DENVER -- The Super Bowl of international travel is in town, bringing in more than 6,000 people from 70 different countries. For many of these travelers, it's their first time in the Mile High City.
The last time the International Pow Wow (IPW) convention was in Denver it was 1991, and it's safe to say the city has changed a lot since then. You don't have to go far from the Colorado Convention Center to see that tremendous growth and success are also bringing challenges.
Less than a half-mile away, the city's homeless problem is evident near the state Capitol building, and it seems to be getting worse. A spokesperson for Denver Human Services said homeless travelers are moving in for the summer. The city took part in a meeting with state officials on Tuesday to talk about how to address the issue.
Denver's image will drive future travel business, and this convention is expected to bring 700,000 international visitors to the area over the next three years. It's big money: those travelers could generate an estimated $1.5 billion in economic impact during that time.
Despite some of the city's challenges, visitors were quick to give Denver glowing reviews.
"The breweries here have blown me away. The food and the culture here, it's been very welcoming, it's a good scene," said JD Boyle, a visitor from California.