Colorado, home of the USA's Best Skiing, promises to once again offer visitors to the state an unmatched winter vacation. Whilst British travellers this year can take advantage of low cost flights from London Gatwick to Denver with Norwegian, visitors can expect new and unique experiences when they touch down in Colorado, including the ski and snowboard Olympic qualifiers in Breckenridge, a new Winter Wonderlights attraction in Loveland and a Ski Patrol Ski Along in Powderhorn.

Major Transportation News

• Norwegian launch direct London Gatwick to Denver flight: Brits are now able to travel to Colorado from £179 each way, following the launch of Norwegian's direct London Gatwick to Denver flight. The new flight operates twice-weekly, departing London on Saturday and Tuesday throughout summer with an additional service departing on a Thursday during winter. norwegian.com
• Telluride welcomes further connectivity with new services: Telluride will once again see a jump in air service for the 2017-18 winter season, continuing to add flight options and ranking among the best in mountain resorts for access. Telluride/Montrose Airport (MTJ) will receive a direct American Airlines flight from the USA's second largest hub, Charlotte (CLT), providing further connectivity to the east coast for UK travellers. Flights from Charlotte to Telluride/Montrose will operate weekly on Saturdays from 23 December 2017 until 31 March 2018. Telluride Airport (TEX) will continue to see a daily service throughout the year from Denver International Airport, which commenced last season, providing visitors with a service just 10 minutes from the slopes. visittelluride.com

Exciting new events, festivals and anniversaries

• Degas: A Passion for Perfection, 11 February – 20 May 2018: Appearing for the only time in the United States at Denver Art Museum, Degas: A Passion for Perfection will showcase prolific French artist Edgar Degas' works from 1855 to 1906. Visitors to Denver can discover more than 100 works consisting of paintings, drawings, pastels, etchings, monotypes and sculptures. The exhibition will focus on the most prominent and recurring themes throughout Degas' 60-year career. These include his interest in learning from the art of the past and from that of his contemporaries, a lifelong fascination with the nude, a passion for horses and his strong interest in opera and dance. visitdenver.com / www.denverartmuseum.org
• Colorado welcomes Winter Olympic experiences: Colorado welcomes the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics with several Olympic experiences. Visitors can attend ski and snowboard Olympic qualifiers at the Dew Tour in Breckenridge (14 – 17 December 2017), the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain (6 – 10 December 2017) and Aspen (10 – 14 January 2018), visit the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, train where Olympians train at Woodward, Copper and experience Steamboat's 2018 Olympic Send-Off Celebration (27 January 2018). colorado.com
• Cooper celebrates 75th anniversary: Cooper, a resort situated just outside of Leadville, the highest incorporated city in the U.S., turns 75 on 31 December 2017. In honour of the anniversary, Cooper will hold a 75th birthday party and New Year's Eve celebration, including a torchlight parade. skicooper.com
• Loveland launches Winter Wonderlights attraction: The magic of the holidays can be found at Loveland's Winter Wonderlights, a new walkable holiday lighting attraction situated in the award-winning Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra. From 25 November 2017 until 14 January 2018, guests will be mesmerised as they stroll through the Sculpture Park. Holiday string lights, twinkling bulbs, lit trees, holiday characters and illuminated African stone sculptures only found in Loveland will transform a special section of this 26-acre outdoor park into a winter wonderland. visitlovelandco.org
• Snowmass ski area celebrates 50 years: This winter season marks the 50th anniversary of the Snowmass Ski Area. The season-long celebration includes vintage, 1967 lift ticket pricing of $6.50 on Friday 15 December as well as a festive weekend of anniversary activities (15 – 17 December), including a retro party at Elk Camp restaurant, fireworks display, the return of Banana Days and an on-mountain celebration at Spider Sabich Picnic arena. Throughout the season, the celebration continues with new gold signs that mark the original ski trails, monthly fireworks display over Fanny Hill, a new mural in Base Village commemorating the history of Snowmass and more. gosnowmass.com

Enticing new attractions and adventures

• Arapahoe Basin expands terrain: For the 2017-18 season, Arapahoe Basin will be adding a total of 468 acres to its skiable terrain, bringing its total area to over 1,400 acres. The expansion is one of the only expansions taking place in North America. Construction on the new terrain began this summer, with patrolled and maintained hike-back skiing available starting in the 2017-18 season. There will be 339 acres of lift-served skiing in The Beavers, including intermediate and advanced open bowl and tree skiing. The Steep Gullies will remain hike-back terrain and will be some of the most technical and challenging in-bounds terrain at Arapahoe Basin. arapahoebasin.com
• Ouray Hot Springs Pool unveils $10.6 million renovation: Ouray Hot Springs has undergone a $10.6 million renovation and recently unveiled the finished product as the hot spring celebrates its 90th One of the many goals of this project was to make the hot springs more accessible, secluded and inclusive for all visitors, while maintaining the pool's historic oval shape. Two soaking pools opened in summer 2017 as the first leg of the renovation, to be enjoyed after a day on the slopes. www.ourayhotsprings.com
• Powderhorn Mountain Resort's new Ski Patrol Ski Along: Travellers this winter can get the ultimate insider's guide to Powderhorn with the new Ski Patrol Ski Along. Visitors can ski with a professional Ski Patroller and learn some of the tools of the trade, such as safety, transporting and caring for guests on the mountain. The ski along is open to all ages and starts at $75 per person. powderhorn.com/insider
• Purgatory Resort and Snowmass to open new Mountain Coasters this winter: Opening in late 2017, Purgatory Resort in Durango and Snowmass will both feature new mountain coasters. In Purgatory, the coaster will be accessible from the base area and will be 4,000 feet in length with a 300-foot-vertical and will feature nine switchbacks and one loop, giving guests another adventure, snow or shine. In Snowmass, the Breathtaker coaster, due to open in December, will feature a 5,700 foot long track with a ride time of around eight minutes. Both attractions will be open through winter and summer seasons. aspensnowmass.com / www.purgatoryresort.com
• YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch introduces Alpine Touring Programme: This new ski programme is geared toward those who want to learn the basic skills needed to have a great day touring the backcountry. The tour focuses on how to use modern Alpine Touring equipment and touches upon the basic principles of how to use an avalanche beacon, shovel and probe. This programme is perfect for those who have always wanted to see what it's like to ski on their own, beyond a resort setting. snowmountainranch.org

New winter lodging and packages

Hotel Openings

• Dram Apothecary opens new lodging in Salida: Colorado's leading makers of locally sourced botanical bitters and syrups, Dram Apothecary, will open the doors to a new guest house in Salida this month. The Poor Farm is a historic bed and breakfast built in 1891, which sits on the Arkansas River one mile from the town. The team will grow organic herbs for their botanical products on the property, which will feature six individually rented guest rooms with private baths, as well as attic space for an artist residence programme. From $130 per night. dramapothecary.com
• Elizabeth Hotel opens in Fort Collins: The new 164-room Elizabeth Hotel in Fort Collins opens to the public this October and pays tribute to Fort Collins' deep-rooted music scene. With record players in guest rooms, inspired artwork and a piano in the Sky Bar, a musical theme permeates this modern luxury hotel. The Emporium Kitchen & Wine Market, located inside the hotel, will offer everything from charcuterie platters to signature dishes. marriott.com
• Jacquard opens in Denver's Cherry Creek North neighbourhood: Expected to open in early 2018, The Jacquard hotel is the newest luxury hotel from Stonebridge Companies in partnership with Autograph Collection Hotels. The property will be one of only two Autograph Collection Hotels in the state of Colorado and will provide guests with an independent, luxury Cherry Creek experience, including stunning art collections, tasteful design and sophisticated dining. thejacquard.com
• The Ramble Hotel Opens in Denver: The Ramble Hotel, an independently owned three-story hotel, will open in late 2017 with 50 guestrooms; an intimate theatre and bar; restaurant and a marquee lobby bar, Death & Co Denver. The bar marks the first outpost outside of its original location in New York's East Village. theramblehotel.com
• The Source Hotel Opens in Denver's River North: This 100-room hotel will be located next to popular culinary marketplace, The Source, and will be the first hotel in Denver's hip RiNo (River North) district. The property will feature its own extension of the food market, as well as a courtyard connecting it to The Source. Hotel plans also call for a new New Belgium brewing concept to feature sour beers. The Source Hotel is expected to open in late 2017. thesourcehotel.com

Winter Packages

• Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail offers Back Bowls Ski Tour: Vail's seven legendary back bowls span 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares) of Vail Mountain's backside. Vast and open, the bowls provide advanced skiers some of the most breathtaking mountain views. Visitors can enjoy an exclusive tour of these bowls with local celebrity and son of one the founders of Vail, Pete Seibert, as he weaves in and around the back bowls and tells stories about the founding days of the resort. To complement this full-day experience, participants take a break to refuel with a chef-curated picnic lunch at Blue Sky Basin. fourseasons.com/vail
• The Gant Aspen offers in-room ski & snowboard rentals: The Gant Hotel is partnering with Ski Butler to be the first resort in Aspen to provide guests with in-room ski and snowboard rental convenience. Once fitted, guests will pick up their rentals the following morning just outside the hotel lobby for easy transport to the slopes. Ski Butlers' product line is exclusively Rossginol and they will carry 100 percent brand new 2017/18 skis for this upcoming season. gantaspen.com
• Hotel Telluride's 'Sled & Soak, Ski & Sip' Winter Alpine Package: This three night package includes champagne upon arrival at The Hotel Telluride, a full day backcountry snowmobiling trip to Dunton Hot Springs, a gourmet lunch at Dunton Hot Springs followed by a soak in the hot springs in Dunton, with wine and charcuterie by the hotel's fireplace. The package also includes a full day lift ticket for two to Telluride Ski Resort and a champagne pairing dinner upon return to The Hotel Telluride. The 'Sled & Soak, Ski & Sip' package is available from 23 November 2017 until 8 April 2018. thehoteltelluride.com
• Wine Country Inn Stay & Ski Package: In the heart of Colorado's Wine Country, the Wine Country Inn in Palisade is offering a stay and ski package. The package includes a king room, two lift tickets to Powderhorn Mountain Resort, 10 percent off lessons, an afternoon wine reception and a wine country breakfast. Prices start at $225 per night. coloradowinecountyinn.com

Colorado is a year-round destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational activities, an abundant arts scene, Western heritage, distinctive cuisine and 25 renowned ski resort areas. The state's diverse landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of four major rivers, numerous peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 11 national parks and monuments and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet, known as 'Fourteeners'. Colorado is the gateway to the West with direct flights from the UK to Denver served by British Airways and indirect with Icelandair. From 16th September 2017, Norwegian will introduce direct flights to Denver from London Gatwick, with a twice-weekly service and from 25th March 2018, United will launch a daily direct route from London Heathrow.

Further information can be found at www.colorado.com

Consumer social media handles www.facebook.com/coloradoukireland & www.twitter.com/coloradoukeire

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