As the city of Denver prepares to open the expanded Colorado Convention Center on December 6, 2004, many meeting industry businesses are expanding their training and services to meet the increased business that will be coming to Denver.

On April 8-9, 2004, Freeman Decorating Company offered 144 industry employees training and certification to be forklift operator and for the first time, offered high lift operator certification and training.

These all-day classes were offered to employees of Freeman Decorating, as well as to other industry workers from the Colorado Convention Center and local unions in both Denver and Colorado Springs. The forklift training involved classroom and hands-on practical instruction and fulfilled the yearly OSHA requirements. The high-lift operator training consisted of one-on-one instruction on general machinery operation and basic light gauge sign hanging. Both the forklift and high-lift training were conducted in mock trade show environments.

�Our goal is to provide as much training as possible in various operational areas, thereby increasing the number of qualified personnel, while promoting show site safety,� Jack Boyd, general manager at Freeman Decorating Company, said.

Held at the Colorado Convention Center, the two-day training session is just one of many efforts in place to prepare for the expanded center.

Richard W. Scharf, president of the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, added, �We are fortunate that the businesses and employees of Denver�s convention industry understand the importance of our new center. There have been many efforts by our local community to increase the number of skilled workers so that we can handle the quantity of new shows committing to Denver.�

In January, the sales and services staff from the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, Colorado Convention Center and Centerplate came together for a full-day retreat focused on how to offer the new level of customer service that will be expected once the expanded center is open.

The half-day retreat was sponsored by the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau and facilitated by Linda McKinney of Achievers International.

�The Denver convention industry has a particular insight and focus on what it will mean when the new center opens in terms of customer expectations,� said McKinney. �Many times, the industry knows a big change is coming, but does not prepare for what that really means. Denver is fortunate that the leadership at the convention bureau, the convention center and industry businesses is focused on being ready for the expanded convention center.�

The Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau will host another training session scheduled for its staff in August, immediately following the Meeting Professionals International World Education Congress, July 25-27. It is also offering a customer service training program, Destination Denver, in June for frontline employees of the industry. This half-day class is designed for the frontline employee to impress on them how vital they are to the customer experience. It offers guided tours of downtown so that hospitality employees can better assist convention attendees and visitors with recommendations, directions and information.

�When the Colorado Convention Center expansion opens on December 6, 2004, we are confident that Denver will compete on the accessibility, facilities, cost and destination appeal levels, as well as the customer service level,� said Scharf.

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Jill Strunk Public Relations Manager Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau 1555 California St., Suite 300 Denver, CO 80202 Phone: 303.571.9451 Fax: 303.892.1636 jstrunk@dmcvb.org Web site: www.denver.org Celebrating our 95th Year of Promoting Denver, the Mile High City