Scharf Tapped to Head Visitors Bureau

"I'm really pleased they chose Richard," a Denver attorney and consultant tells GlobeSt.com. "It's so easy to bring in an 'expert' from outside of the city."

The bureau launched a nationwide search in December and received 150 applicants."After careful and objective evaluation, we came to the conclusion that Richard was the best choice to lead the efforts to attract visitors to our area," says Scott Bemis, bureau board chairman and publisher of the Denver Business Journal. "The search committee and the board are impressed by both his industry knowledge and his passion for Denver," Bemis adds. "His track record has resulted in numerous success stories in making Denver an event more desirable stop for conventions and visitors."

For example, he was the driving force in landing the American Society of Association Executives, the "Super Bowl" of annual conventions. Scharf says the ASAE convention already had resulted in about $200 million in bookings to Denver.

Scharf has been acting president of the convention and visitor's bureau since November. He replaces Eugene Dilbeck, who was fired last year after the local ABC affiliate, Channel 7, showed some members of Dilbeck's staff attending an after-work social act at a strip club that was a member of the organization. Board members criticized Dilbeck's judgment at the time.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper says the board made a good decision by promoting Scharf. "Richard Scharf is one of the most capable managers I know," Hickenlooper says. "For almost a decade, he has managed what is widely acknowledged across the country as one of the best sales teams in the convention industry."

Scharf notes that the $308 million doubling of the Colorado Convention Center will open in December, and the 1,100-room Hyatt convention center hotel will open a year later. "This is a great time for Denver's convention and tourism business," Scharf says. "This is a growth industry for Denver and Colorado.