VenuHub Presents...Camp Elevate 2026 - Denver Event Industry Conference

is a one-day event industry conference in Denver for planners, vendors, venue teams, and hotel professionals.

This is informational only and tickets are available at https://venuhub.com/camp-elevate-2026-event-industry-conference/

Open to anyone working in events—no VenuHub membership required.

This is a day built around how the industry is operating right now. The pace has shifted, timelines are shorter, expectations are higher, and many teams are doing more with less.

Camp Elevate brings people together to step out of the day-to-day, learn what’s working across different parts of the industry, and spend time with others who understand the work.

The day includes a morning keynote from Adrienne Gardner of The Gardner Effect, nine breakout sessions across three rooms, a panel conversation, campfire-style discussions, and multiple opportunities to connect throughout.

The first 200 attendees to RSVP will receive a custom-designed canvas duffle, created by local artist Chris Haven—a collectible piece from the day.

Info: Registration & Breakfast Reception
Start the day connecting—coffee, breakfast, and a full room of event pros. Tunes from Jason Gregory.
Headshot Lounge
Joe Keum — Studio JK Photography/The Portraits Lounge
Meka McBoat — McBoat Photography
Amanda Maughmer — Pink Poppy Media
Jewels Gray — White Buffalo Photography
Professional headshots available during arrival.
Event Photography
Ali Horner — Ali & Garrett Photography
Videography
Jesse Nye — Create & Capture
Capturing the energy, movement, and behind-the-scenes moments throughout the day.

Info: Welcome — Jason Gregory, Emcee for the day
Intention Setting with Sound Bath — Brett Engle (Innovative Yogis) & Jeni Hale (Joyful Living by Jeni)

Info: The Last-Minute Buyer: Understanding the New Event Decision-Maker
The way events are being booked has shifted—and it’s not temporary.
Today’s buyers are waiting longer, deciding faster, and expecting businesses to keep up. Most sales and operational systems were built for a different kind of client—one who planned further ahead and moved at a slower pace.
Using real industry data and behavioral insights, this session explores the gap between how buyers make decisions today and how businesses are still trying to respond.
What you’ll walk away with:
• A clear understanding of how event buyers are making decisions now
• Why traditional timelines no longer apply
• A framework for handling short-window inquiries without overwhelming your team
• Adjustments to sales approach and communication that match faster, more decisive buyers
• Practical ways to stay aligned with shifting behavior

Info: Recharge with Coffee, energy drinks, snacks, and connection before breakouts begin.

Info: Join Kristin Hutton, CMP / Meow Wolf, Katelyn Peterson and Tracey Mattoon-Amos / Denver Art Museum Events & Operations team, and Alistair M Hawkes, MA, LPC, Burnout Specialist, for sessions focused on growing into your role, working better across teams, and staying steady in a fast-paced industry. From building confidence and navigating complex projects to understanding how departments align behind the scenes—and managing burnout along the way—this block offers practical insight for wherever you are in your career. Select the best fit for you day of!

Info: Performance, Strategy & Reset

Join Adrienne Gardner (The Gardner Effect), Chuck Isaac Aikens (Tymoo), and Brett Engle (Innovative Yogis), Bridget Molloy (Bridget’s Botanicals), and Jen Caines (Moksha Artisanal Chocolates/Mushroom Chocolates) for sessions focused on improving how you sell, how you show up in search, and how you sustain your energy along the way. From refining sales habits and adapting to AI-driven discovery to building simple, effective reset practices during high-pressure stretches, this block is designed to help you perform at a higher level without burning out. Select the session best for you day of!

Info: A quick & delicious build your own boxed lunch designed to keep the day moving - grab what you like, find a seat, or connect with someone new before the next session.

Menu Includes:

Salad
Mr. Miyagi Salad — mixed greens, radish, cucumber, tomato, mandarin orange, served with carrot ginger dressing

Sandwich Buffet
Roast Beef — provolone, lettuce, tomato, horseradish cream on a hoagie roll
Roasted Turkey — Swiss, lettuce, tomato, peppercorn aioli on sourdough
Vegetarian Wrap — roasted portobello, squash, zucchini, red onion, roasted peppers, balsamic in a spinach wrap

Sides
Kettle chips
Terra chips
Cookies

Info: Basecamp: The Long Game

Join moderator Lianne Van Wagner (Rembrandt Yard / VenuHub Boulder) and panelists Savanna McKinney (Auraria Campus), Ashlee Holmsen (Spruce Mountain Ranch), Brett Engle (Innovative Yogis), Sarah Amick (Footers Catering / Social Capitol / mibe), and Jenelle Yarish (The Curtis Hotel) for a conversation on what it takes to build a career that lasts in the event industry.

This panel brings together perspectives from venues, catering, hospitality, wellness, and campus events to explore how growth evolves over time, how ambition shifts, and what it takes to stay grounded in a fast-paced, relationship-driven industry.

Topics may include career growth across different paths, building support systems in high-demand roles, setting boundaries, earning respect across teams and partners, and what helps people stay in this work for the long game.

Info: Join Jeff Libby (MiHi Entertainment), Meka McBoat (McBoat Photography), Joe Keum (Studio JK Photography), Harvey Williamson (Attorney) and Dawn Williams (VenuHub), Carlo Stuart (Denali Alignment), and Paige Apostoli (Apostoli Collective) for conversations centered on building something of your own, navigating legal and operational realities, and developing relationships that support long-term growth.

From solo entrepreneur stories and lessons learned along the way, to what’s worth knowing when it comes to contracts and city requirements, to how people build their network, reputation, and sense of belonging in the industry—this block brings together perspectives that don’t always get talked about in one place.

Info: Stay, play, and grab your bag before heading out! Wrap the day with time to relax, connect, and enjoy the space. Open Play is designed to be easy and social—move around, try something new, or settle in and continue conversations from earlier in the day.

Activations include:

B12 Shots (US Mobil Medic), Oxygen Bar (Colorado Mountain Oxygen), Emma Paints Colorado Station, Fairy Floss Cotton Candy Station, Plant your Plant Station by Pansy Punk Studios, Bridget’s Botanicals activation
Moksha Artisanal Chocolates & Mushroom Chocolates, Oversized patio games, appetizers and bar.

Whether you’re connecting with someone new or spending time with familiar faces, this is a chance to end the day on a high note.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

the Curtis Denver - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 1405 Curtis Street, Denver, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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