"Aurora’s new mega hotel, situated 7 miles from Denver International, opened Tuesday looking like a little city sprung up between the capital and the airport. Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center packs in 1,501 rooms, 486,000 square feet of meeting space, and seven food and beverage options, putting “everything in one place” for travelers who like that sort of thing. The Gaylord hotel brand, a Marriott offshoot, is expecting to do big business in Colorado with convention-goers, generating $275 million a year in economic activity. Operators told the Denver Post they already booked 1.1 million rooms over the coming years, including half the rooms for 2019. About those seven bars and restaurants (plus room service), they include a steakhouse, an Italian fine-dining spot, a sushi bar, a sports bar, a lobby bar, a marketplace, and a coffee shop. The sports bar has views of 75-foot TV screens; the lobby’s 75-foot atrium window looks out to the mountains and Denver’s skyline. Here are some words used in a press release to describe the various food offerings: “Angus beef,” “artisanal cheese,” “seasonally-inspired,” “modern sushi,” “mouth-watering burgers,” “late-night noshing,” “eclectic-inspired cocktails,” “grab-and-go,” and “Starbucks.” Outside, there’s a lazy river and mini golf." - Josie Sexton
