Many travelers see Denver International Airport as a means to an end—a place to buzz through on their way to ski resorts, hiking destinations or business meetings elsewhere. But, in recent years, the airport has evolved into a destination for business, events and overnight stays in its own right.
Against that backdrop, the Westin Denver International Airport has completed the first phase of a sweeping $25 million renovation project. The hotel, which opened in November 2015 and remains the only full-service stay with direct access to the airport, recently upgraded its 37,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces.
“Our goal with this transformation was to create meeting environments that feel intuitive, flexible and deeply connected to place,” says Kurtis Hanson, general manager of the Westin Denver International Airport. “As we mark 10 years, this investment reflects both the strength of the Denver market and our commitment to providing planners and attendees with spaces that support productivity, well-being and meaningful connection.”
The largest venue can accommodate up to 850 attendees, while a 10,000-square-foot foyer and pre-function area with panoramic mountain views serves as a central gathering point for networking, receptions and registration. Two expansive ballrooms anchor the space, complemented by a full suite of breakout rooms suited for workshops, training sessions, and executive meetings.
The hotel—instantly recognizable for its sleek, wing-shaped architecture beside the Jeppesen Terminal—updated all of its 21 event rooms and 15 breakout spaces with layouts designed to improve movement and reduce the stop-and-start fatigue common at large conferences. There’s new furniture, integrated greenery, LED lighting and materials intended to create a calm environment.
The renovations weave a distinctly Colorado sense of place throughout the hotel’s meeting environment. The design narrative draws inspiration from water’s role in shaping the American West, incorporating geometric carpet patterns inspired by agricultural irrigation systems and urban grids. The color palette features warm tans, layered greys and deep navy tones, creating a sophisticated, contemporary aesthetic grounded. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the pre-function areas frame expansive views of the Front Range, reminding visitors they are unmistakably in Colorado.
The concept also nods to Denver International Airport’s celebrated public art program, including the landmark “Outside In: Hotel and Transit Center Public Artwork” collection.
As a LEED Platinum-certified and Four Green Key property, sustainability is a major priority for the hotel—and that focus is reflected in the recent renovations. Even the carpets were selected with sustainability in mind: the Axminster flooring uses an 80 percent wool blend that is renewable, biodegradable and lower in VOC emissions. The design also incorporates trees into the pre-function area, where abundant daylight supports a sustaining interior habitat. More broadly, the hotel continues to prioritize energy efficiency, water conservation and responsible sourcing.
Meeting planners can access a variety of environmentally conscious offerings through the hotel’s “Your Event, Your Impact” carbon offset program, including digital signage to reduce printed materials, water bubblers to minimize single-use plastics and a meeting impact report to measure event impact. Each room night booked also contributes to a tree planting initiative, reflecting a long-term commitment to environmental stewardship.
Zooming out, the Westin’s upgraded event spaces strengthen Denver’s appeal as a host city for meetings, conferences, and corporate events. The renovation also reflects confidence in Colorado’s continued growth. The project is only the first phase of a larger property-wide transformation scheduled for completion in 2027 in partnership with JNS Architecture + Interior Design. Guest rooms, fitness facilities, restaurants and public spaces are all slated for upgrades.
The lobby is being reimagined with tiered alcoves, lounge clusters and built-in seating with power and storage to create distinct zones, while the restaurant, Grill & Vine, is getting a refreshed bar with new millwork, updated seating and improved lighting.
Denver International Airport, meanwhile, continues to see passenger traffic growth. In 2025, the airport saw its busiest year ever, serving a record 82,427,962 passengers during the year. That represents a 0.1% increase over 2024.
Much of that growth was driven by international passenger traffic, which increased 4.8 percent over 2024. Overall, DEN welcomed a record-high 4,867,484 international passengers, who made up 5.9 percent of DEN’s total passenger traffic. DEN’s largest carrier, United Airlines, set an all-time passenger traffic record with more than 41.4 million passengers, a 6.3 percent increase.
Additionally, the airport notched other milestones last year. All 12 months set new records for international passenger traffic, and six months of the year set new records for total passenger traffic by month. July 2025 was DEN’s busiest month ever, and the first month ever to exceed eight million passengers. July 6, a Sunday, was the busiest day through DEN’s TSA checkpoints with 97,507 passengers screened. Total cargo volume in 2025 exceeded 732 million tons, an increase of 0.1 percent over 2024. Cargo transported by all-cargo carriers increased by 0.9 percent for the year.
DEN is now the fourth-busiest airport in the U.S. and the 10th busiest airport in the world.
“Reaching another passenger traffic record reflects the fundamental resilience of air travel demand,” says Phil Washington, chief executive officer of Denver International Airport. “As we continue progressing toward serving 100 million annual passengers, DEN remains committed to expanding our infrastructure and enhancing global connectivity to support the future growth of Colorado’s economy.”
