needs of local and regional students and university groups looking for the best value to host their social functions, fundraisers, department meetings, weddings, or awards dinners.

Currently, DU Athletics and Recreation has 10 lodging partners, but The Inverness Hotel is the only AAA Four Diamond hotel partner with an International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) certification, which ensures unparalleled meeting and special events services and capabilities. Hotel management hopes this industry distinction will drive interest among university guests looking for affordable, certified luxury within 15 minutes of the campus.

“We are pleased to host The Inverness Hotel and Conference Center as a Corporate Partner of DU Athletics and Recreation in 2011-2012 and beyond,” said Diane Wendt, DU Athletics and Recreation director of strategic partnerships and corporate relations. “We value and appreciate the high quality of hospitality support being extended by The Inverness Hotel to our numerous and diverse university constituents. Thanks to the support of our Corporate Partners, DU student-athletes and programs continue to develop and experience success.”

As a first-year DU Athletic and Recreation partner, The Inverness Hotel decided to invest in this partnership because of the sheer potential for organic business growth. University representatives estimate that 1.3 million visitors descend on the Daniel L. Ritchie Center annually to attend a myriad of public programs, sporting events, and concerts. In addition to this captive audience, approximately 58 percent of the 11,644 student population is from out of state. Lastly, DU Athletics is a strong sports contender and hosts more than 150 athletic contests on campus annually; opening opportunities to host traveling sports teams at the hotel.  

“As hotels vie to remain competitive, we are focusing on our local market and diversifying our marketing strategy to pursue new business opportunities,” said Brian Fedorowicz, director of sales and marketing at The Inverness Hotel. “We were impressed with the business opportunities of the DU Athletics and Recreation program and are excited to be aligned with one of America’s top ranking universities.”

The DU Athletics and Recreation partnership is the hotel’s latest efforts showcasing a new marketing strategy to uncover new and local revenue sources. In June, the hotel launched south Denver’s first hotel spa membership program and by end of year it hopes to launch a series of other regionally-inspired marketing programs to further solidify its local foothold.

To learn more about The Inverness Hotel or inquire about DU Athletics and Recreation preferred rates, please visit www.invernesshotel.com or call (877) 857-5680. To learn more about DU Athletics and Recreation, please visit www.denverpioneers.com or call (303) 871-2275.

About University of Denver Division of Athletics and Recreation
The University of Denver sponsors 17 NCAA Division I men and women’s sports and is a member of the Sun Belt Conference, Western Athletic Conference, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, Eastern Collegiate Athletics Conference, Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association. In July 2012, Denver will become a full member of the Western Athletic Conference, and in July 2013, DU hockey will join the newly formed National Collegiate Hockey Conference. In 2010-11 Denver captured its fourth consecutive NCAA Director’s Cup for non-football schools and ranked No. 1 among all Front Range and Sun Belt Conference institutions for the fourth straight year. In its history, DU has earned 28 NCAA Championships, 108 Individual NCAA Championships, 126 NCAA Tournament appearances, 299 All-Americans, 552 All-Conference honors, 50 Conference Championships, 53 Conference Coach of the Year honors, three National Coach of the Year honors and 55 Olympians.

About The Inverness Hotel
The Inverness Hotel is a full-service hotel and conference center situated in suburban Denver, Colo. that offers 302 recently renovated guestrooms and suites and a premiere medley of business and leisure amenities. Hotel guests enjoy convenient, on-property access to a new, full-service spa; an 18-hole Preston Maxwell designed golf course, five multi-cuisine restaurants and boutique shops. With 43 individual meeting rooms and more than 60,000 square-feet of event space, The Inverness Hotel is a preferred property of choice for work, play or both.

About Destination Hotels & Resorts
Destination Hotels & Resorts is consistently rated one of the top 10 independent hospitality management companies in the United States with more than 30 luxury and upscale hotels, resorts and conference centers. The company has developed a variety of initiatives to better serve its communities, stakeholders and customers including Destination Earth, an environmental sustainability program, and the Destination Delivers guest loyalty program, which provides the best available offers to members. Destination operates properties in key metropolitan areas and resort markets including Washington, D.C., Denver, San Diego, Santa Fe, Aspen, Palm Springs, Houston and Lake Tahoe. Destination is a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based investment, development and management firm Lowe Enterprises.  For more information, please visit www.destinationhotels.com.