Tourism & Conventions: Leading Denver out of the Recession with Richard Scharf

VISIT DENVER, the convention and visitors bureau, headed by President and CEO Richard Scharf is responsible for bringing in world class conventions, as well as over 12 million visitors a year to Denver. 

For the past two years he was asked by the Governor to serve as chairman of the board for the Colorado Tourism Office. Scharf was one of the chief consultants for studies conducted about the expansion of the Colorado Convention Center and the construction of Denver’s 1,100-room Hyatt Regency Convention Center Hotel. In 2005, Scharf led a successful campaign to increase the lodging tax in Denver in order to competitively market Denver as a convention and leisure destination.

ABOUT RICHARD SCHARF

Richard W. Scharf Jr. was named president & CEO of the VISIT DENVER, the Convention & Visitors Bureau in March 2004. Scharf worked for VISIT DENVER since 1993, most recently as the executive vice president of sales and marketing. From 1988-1993, he owned a publishing and consulting company representing more than 400 colleges and universities as conference sites. His career in the hospitality industry began with Hilton Hotels in 1983.

Scharf is a graduate of Purdue University and lives in Littleton, Colorado, with his wife Cindy and their two daughters.

www.denver.org

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