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Destination Colorado is a nonprofit organization designed to provide resources and information for meeting and event planners.
Destination Colorado Meetings is a nonprofit organization providing time-saving resources, budget-friendly options and valuable connections between meeting and event planners and suppliers for over 30 years.
Our members represent the most in-demand amenities as well as off the beaten path destinations, venues and service providers that offer inspiring experiences and value-focused options to make the most of your next program. Our mission is to be the premier resource for meetings and events in Colorado.
Among our more than 150 members, you’ll discover the solutions to every requirement and planning challenge.
Destination Colorado Meetings informs informs and connects meeting and incentive planners with one of America’s most beloved and desirable destinations. We accomplish this through relevant and current content, industry trade shows, cooperative advertising programs, RFPs, and strategic partnerships.
You’re invited to capture the “Spirit of Colorado” and our beautiful Rocky Mountain playground. The fantastic variety and choices offered by Destination Colorado Meetings guarantees a memorable and productive experience every time.
Executive Committee
Brady Johnson
2024-2025 Past Board President
Brady Johnson is the Director of Sales and Marketing, making him responsible for all marketing and advertising efforts at the C Lazy U Ranch along with selling real estate, booking group events, and retreats. On top of these efforts, you can always count on seeing him taking guests on guided mountain bike rides in the summer and skiing in the winter. C Lazy U Ranch is the perfect place for Brady as an avid outdoorsman because he gets to show guests a unique experience from the moment they find us online or through friends, to the day of their departure.
Meg Tewkesbury
2024-2025 Board President
Meg is the National Sales Manager for The Steamboat Grand. The best part of her job is sharing her love of Steamboat & introducing meeting planners to this amazing destination. Her career started with Marriott International, which led her to working at Marriott Hotels in Denver, Chicago, Dallas & Minneapolis. Being a Colorado native, the mountains were calling her home and The Steamboat Grand was the perfect place to combine her passion for Steamboat and hotel sales. She enjoys tubing the Yampa River in the summer, skis every opportunity she has and loves spending time with her Family and Friends. Meg can be reached at 970-871-5537 or at mpalumbo@steamboat.com.
Lindsey Rohrbaugh
Board Vice President 2024-2025
Lindsey was born and raised in the Tourism hub of Estes Park, Colorado. Her grandparents and parents built, owned, and operated multiple lodging properties in Estes Park the past 50 years. As a part of the past three properties in her adolescence, her foundation was built on hard work ethic, customer service and a passion centered around Colorado Tourism. Lindsey represents Visit Boulder, CO bringing over 12 years of experience in Destination Marketing. As a utility player she has had the opportunity to represent multiple destinations in Colorado bringing added value in strategic partnerships, conference services, group sales, and destination development. Destination Colorado shares her passion for exceptional hospitality, collaboration, community involvement and her love for the Colorado Mountains! In her free time, she enjoys jet setting to visit new landscapes, taking in live music, or sharing a glass of whiskey with old and new friends alike.
Dave Feller
Board Treasurer 2024-2025
Dave is the Senior Sales Manager at Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center in Breckenridge. He worked at Beaver Run for several years in all areas of hospitality, eventually landing in sales which, according to him, is the best department! With a solid understanding of both sales and operations, Dave has an understanding of and appreciation for exceptional customer service.
During winter lunch breaks, you can find Dave on the slopes. In the summer, he’ll be on his bike or in his tent. Dave also enjoys giving back to his community; he’s on the Town of Breckenridge Events Committee and the Sustainable Events Task Force, and he volunteers in the community. You can reach Dave at dfeller@beaverrun.com.
Lauren Lacy
Board Secretary 2024-2025
Lauren serves as the Director of Sales for Winter Park Mountain Lodge. She has been in the hospitality industry for nearly 20 years, previous to her current role she has worked for properties in Vail, Telluride and Keystone. Starting her career in catering/sales, then conference services, she quickly moved into sales in 2007. She is an active member of MPIRMC, SGMP, and CSAE. Native to Colorado, she grew up skiing, hiking, fishing and camping with her family. She now shares these same experiences with her husband and 2 young children. She is passionate about sharing all the wonderful places Colorado has to offer and is excited to be serving on the Board of Destination Colorado for a 2nd time.
Board members
In order of seniority
Stacy Daeffler
Board Member Since 2022 | Association Manager 2012-2022
Stacy Daeffler serves as the Director of Group Sales at The Charter at Beaver Creek by East West Hospitality in the heart of Colorado’s Vail Valley. She previously served as the Manager of Destination Colorado Meetings, a statewide association that provides group travel services throughout the Centennial state. Daeffler had many different responsibilities at the non-profit organization over the past 10 years – including membership, events, sales & marketing and facilitating connections between Colorado-based suppliers and meeting & event planners nationwide. You can find Stacy riding her horse in the summer and her snowboard in the Winter.
Sara Lawrason
Board Member Since 2021
Sara Mercado-Lawrason is Program and Account Manager for Operation Altitude. She moved from Arkansas to Colorado after college and never looked back. Her background is in hospitality, specifically restaurant and event management. She started with Operation Altitude in 2017 with roles in networking, marketing, sales, program development and management. Event production is her passion, and creating unforgettable experiences is her ultimate goal. Sara’s clients are primarily corporate groups specializing in conferences, retreats and incentive programs. In her free time, Sara enjoys weekend trips to the mountains, dining at all the incredible restaurants around Colorado and cuddling with her cats! Sara can be reached at 720-231-1722/ sara@opalt.com.
Rebecca Sosa
Board Member Since 2024
Rebecca unknowingly got into the hospitality industry when she crafted her mom’s 40th birthday while in high school growing up in Ecuador. Rebecca returned to her home state of Texas to go to Baylor University. Following numerous summers spent in Colorado engaging in activities such as backpacking, camping, rock climbing, and mountain biking, Rebecca decided to make Colorado her new home. Throughout her journey in the hospitality industry, she has held various roles, including front desk manager at a high-end spa in Boulder, to overseeing an offsite catering company and eventually landing her first Catering Sales position at the DoubleTree Westminster. She was also part of the opening team at The Curtis hotel. Rebecca continued to advance her career with stints at the Hyatt Regency in Denver and moved into sales to become the Business Development Manager at the Ameristar Casino Resort Spa. The past three years, she has been living and working in Estes Park at the Ridgeline Hotel as their Sales & Event Manager. Rebecca is excited to continue her involvement with Destination Colorado as a returning Board member.
Tracy Blair
Board Member Since 2022
Tracy Blair has served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel since 2014. Her leadership and passion for expanding new ideas and implementing innovation helps drive the vision, progress and bottom line of the hotel through continuous excellence with every meeting and event, all while elevating the hotel brand. In her role, Blair develops and executes the sales and marketing strategy for the property, while also managing the marketing and communications for the hotel. Feeling a personal responsibility for every member of her staff, she mentors, coaches and manages directors, associate directors and hourly associates, in addition to acting as the liaison between the General Manager, Revenue Manager, Sales, Reservations and Events teams, and her outside marketing agencies. Blair has been recognized with numerous awards over her career including “Team of the Year” awards in 2015 and 2016 from Starwood Hotels & Resorts and 2017’s Top Influential Women: Top Innovator by Smart Meetings, 2019 Leader of the Third Quarter from Marriott International.
Angie Vossler
Board Member Since 2023
Angie is currently a group sales manager for the Four Seasons Resort Vail, bringing more than 30 years of hospitality experience to the board. Her career spans from the mountain settings of Keystone Resort, the Stanley Hotel, and Sebastian Vail to Denver locations including Four Seasons Denver, the St. Julien, and the Jacquard. Angie’s journey began in catering sales at Keystone Resort. The experience became the foundation for launching her wedding planning business and the publication of Rocky Mountain Bride Magazine. Angie’s work and personal life intersected when she met Rich, her husband of 20 years, while planning his sister’s wedding in Vail. Angie and Rich now call Denver home where they live with their 16-year-old daughter Elsa and 11-year-old German Shepherd Max. Away from the office, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors, traveling and spending time with family and friends. Angie is excited to bring her experience to the Board of Destination Colorado for a second time.
Maria Garces
Board Member Since 2024
Maria Garces is the Senior Group Sales Manager at Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa in Tabernash Colorado. She has held the position since 2017 and assists clients with customizing their corporate events and retreats. She has been an active member of Destination Colorado for six years. Originally from Wisconsin, she started her career in fundraising, development, and event planning in the nonprofit sector. In her free time, she can be found hiking or snowshoeing with her husband and dog, or traveling and trying new restaurants. Maria is excited to bring her experience and serve on the Board of Directors for Destination Colorado Meetings.
Sonny Kerstiens
Board Member Since 2024
Sonny is the Vice President of Sales & Revenue for Aspen Hospitality. A 20+ year veteran of resort and urban properties throughout the state of Colorado, Sonny has held various Sales, Marketing, and Operations positions with Vail Resorts, Sage Hospitality, and the rapidly evolving Aspen Hospitality platform. He previously served on the Board of Directors for Destination Colorado in the early 2010’s. Sonny is an outdoor enthusiast, enjoying all outdoor recreational opportunities that the great state has to offer, including snowboarding, camping, hiking and trail running. He lives in Denver with his three sons and his partner (Megan).
Jorge Sanchez
Board Member Since 2024
Jorge Sanchez is a seasoned business professional with over three decades of experience in the banking, aerospace, consulting, technology, and chauffeured industries. Under Sanchez’s leadership, Denver-based Hermes Worldwide, Inc. has established itself as an award-winning ground transportation company serving corporate travel, team sports, weddings, meetings and events industries, youth groups, government and the military. Sanchez’s focus on employee retention, safety, customer service, adoption of cutting-end technology, and processes has led to Hermes being recognized by Destination Colorado as Company of Year, Colorado Companies to Watch Winner, Colorado Meetings + Events Hall of Fame Supplier of the Year, and Inc. magazine’s list of the top 5000 fastest growing companies in the nation. Sanchez is also a VISIT DENVER and Destination Colorado Board Member. He previously worked for IBM, JD Edwards, FirstBank, TCI, Honeywell Aerospace, and Avaya before starting Hermes in 2007.
Joyce Reilly
Board Member Since 2024
Joyce Reilly is a 30 year veteran of the Colorado and National Event Industry. She has had the privilege to lead multiple Private Dining teams for national restaurant groups as well as stints in Off Premise Catering and Hospitality sales. Joyce has continually provided support to our industry leading local leads groups, speaking on panels for student led organizations, serving on MIC, and serving on the MPI Board in many capacities ending in Office of the President. Her current position as National Director of Sales with MiHi Entertainment keeps her well ensconced in the Colorado event industry and allows for her to provide time, talent and services to the event community. Her greatest joy is providing leadership, and inspiration to her colleagues and peers as well as superb service and value to her clients. Joyce and her husband Brian have celebrated 34 years of wedded bliss raising their 3 adult children Shane, Schaal and Shea. Her favorite hobbies are gardening and getting away to the mountains for time on the lake in peace and solitude.
Katie Buttermore
Board Member Since 2024
I am thrilled about the opportunity to join the board for Destination Colorado and to be a part of this amazing team of event professionals! I am the Sales Manager at The Ranch Events Complex located in Loveland, CO, and have been in this position since 2012. I was previously the Group Sales Manager at Budweiser Events Center (now known as the Blue FCU Arena) at The Ranch before becoming the Director of Corporate Partnerships and Premium Seating at the Events Center. I am currently in the process of receiving my accreditation as a CEM and am interested in growing my knowledge in the event industry by networking and learning from other event professionals in this amazing industry! In my spare time, I enjoy spending time camping, golfing, and traveling with my husband and two boys who are 9 and 12, as well as our new Cori pup, Darla. I also enjoy playing the violin in the Loveland Orchestra and being on the board for Colorado Families for Hands & Voices which is an organization near and dear to my heart that supports families with kiddos who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Chrissie Widhalm
Board Member Since 2024
Chrissie Widhalm is a Senior Sales Manager at The Broadmoor, representing the Rocky Mountain Region. She has been creating memorable experiences for her guests at The Broadmoor in a variety of rolls since 2006. She currently leads a team of 3 Sales Managers who successfully represent The Broadmoor across the country. Chrissie has a Master’s Degree in Communications from California State University, Fullerton and is a Certified Meeting Planner. Outside of the office, she enjoys dining at local Colorado Springs restaurants, pickleball, and spoiling her niece and nephew. Chrissie can be reached at 719-577-5812 or cwidhalm@broadmoor.com
Sean McNamara
Board Member Since 2024
As Associate Vice President of Convention Sales at Visit Denver, Sean leads group sales efforts for the city of Denver for both the Colorado Convention Center and hotels through the Denver Metro region and beyond. Prior to joining Visit Denver, Sean has been leading sales efforts for Denver hotels since 2016. He has held Director of Sales positions at Sheraton Denver Downtown and Hotel Clio in Cherry Creek. Before coming to Denver, Sean spent several years of his career on the Big Island of Hawaii where he was Director of Sales and Marketing at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa. Having been raised in Colorado and a graduate of University of Colorado at Boulder’s Leeds School of Business, Sean is thrilled to call Colorado home once again. In his free time, he enjoys exploring Colorado’s mountains with his three boys Connor, Liam and Aidan and is an avid musician and music fan.
Kelly Layton
Executive Director
Kelly is a Colorado native and has been in the hospitality industry for nearly 20 years including Director of Marketing for the Vail Chamber and Tourism Bureau (now VVP) and Marketing Manager with the Sonnenalp Resort of Vail. Before joining Destination Colorado in 2021 as the Executive Director, she delivered exceptional group incentive experiences throughout the state and promoting Colorado as a group destination for meetings and events in her role with Operation Altitude, a Colorado destination management company. Outside of work, she enjoys finding new ways to embarrass her teenagers, hiking with friends, developing her photography skills and riding her horse. She can be reached at 970-390-8334 or kelly@destinationcolorado.com.
Marie Huston
Association Manager
Marie, our newest member of the team, is no stranger to Destination Colorado. Having participated as a member in numerous Destination Colorado events, she is now excited to work with our board in reaching our membership goals while maintaining a focus on planner & member engagement, quality programming, and breakout marketing. She & her husband owned and operated Carlos & Maria’s (aka Chuck & Marie’s) Mexican Restaurant in Winter Park prior to her joining the YMCA of the Rockies as Senior Group Sales Manager. She has been a member of the Winter Park Fraser Valley Marketing Council and served on the Grand County Tourism Board. After almost 40 years in the mountains of the Fraser Valley, she has recently moved to sunny Grand Junction. Her Colorado lifestyle includes rafting (favorite river Yampa) mountain biking, (favorite trail Mary’s Loop) cross country skiing (favorite trail Blue Ridge) golf (favorite course Pole Creek) and downhill skiing (favorite run Trestle). She can be reached at marie@destinationcolorado.
Our Mission
MISSION:
Colorado’s Premier Resource for Meetings & Events
VISION:
We are growing our community by:
- Recruiting our ideal members
- Providing a mountain of value for the price of a pebble
- Engaging members with relevant education and meaningful connections that grow their business and themselves
VALUES:
- Community & Collaboration
- Industry Leaders
- Relevant Education
- Providing Connections
#We Play With Purpose
Our Partners
Destination Colorado has established strategic relationships with leading meeting publications, professional organizations, and sponsors to help us advance our mission to make your planning experience easier.
Please visit their web sites for more information.
Colorado Meetings & Events
Colorado Meetings & Events magazine is a quarterly publication reaching meeting planners as well as all levels of professionals who plan meetings and events, from an administrative executive planning a board retreat to the vice president of marketing organizing a client golf outing. The magazine is specifically written and circulated within the state and throughout the surrounding region to expose readers to cultural events, service providers, venues and industry resources available in each market to assist in planning a meeting or creating the next extraordinary event. The magazine is available in print and digital and online at Visit www.meetingmags.com
The Colorado Tourism Office
The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) was created by the Colorado legislature to promote Colorado as a tourism and travel destination. The CTO oversees the Colorado Welcome Centers, advertising and public relations, promotional materials and customer response services including 1-800-COLORADO and www.Colorado.com. The Colorado Tourism Office is a Founding Partner of the Care for Colorado Coalition of which Destination Colorado is a proud partner. Learn more at https://www.colorado.com/CareForColorado.
Northstar Meetings Group/Successful Meetings – Northstar Meetings Group is the premier online platform for business and sports event organizers, planners and incentive program professionals across all all sectors – corporate, association, third-party organizations/agencies, SMERF (social, military, education, religious and fraternal meetings) — providing critical news analysis and research, practical strategies, creative solutions and sourcing services. Wwith a monthly circulation over 70,000, Successful Meetings is written for meeting planners across all industries. Successful Meetings educates and provides resources for all levels of corporate, association and independent meeting managers and buyers about how to create and execute all types of meetings.
Meeting Professionals International
Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the meeting and event industry’s largest and most vibrant global community, helps members thrive by providing human connections to knowledge and ideas, relationships and marketplaces. MPI membership is comprised of more than 24,000 members belonging to 71 chapters and clubs worldwide. For additional information Visit www.mpiweb.org
