Springs & Co.

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Oct 17, 2005

SHORTLINE HEADS SOUTH

The infiltration of Denver auto dealers continues. Shortline Automotive, which has been selling cars in Denver for 18 years, is building a Porsche franchise in Motor City, the Springs Mecca for car dealers.

Recently, Denver's Burt Automotive Network announced it will build several dealerships on 23 acres at the Powers Auto Park.

The family-owned and operated Shortline sells and services Subaru, Hyundai, Kia and Suzuki in Denver. It is one of the largest Subaru dealerships in the nation.

THE PROMOTION GAME

In the market for a free DVD player or a flat-screen TV?

Just book $5,000 in meeting business at the Sheraton Colorado Springs Hotel by year's end and the DVD is yours. Spend $20,000 and you get the TV.

Interstate Hotels & Resorts Inc., which owns the Sheraton, says the promotions pay off. A similar giveaway this year of iPod music players resulted in millions of dollars in bookings, including more than a dozen at the Sheraton.

Typically, a 100-guest wedding would generate $5,000 in revenue for the Sheraton; a two-day conference for 75 would produce $20,000.

A WIDER FOOTPRINT

Colorado Springs-based Insurance Technologies, an industry leader in providing software solutions to the insurance and financial services industries, has received a $5.4 million investment from Palm Beach Capital to expand its product line and geographic reach.

The company entered the international market last year, and Steve Leigh, senior vice president of sales and marketing, says the company wants to build on that by targeting Asia and Latin America as primary markets. Some repackaging of existing systems will be required for that initiative.

Insurance Technologies is also working on enhancing its core product, adding ancillary function and providing more flexibility in how customers use the system.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Debbie Kelley, Wayne Heilman, Jim Bainbridge