As the Mile High City prepares to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the staff of The Denver Marriott City Center Hotel is working 24/7 preparing to welcome more than 500 delegates, including those from Senator Barack Obama’s home state of Illinois, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Wisconsin. Among the many special features and amenities awaiting guests at the 600-room hotel are shortbread cookies at turndown made from one of Mrs. Obama’s favorite recipes, and bottles of “Honest Tea”, a cooling beverage Senator Obama enjoys on the campaign trail.

Centennial History:
It’s been 100 years since Denver hosted a political convention. Back in 1908, cross-country trains were the only way to reach the city Mayor Robert Speer dubbed “Paris on the Platte.” The Santa Fe Railroad included a Tammany Special Number One bringing New Yorkers to the Rocky Mountain town that most had never seen. As part of the observance of the centennial of the DNC, chefs at The Denver Marriott City Center Hotel are recreating the dining car menu in the main lobby on Sunday, August 24, to welcome their visitors. “We thought this would be a memorable way to capture the feel of the past, while allowing the chefs to put a new twist on the traditional dishes including sample sizes of  Lobster Cutlet, Cardinal; Prime Ribs of Beef; Roast Philadelphia Squab; asparagus vinaigrette; chicken okra; apple pie and assorted cakes” explained Debbie Karcanes, general manager. 

A Greener Future:
Besides celebrating the Convention Centennial, the hotel is offering a taste of a greener future. Echoing the DNC ’08 emphasis on eco-friendly products and practices, The Denver Marriott City Center menus will showcase a “Lean and Green” menu including “The All American Breakfast” offering Colorado organic eggs and juice choices. The eating healthy menus will extend to The Lounge where even the drinks will be organic, including sustainable wines and liquors like VeeV Gin, which is not only sustainable, but carbon neutral, with $1 of each drink going to the Marriott International Amazonas project to protect endangered Brazilian rainforest.  While enjoying cocktails with friends, delegates can pose with a life-sized Barack Obama cutout and have their picture taken for posterity and another memory of their Denver visit.

Checking in, members of the three delegations will receive unique State-specific key packets, personalized with their name, state flag, and state emblem. Instead of the traditional plastic key cards, guest keys will be made of eco-friendly wood and all information on schedules, street closings, and local attractions will be printed on recycled paper. A DNC “Challenge Coin” has been created as a check-in amenity, honoring a long-time military tradition dating back to World War II, which will commemorate the occasion of the week.

For those delegates staying on the hotel’s Concierge Floor, they will find the lounge stocked with books and DVD’s to read and view during their stay, including “All the President’s Men” and Senator Obama’s autobiographies “Dreams of my Father” and “The Audacity of Hope”. 

To help deal with the many requests from the thousand plus guests at the hotel, the staff will be augmented by volunteer interns from Johnson and Wales, a noted hospitality university with a campus in Denver. “Our guests are going to be on a whirlwind schedule while they attend the convention and all the parties and receptions throughout the week. We expect our staff will be working long hours, joined by members of the hotel management team to make certain room service meals are delivered , rooms are made up on time, and we are prepared to help our guests with the questions they will have about the week’ activities,” said Karcanes.

Special amenities at turndown will include Michelle Obama’s favorite Shortbread Cookies in place of mints on the pillow. Runners will find bottles of “Honest Tea” when they return from their morning jog—a favorite drink of the presumptive Democratic nominee.  Home grown Colorado peaches will also be placed in rooms as a typical example of local and organic produce. 

The Denver Marriott City Center Hotel is located at 1701 California Street in the heart of downtown Denver.

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