No rooms at the INN: visitors to the Democratic convention will find it tough to find accommodations for getaways beyond Denver as summer season is in full swing.

• Author: Ringo, Kyle
• Position: [EXECUTIVE MEETINGS]

Denver hotels will bulge to capacity in late August when the Democratic National Convention brings an estimated 50,000 visitors to town. Some of those delegates, political insiders and volunteers are expected to stick around to explore scenic mountain trails or take a load off at area resorts once the nominating process is complete.

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They might have a fight on their hands when it comes to finding accommodations at five-star hotels nearby and in the mountains. August traditionally is one of the busiest times of year for many destinations in the state, and at this point it doesn't appear soaring gas prices and greater traveling costs are preventing folks from planning getaways to the mountains.

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park is fewer than six miles from Rocky Mountain National Park and is a popular choice during the summer months with 138 rooms. Norma Wilt, corporate sales and marketing director for Grand Heritage Hotel Group, the parent company of the Stanley Hotel, said the Stanley doesn't have plans to capitalize on the convention or the aftermath because the hotel is close to capacity already at that time. It's a similar story told by others in the business.

The 3-year-old St. Julien Hotel and Spa in Boulder has about 200 rooms starting at $289 a night, and most were already sold out in late spring for the final two weeks in August just before and after the Aug. 25-28 convention.

"It's very close to when the University of Colorado has its move-in week," said Valerie Knorr, director of sales for the St. Julien in downtown Boulder. "A lot of the people are coming back, and parents are joining the students. So based on that, we really have no plans to try to promote ourselves any further."

The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs boasts 700 rooms, beautifully manicured golf courses at the foot of Pikes Peak and little availability around the convention. Allison Scott, director of communications for the Broadmoor, said in late May the hotel was in low double digits in available rooms around convention time. Scott said it is likely some of the hotel's bookings at that time have come from convention goers, but it is impossible to know how many.

Scott said the hotel is normally close to full throughout August, and this summer already figures to be one the busiest in recent memory with the U.S. Senior Open golf tournament scheduled to be played at the Broadmoor July 31-Aug. 3. The Broadmoor is working with the Denver Metro...