Dana Crawford Chats About the Opening of Denver’s Restored Union Station and The Crawford Hotel

Denver’s Union Station

I rarely write about a place without having visited it, however, in this case, I can do it with the utmost confidence. I’m talking about the newly restored Union Station in Denver and a splendid hotel housed within:  The Crawford. Both have been a labor of love of for Dana Crawford and Sage Hospitality, and Colorado is abuzz about the reopening of this landmark station and the unveiling of this unique hotel. Listen to what Ms. Crawford has to say about this enormous project, her passion for restoration and future plans in the works in my Travel Fun interview below.

Dana Crawford (third from the left) at the Opening of The Crawford

Dana, one of America’s leading forces in urban preservation, is responsible for revitalizing Denver as well as other parts of the United States. Thanks to her, much of Denver’s Lower Downtown, or LoDo, including stunning Larimer Square, was revitalized, making this area a vibrant, must-see destination in the Mile High city. Together Sage Hospitality and Ms. Crawford refurbished and polished up The Oxford Hotel, an historic  establishment considered to be the crown jewel of Denver boutique hotels for over a decade. The Crawford/Sage Hospitality team combined forces again in creating The Crawford, a luxury hotel that sounds as though it’s a real standout on the lodging landscape of Denver. (Remember I haven’t been there yet.)

Luxe Lodging at The Crawford

More Crawford Chic

Love this Bathroom!

One of the Details I Had to Document During a Recent Stay at The Oxford

The stately Denver Union Station Great Hall—which features soaring sixty-five-foot ceilings and houses an eclectic, handpicked mix of thirteen Colorado restaurants and retailers—serves as the main entrance and the lobby of the hotel. Crawford guests are met by a hotel ambassador toting an iPad to check them in. This fantastic mix of historic architecture and modern technology shows up everywhere from “The Pullman” rooms that evoke the heyday of train travel to the forty-six-inch Smart LED HD TVs in the rooms. Much like The Oxford, The Crawford—and the 120-year-old Union Station—showcase an inspiring collection of artwork, vintage photographs and memorabilia that have been lovingly sourced from throughout Colorado. I can’t wait to get there!

In case you’re not convinced, know that The Crawford emerged from a $54 million transformation of Union Station, a revered Beaux Arts treasure and the centerpiece of the $500 million redevelopment of downtown Denver’s transportation hub. RTD rail lines and buses are now connecting downtown Denver to its surrounding communities and direct light rail access will be available to/from Denver International Airport (DIA) by 2016. Woo-hoo! Maybe someday there will even be a train out to the Front Range mountain towns.

My Room at The Oxford

Listen to what Dana Crawford has to say about this and more by clicking on the play button below.

For other stories on The Oxford, Larimer Square and LoDo, read Bike Race Spectating, Colorado Touring, Book Promoting, Travel Adventures Galore Oh My, Spa Going:  The Perfect Antidote to Winter Blues, More LoDo Love and Night Out in Denver.

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