If you haven't been to Salt Lake in the past few years, you're in for an eye-opening ride--whether it's on the nearby ski slopes or the sleek new TRAX light-rail train. Since hosting the Olympic Winter Games of 2002, this city of more than 178,000 has gone from good to great. And with over $1.5 billion in construction projects in the planning stages in the central business district alone, plus a population surge that will almost double the number of people living downtown by 2010, Salt Lake stands ready to join the ranks of the major metropolitan centers of the West.

Spurred on by its hosting role in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Salt Lake began reinventing itself over the past decade. It started with improved infrastructure: rebuilt freeways, airport and convention center expansions, and a major light-rail system. All of those features have made the city more accessible and desirable than ever.

In addition to its easy accessibility from anywhere in the country, Salt Lake has established itself as a major outdoor destination in a cosmopolitan setting. Salt Lake's world-class ski resorts--Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude--are all within 30 minutes of such amenities as the newly designated AAA Five Diamond Grand America Hotel and its posh spa, or the Hotel Monaco, among numerous other top lodging options.

The city and its nearby canyons tempt diners with an appetizing selection of restaurants, populated by world-traveled chefs (recently termed the “Great Salt Lake Chef Migration”) cooking local and regional ingredients and serving them with award-winning wine lists. From Rocky Mountain cuisine to superb sushi, it's all here.

The Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination. Salt Lake is a unique fusion of metropolitan city and quaint mountain town; the towering Wasatch Mountains that embrace Salt Lake offer a dramatic backdrop to the vibrancy and activities of downtown. Having recently undergone a $58 million expansion, the Salt Palace Convention Center now boasts 679,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting space, ideal for groups of all sizes and needs. For more information on all that Salt Lake has to offer, visit www.VisitSaltLake.com.