Denver Airport Getting New Westin

DENVER— The Denver Convention & Visitors Bureau reports that ground has been broken on a 518-room Westin Hotel, which will be built adjacent to Denver International Airport. The $125 million property will reportedly be the only hotel within 10 miles of DIA and will have 40,000 square feet of meeting space when it opens in late 2005. The four-diamond luxury, business-oriented property will be located at the southeast corner of Jeppesen Main Terminal and will be connected to the terminal by a covered pedestrian bridge. The new hotel is just one of several major projects at DIA, according to the CVB. The city is currently spending $297 million to add 10 new gates and six commuter gates to Concourse A. That project is expected to be completed in 2005. Construction is also taking place on a $160 million sixth runway which will open in September 2003. The 16,000-foot long runway will help Denver have longer international flights, said the CVB. Denver is also spending $300 million to double the size of the Colorado Convention Center by December 2004 and $300 million to construct an 1,100-room Hyatt Hotel, which will be adjacent to the expanded convention center when it opens in late 2005.