Lauren Ripko Named Senior Sales & Catering Manager at Garden of the Gods Collection
A Seasoned Account Director and Events Manager, Ripko Brings Nearly 20 Years of Experience to Garden of the Gods Collection Team
Garden of the Gods Collection, a private club and luxury resort, today announced the appointment of Lauren Ripko as the property's new senior sales and catering manager. Ripko joins the team with nearly 20 years of experience in event curating, marketing and other facets of the hospitality industry. Raised in a small town in Kansas, Ripko moved to Denver to earn a Graphic Design Degree from the Art Institute of Colorado. She began her career in hospitality as a member of the conference services team for a Denver Marriott property and worked various jobs in hotels, ski lodges, restaurants, bars, floral design, and design studios.
Most recently, Ripko founded Quintessential Weddings & Events, a boutique Colorado planning and decor company. For the past ten years, Ripko has gained experience in wedding coordination and event planning through events such as the Denver Triathlon, Taste of the Highlands, the Highlands Harvest Festival, Taste of Old Colorado City, WestFest and hundreds of weddings.
"We're thrilled to welcome Lauren to our esteemed catering team," said Curtis Bova, the resort's director of sales and marketing. "Her extensive industry experience and passion for creating one-of-a-kind experiences for our guests make her an absolute asset to Garden of the Gods."
The catering team at Garden of the Gods Collection is dedicated to creating customized experiences for its guests. Under Ripko's direction, the Garden of the Gods Collection will continue to grow its venue and catering services, which recently added a new venue: The Kissing Camels Meeting and Event Space provides an additional 2,887 square feet of private meeting and special event space, offering spectacular views of Kissing Camels Golf Course, Pikes Peak and the red rock formations of Garden of the Gods.
In addition to her passion for event planning and the hospitality industry, Ripko enjoys spending time with her two sons, Finnegan and Cormack. She is a lover of art, art history, snowboarding, good food, whiskey and wine.
About Garden of the Gods Collection
Perched atop a mesa in Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods Collection is a private club and luxury resort that showcases expansive vistas of the Rocky Mountains, snow-capped Pikes Peak and the awe-inspiring National Natural Landmark, Garden of the Gods Park. Boasting a legendary history, the Collection has played host to some of America's most beloved characters, such as Walt Disney, Gene Autry and John Wayne, and today, the same beautiful setting continues to draw the famous and beckon travelers worldwide. Guests enjoy golfing at its 27-hole championship Kissing Camels course; tennis on two outdoor, and four state-of-the-art indoor courts; outdoor swimming pools; acclaimed dining offerings; and a new model of holistic healthcare delivery at the new Spa and International Health & Wellness Center. Here, guests will discover treatments not found elsewhere in the state, or the Rocky Mountain West, that integrate Eastern and Western medicine with a focus on proactive health and wellbeing. Bespoke programs for busy executives, groups and leisure travelers are offered by a team of acclaimed, board-certified physicians. Among other awards, Garden of the Gods Collection was named one of the best resorts in Colorado Springs by U.S. News & World Report in its 2017 Best Hotel Awards, and one of the state's "Top 100 Women Owned Businesses" by ColoradoBiz Magazine. For more information, call (800) 923-8838, visit www.gardenofthegodsclub.com, or follow @GardenoftheGodsCollection on Facebook, and @GGClubandResort on Instagram and Pinterest.
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