The Scoop on Denver Metro Hotels Openings 2023 and Beyond

The Mile High City, like so many others, continues to navigate the post-pandemic economic collapse. Stepping into 2023, the Denver hotel industry has stood tall (sometimes literally!) with renovations and new hotels continuing to line its impressive skyline. Below we’ve updated the scoop on the new Denver hotels in the metro area and throughout Colorado, recently renovated, opened, or with plans to open in 2023 and beyond.

With new hotels and renovations, Denver adds more guest rooms to its hotel inventory.

As a long-time resident, I’ve been updating the growth in the Denver Metro and Colorado regions for the past few years. Each year, I’m always impressed with the lodging offerings in Denver and throughout Colorado.

Downtown Denver is home to more than 13,000 rooms all within a short walking distance of the Colorado Convention Center. Always popular nearby hotels are the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (review coming soon!), Hyatt Regency Denver, Hilton Denver City Center, and Westin Downtown Denver, as well as the historic Brown Palace.

Its booming hotel industry extends into metro Denver with over 51,000 first-class hotel rooms, all linked to downtown via highways or the light rail.

Future New Denver Hotels in 2023

New Denver hotels continue as works in progress. Read on for updates on Denver hotel openings in 2023 and beyond.

For those searching for a more intimate downtown experience, consider a stay at the Flora House Denver, a recently renovated 1892 Victorian mansion. In early 2022, the entire property was renovated and opened late in 2022 for bookings. This new B&B is located in the Cheesman Park neighborhood near the Denver Botanic Gardens — and complimentary admission is included in your stay!  This B&B is convenient to many Denver neighborhoods including Downtown Denver/Lodo, Larimer Square, Union Station, LoHi, Cherry Creek, and RiNo. (Stays at B&Bs are definitely at the top of my list, and check back as a review on this historic gem is upcoming in the next few weeks.)

Opening in 2023, located at the corner of Colfax Avenue and 14th Street, Populus at Civic Center is going to change the skyline of downtown Denver. A stone’s throw from the Colorado State Capitol, this new hotel project is pegged to become the “new social center” of downtown. This architecturally eye-catching design is by Urban Village & Studio Gang. Its unique window shapes are inspired by the patterns found on Aspen trees. This 250-room, 13-story hotel will also offer 40 micro-apartments and a 250-key hotel. Its rooftop bar, view deck, and lobby with dining and drinks will be shared by both residents and guests. Hotel guests are welcomed with views of the nearby State Capitol, Civic Center Park, and the Rocky Mountains beyond.

Located near the Colorado State Capitol, coming in 2023 is one of Denver’s new hotels: Populus at Civic Center Park. Photo Courtesy: Studio Gang

Fairfield Inn & TownePlace Suites is another dual-brand hotel, opening to be determined, and managed by the Iowa-based Hawkeye Hotels. Located near the dual-brand Hyatt Place & Hyatt House hotels, according to Hawkeye Hotels, the proposed new 319-room, 12-story Denver hotel feature 187 planned rooms for Fairfield Inn and 132 rooms for TownePlace Suites, for a total of 319 rooms. 

Two more hotels planned for the future include a 559-room Marriott Hotel on 14th Street near the convention center, with a TBD opening date.

The second brings Richard Branson into Denver in 2-25 with the 241-room Virgin Hotel in 2025, a 241-room hotel including a rooftop lounge at 4400 Fox Street. This will be Branson’s 10th hotel and the first of his brand in Colorado.

One hotel I’m excited to experience is the upcoming Train Denver Boutique Hotel, a 200-room hotel in Denver’s River North (RINO) Art District on Blake Street, with an opening still to be determined. Details are slim at the time of this publication, but the rendering photo is stunning – see below!! The project is spear-headed by Invent Development Partners.

Rendering of Train Denver boutique hotel Photo Courtesy: Invent Development Partners

Quick Look at Recently Opened New Denver Hotels, 2021-2022

If you haven’t yet, take some time to celebrate the Mile High City’s recently opened hotels by booking your room now:

• In March 2021, The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square opened, already a popular spot for baseball fans with its prime location across from Coors Field, rooftop pool, and access to the outdoor public plaza.
• The Clayton, a boutique hotel in Cherry Creek, opened in April 2021.
• The Catbird Boutique Hotel opened in July 2021 as an extended-stay hotel with a rooftop bar and ground-floor restaurant.
• Hyatt Centric opened in October 2021.
• Thompson Denver by Hyatt, within walking distance to Denver Union Station, opened in February 2022.
• Slate Hotel, a member of the Hilton Tapestry collection, opened in May 2022, with a prime address across from the Colorado Convention Center.
• June 2022 welcomed the Vib by Best Western Hotel & Resorts, with its own view from their rooftop bar in the Denver RINO neighborhood.

Lobby Entrance to the Rally Hotel Photo: Visit Denver

Colorado’s New Hotels and Renovations, Beyond Denver (2022-2023)

When visiting Denver, continue to explore the awe-inspiring areas of Colorado beyond Denver with these new Colorado lodging options.

• A lifestyle hotel in Winter Park’s Old Town neighborhood, the A-Frame Club features 31 newly-constructed A-Frame cabins. Central courtyards on a two-acre site frame the standalone, 475 square feet, 2-story cabins that overlook the Fraser River. Ready for booking just in time for the 22/23 ski season.
• Welcome to the newly renovated hotel in Lyons, just 30 minutes from Boulder. Completed in July 2022,  A-Lodge Lyons celebrates outdoor recreation, local music, and small-town charm.
• Durango’s historic Rochester Hotel underwent a complete renovation in time for ski season.

Recently renovated Victorian in Ouray, Colorado, features this Queen room.. Photo: Western Hotel

• As a fan of boutique and historic properties, The Western Hotel & Spa hits all those feels. An iconic Old West property in the historic district of Ouray, the 131-year-old structure was lovingly restored. Take time to stroll the property and see for yourself, including an early 20th-century mural on the floor of The Saloon, original taxidermy and art, stained glass windows, tin ceilings, the original front desk, hand-painted wallpaper, and the original hand-carved bar.
• The historic Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs is in the midst of a multi-year, multi-million-dollar restoration. One of the amazing finds during room renovations was sixteen original 125-year-old fireplaces. 
• Drive-in fans! Here’s looking at you, kid!! debuted in August 2022 at the historic Frontier Drive-In/n in the San Luis Valley. Located less than one hour from the Great Sand Dunes National Park and 30 minutes from Alamosa, it provides a fun environment for exploring southern Colorado. Luxury rooms offer a view of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range or their signature movie screen.
• Opening in the spring in Breckenridge, The Carlin will feature four luxury hotel suites on the top floor, an open kitchen restaurant on the main floor, and a subterranean tavern.
• Another multi-million dollar phased renovation in the works is at The Aspen Meadows Resort beginning this fall.
• Gravity Haus is relaunching the Ptarmigan Inn as Gravity Haus in Steamboat Springs and is also unveiling a Gravity Haus outpost, AspenHaus in Aspen this winter.

Drive-in movies and accommodations! Frontier Drive in/n, San Juan Valley, Colorado Photo: Frontier Drive In/n

2022 Renovated & New Denver Hotels Resort & Beyond

2021 New & Renovated Denver Colorado Resorts

Denver’s Recent Hotel Boom

Beyond Denver — Colorado’s Notable Renovations and New Hotels

Past 2018-2019 Denver Hotel Openings and Renovations

Hotel Openings in Denver Metro, Prior to 2018

Denver’s Recently Opened & Nearing Completion in 2022

At the end of the “roaring” 2020s and looking into the new year of 2022, Denver, Colorado continued business as usual.

Do you know that saying “you can’t keep a good man down”? Well, Denver is one of the cities that keep coming back for more — and reinventing itself along the way. In fact, through the pandemic of 2020 and 2021, Denver stayed on the traveler’s radar, receiving many accolades including from Lonely Planet as one of the “Top 10 Cities in the World to Visit in 2020.”

• Originally set to open in 2021, now targeted in 2022 near Union Station, Thompson Denver by Hyatt located in the heart of LoDo (Lower Downtown neighborhood). Looking for creative cocktails, French cuisine – Mile High style? Then you’ll need to check this boutique hotel out!
• Opening in 2022, Denver’s trendy River North (RiNo) Art District is ready to welcome the 140-room Vīb by Best Western Hotels & Resorts. Its amenities include meeting and event space and an enclosed rooftop bar taking advantage of the views of the Rocky Mountains and Denver’s skyline.
• The much anticipated Slate Hotel is “slated” to open in Spring 2022 at the historic site of the original Emily Griffith Opportunity School. Located steps from the Colorado Convention Center and many other iconic Mile High attractions, this hotel will add 251 guest rooms to downtown Denver. 

View of downtown Denver from the hotel rooftop Photo: Catbird Hotel

Last year, many downtown Denver hotels celebrated openings, as well as mult-million dollar renovations. Here is a shortlist:

• The pet-friendly Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver opened in October 2021.
• An independent boutique hotel in the RiNo neighborhood, Catbird Hotel opened in August 2021 with some of the best views of the city from its rooftop bar.
• One of my favorite historic Denver hotels, The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa debuted its renovation of the historic “Top of the Brown Suites,” including the three famous Presidential suites.
• The baseball-themed Rally Hotel opened in MacGregor Square, featuring rooms with a view of Coors Field, as well as its iconic rooftop pool and deck overlooking Coors Field. The Rally Hotel, opened April 2021.
• Other noteworthy renovations include the Sheraton Denver Downtown and Four Seasons Hotel Denver. 

Take me out to the ballgame with these views of Coors Field from the Rally Hotel in Denver. Photo: Diana Rowe

Beyond 2022: Future Denver Hotels & Resorts Projects

But wait there’s more hotels in the works in Denver.

• Populus at Civic Center Park, Opening 2023
• Dual-brand Fairfield Inn & TownePlace Suites, Opening TBD
• Marriott Hotel (Focus Development Group), Opening TBD
• Train Denver Boutique Hotel in Denver’s River North (RiNo) Art District, Opening TBD

Beyond Denver: Colorado Lodging Projects

Lobby with fireplace Photo: Viewline Resort Snowmass, Colorado

Debuting in March is the $400 million luxury expansion of Monarch Casino Resort Spa, located in the historic mountain town of Black Hawk just 50 minutes from downtown Denver. In addition to spa experiences, gaming options, and restaurants,  stay at one of Monarch’s 516 mountain modern luxury hotel rooms.

Rebranded with a $40 million renovation investment, Viewline Resort Snowmass, Autograph Collection (Marriott brand) reopened in February 2022. Featuring mid-mountain ski-in/ski-out access, its new design is the perfect setting for your multi-season Colorado outdoor activities. The resort will also offer a Kid’s Club and Private Ski and Bike Concierge.

Add this recently renovated lodging to your Colorado vacation: Wildwood Snowmass, located in the same complex as Viewline Resort Snowmass. Get your wish list out as it’ll check off everything:  après ski, dinner, or late-night adventures; laid-back mountain decor, and lots of storage and cubbies designed with the outdoor enthusiast in mind.

Looking for something more out of the box?  Opening in 2022/2023 near downtown Grand Junction on the Colorado River, El Jet’s Cantina + Sky Outpost at Dos Rios will be a multi-acre indoor/outdoor cantina and unique lodging development that also offer camping in tiny homes, Airstreams, and campsites. 

Review Denver’s Hotels and Renovations

Take a look back at the progress of Denver’s new hotels and renovations by clicking on the links below.

2021 New & Renovated Denver Colorado Resorts

Statistics ending in 2019 were optimistic with 17.7 million overnight visitors spending $7 billion in the Mile High City. And then we entered the twilight zone of 2020. No one expected this crazy pandemic year, and most definitely the hospitality industry including Denver resorts & hotels felt the crunch of the U.S. economic shut-down.

Yet the Mile High City is still moving forward renovating hotels and adding additional new hotels and resorts to their inventory in 2021. Traveling may be different in 2021, but we’re ready to explore and experience new Denver resorts.

Colorado’s Notable Renovations and New Hotels – Beyond Denver

Photo credit: Element Denver Downtown East by Westin

• Element Denver Downtown East Hotel by Westin opened in August 2019 at 1314 Elati Street, with 157 studio, one- and two-bedroom guest rooms with kitchenettes.
• Home2 by Hilton Denver Downtown Convention Center opened October 2019 at 801 15th street as dual branded Denver hotel. 
• Renovated and reopening March 2021 is The Clayton, a boutique hotel in North Chery Creek neighborhood of Denver, formerly the Inn at Cherry Creek.
• Hyatt Centric Denver, opening in 2021 in downtown Denver at 1776 Champa Street.
• Another new Denver luxury hotel opening in 2021 is the Thompson Denver by Hyatt, offering walking distance to Denver’s Union Station.
• An arrival of its urban, upscale boutique brand, Vīb by Best Western Hotel & Resorts, is opening in Denver’s River North District (RiNo) in 2021 — joining other metro hotels by featuring a rooftop bar, sure to become the newest romantic Denver couples resort.

As we look into 2021 and beyond, Denver has several work-in-progress hotel projects:

Denver’s Hotel Boom

Downtown Denver offers visitors a whopping 11,000 rooms within a short walking distance of the Colorado Convention Center, and for those leisure travelers searching for luxury, discover nearly 50,000 first-class hotel rooms in the greater metro area. Here’s a rundown of new hotels that just opened or are about to.

Sheraton Downtown Denver to debut its $80M transformation in 2020. Photo: Sheraton Downtown Denver

The Sheraton Denver Downtown has kicked-of an $80M transformation that affects the entire hotel from a new arrival experience to renovated meeting space and 1,231 newly redesigned guest rooms — and more. Sheraton Denver Downtown is one of the Sheraton brand’s flagship properties and among the first in the country to undergo the larger brand revitalization that will ultimately transform all future Sheraton hotels.

To be located across from the convention center, the new 28-story Marriott in downtown Denver breaks ground in early 2020. Rendering: Focus Property Group

To be located across from the Colorado Convention Center (see above rendering), the 28-story Marriott proposed 525-room hotel has plans to be one of the largest in downtown. Denver based Focus Property Group reported groundbreaking in early 2020 at 727 14th Street, with a projected opening in 2022. 

Earlier this month, Central Street Capital, Inc. announced Hotel Perenne, the first-ever boutique hotel to open in Denver’s thriving Lower Highlands (LoHi) neighborhood. Located at 2500 18^th Street, Hotel Perenne will feature 70 rooms and an upscale bar and restaurant. The 70-room hotel, complete with an upscale restaurant and bar, is anticipated to break ground in summer 2020 and open by summer 2021.

The 8-story, 153-room Even Hotel by InterContinental Hotel Group will open in late 2020 at 2250 Blake Street in Denver.

The McGregor Square Hotel by Sage Development will open in 2021 at Coors Field near 20th Street as a luxury 176-roo hotel with meeting space. It will also house the Colorado Rockies Hall of Fame and 30,000 square feet of the outdoor plaza.

Several hotels in the works with opening dates to be determined including:

• Stonebridge Companies will open a downtown 7-story hotel at 1701 Blake Street.
• Thompson Denver, 1600 Market Street, 214-room, 11-story hotel with a rooftop bar.
• Ace Hotel at 1840 Grant St & 1834 Logan St, 11 story hotel.
• Denver’s Five Points neighborhood will welcome The Rossonian Hotel. This boutique hotel will take up floors two through four, with a ground floor restaurant and basement jazz and music venue, opening date to be determined.
• Hawkeye Hotels plans to open a dual-brand hotel (Fairfield Inn & Suites and TownePlace Suites) at 1320 Glenarm Place in downtown Denver.

Another hotel is landing in Cherry Creek North, according to Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle. The Creek’s latest hotel will be a 12-story, 150-room hotel, just south of the heart of Cherry Creek at 370 S. Garfield St. The AC Hotel by Marriott plans to open by December 2021.

Beyond Denver — Colorado’s Notable Renovations and New Hotels

The Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs is finishing up major renovations to be completed by winter 2020. Under its new ownership, the historic hotel is remodeling its meeting rooms, guest rooms, and common spaces while staying true to its history. In the process, there have been some significant historic discoveries.

Opening late 2020 in Downtown Colorado Springs, Kinship Landing is a new hotel concept that will offer what today’s travelers demand: authentic and engaging travel experiences that connect them to the local community. The boutique hotel will feature a community space to talk about the day’s adventures along with lockers equipped with charging stations and available for gear storage, an inviting bar area and more.

Gravity Haus will debut in December 2019 and is a ski-in/ski-out boutique property in Breckenridge. Designed to activate a community of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts year-round, Gravity Haus will offer ongoing insider experiences ranging from outdoor excursions to social programming and will feature 60 distinctly curated rooms. Onsite amenities at Gravity Haus will include Dryland fitness and a sports recovery center, expert-led backcountry experiences, a super trampoline, farm-to-cup Unravel coffee, nourishing dining at Cabin Juice, Japanese-inspired onsen and more.

Toward the end of 2020, Center Village at Copper Mountain will welcome a new (and its first!) hotel. The anticipated four-story Element 29 Copper Mountain will have 127 guest rooms and offer a mix of two queen beds, king beds, and suites. The property will feature an outdoor patio nestled along West Ten Mile Creek complete with fireplaces and hot tubs, giving guests a chance to unwind and soak in the views after a day on the slopes.

Denver Metro Hotels that Opened in 2018 and 2019

But Denver metro has more! Here’s a rundown of new hotels that opened in 2018 and 2019.

In April 2018 in RiNo (River North Art District) neighborhood, The Ramble Hotel Denver introduced an independently owned hotel with 50 guestrooms, featuring an outdoor courtyard and lobby bar, Death & Co. Denver.  The latter is an outpost of a decade only New York City bar of the same name. Although I have not stayed here yet, I’ve spent some time at Death & Co. Denver, and it is always packed. Parking is an issue here (and it’s on the edge of a neighborhood with some challenges). The best plan is to opt for valet parking, Uber or Lyft down, or use Denver’s public transit options.

Photo credit: Ramble Hotel Denver

Another independent hotel, the Source Hotel + Market Hall, opened in September 2018. This collection of independent retail, and restaurants, with 100 hotel rooms in the heart of Denver’s River North Art District billed as a “Lifestyle Hotel and Artisan Market Hall.” Again, this is a newly developed area with limited street parking, but there is a parking structure next to the hotel.

With an address near Coors Field, the Hilton Garden Inn Union Station reuses the historic Denver Hose Company No. 1 building, one of the city’s oldest and most unique landmarks. This hotel debuted in 2019.

Staybridge Suites Denver Downtown Hotel is an extended stay option in the Tremont Place Complex of downtown. Opened in June 2018, this hotel is another budget-friendly option to include complimentary breakfast.

Another Cherry Creek hotel opened in October 2018 with yet another rooftop pool, the Jacquard Denver Cherry Creek. This Denver metro hotels offers 201 rooms and suites ranging from 400 to 585 square feet. Get in touch with nature and soak in the sun with its panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains from its rooftop bar and pool.

King guest room at the Jacquard Hotel Denver Cherry Creek, opened in October 2018.

Two Element Hotels by Marriott opened in Denver in the spring of 2019.  One will open in Golden Triangle District off of downtown, the Element Denver Downtown East, while the other will be located near the airport, the Element Denver International Airport.

Next up for a been-there-done-that Hotel Scoop review is the August 2018 opening of the Origin Red Rocks. Located near the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, host to amazing concerts, the Origin Red Rocks will offer shuttle service to and from these shows. Since I live in the west part of town and love to go to these concerts, a boutique hotel close to Red Rocks will be priceless!  At the hotel, guests can enjoy a restaurant, bar, and event space.

And yet another exciting opening near the Denver International Airport was the December 2018 debut of the Marriott-branded Gaylord. The Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado, will officially open its doors on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. The resort, a marquee property for Marriott International, was the fifth Gaylord Hotels resort in the nation and one of the largest hospitality industry projects to break ground in the U.S. at the time. It is now the largest combined resort and convention center in Colorado.

Photo credit: Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Colorado

Several years ago, I experienced the Gaylord Texan, Grapevine, and I took the family in 2019 to check out the Gaylord Rockies.

This gives the consumer a lot more hotel choices and better pricing of the Mile High City’s inventory of family-friendly, romantic, and business hotels.

Other Hotel Openings in Denver, Prior to 2018

The Maven Hotel Dairy Block of Denver near Union Station

Over the last several years, we’ve reviewed Denver’s newest hotels as they’ve opened including the Crawford Hotel at Denver’s Union Station, the Westin Denver Airport, The Maven, The ART Hotel, and Hyatt Place Denver Downtown. We’ve also written about the scoop of hotel openings and renovations in Metro Denver, including the new Extended Stay Residence Inn Boulder Broomfield/Interlocken and Embassy Suites by Hilton Boulder, as well as the renovated historic Hotel Boulderado.

Since then, we’ve welcomed many other downtown hotels including the sister hotels – Le Méridien Denver Downtown & AC Hotel Denver Downtown, featuring the highest rooftop bar in Denver.

Opened in August 2017, the Kimpton Hotel Born Denver (pictured below) is located next to Denver’s iconic Union Station. The 199-room hotel features a street-level patio and rooftop patio, a 2,000-square-foot fitness center, and two local-inspired, chef-driven restaurants and bars.

Kimpton Hotel Born Denver

Catering to the Millenials, the MOXY Denver Cherry Creek opened in November 2017 as one of the first budget-friendly hotels in Cherry Creek. This boutique hotel is in the heart of this upscale neighborhood with its hundreds of art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and spas. Room rates here start at $125 (while other hotel rates start closer to $200+).

MOXY Denver Cherry Creek

In 2016, Cherry Creek also welcomed another signature and chic hotel, the Halcyon, gifting Denver metro with yet another rooftop pool. Although this Cherry Creek hotel does charge a usually unwelcome resort fee, I’m impressed with the long list of amenities that are included with this fee — check out its Destination Amenity fee here.

The upscale Denver neighborhood of Cherry Creek welcomed Halcyon in 2016 and another Rooftop pool.

Book any one of these Denver hotels through Hotels.com, Expedia or other online booking sites.

Photo credits: The individual Hotels and Diana Rowe.