COLORADO WELCOMES MEETINGS & EVENTS INDUSTRY WITH OPEN ARMS

Rep. Roberts’ bill would boost our economy and support small businesses in the tourism industry by providing an incentive for meetings & events to take place in Colorado

DENVER, CO– The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee today advanced Representative Dylan Roberts’ bipartisan bill to dedicate $10 million to create the Meeting & Events Incentive Program, which would provide rebates and incentives for individuals hosting events in Colorado. The bill is part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus, a package of legislation that will invest roughly $700 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. The bill passed committee by a vote of 10-3.

“Colorado’s booming hospitality and special events sectors took a massive blow when the pandemic delayed weddings, conferences, and large events of all kids,” said Representative Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “As our economy safely reopens and these events start to be rescheduled, I want to ensure organizations, festivals, and families choose to book their special event in Colorado and this bill will make Colorado an even more attractive venue for these events. The Colorado special events sector employs at least 36,000 Coloradans and generates $1B annually in economic impact, and I can’t wait to see it come roaring back with a little help from this bill.”

HB21-1263 would create the Meeting & Events Incentive Program within the Office of Economic

Development & International Trade’s (OEDIT) Colorado Tourism Office (CTO). The program would provide rebates to incentivize planners to host events in Colorado, bolstering the tourism economy and industry, and supporting thousands of small businesses across the State. The bill appropriates $10 million for the program.

Eligible events must generate at least 25 overnight stays. The bill stipulates that the Tourism Office must support events equitably and proportionally across the state and prioritize events with potential to generate local business earnings and tax revenues. Eligible events would receive up to a 10% rebate of the hard costs of the event and a 25% rebate of the COVID-19 related costs. Finally, a small portion of the funds may be used to provide up-front support to attract large events that impact multiple counties and have potential to generate significant economic impact.