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Rare enough that a conference lasts for four decades, even rarer that that the meeting not only is hosted by the same venue but that the organizers declare that after 40 years they plan to stay. That’s exactly the case for the "40th Annual Cardiovascular Conference at Snowmass," held in January—at the Silver Tree Hotel & Snowmass Conference Center, in Snowmass, Colorado.

The Annual Cardiovascular Conference is cosponsored by The American College of Cardiology and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and is an educational-based meeting, attended by Cardiovascular Physicians, Cardiovascular Nurses, Technicians, and others interested in cardiovascular medicine and surgery. The three-day conference—one of the most prominent of the specialty’s annual educational events—includes a variety of lectures, panel discussions and workshops and the 2009 edition attracted a reported 400 physicians and an estimated 1,500 non-physician attendees.

The director and founder of the Annual Cardiovascular Conference, John H.K. Vogel, selected the Silver Tree Hotel & Snowmass Conference Center for the event because the combined venues resulted in an atmosphere where health care professionals could relax with their families, get away from their daily practices and focus on learning about and discussing new medical treatments in the specialty. This type of meeting has become commonplace among many professions, but 40 years ago, according to Vogel, it was a new idea for doctors and he needed the right place to make it succeed.

"When the conference was originally organized, family involvement in meetings was an afterthought and definitely not a priority," said Dr. Vogel. "It was very important to me to offer both a cutting-edge educational agenda and a location that provided quality experiences for spouses and children."

Renowned as Ski-Meeting destination, the slopes are literally steps from the Silvertree Hotel & The Snowmass Conference Center—and the venue offers what many consider the best ski-in/ski-out experience in Colorado. In addition to Brother's Grille and the Village Steakhouse on property, the Snowmass Village Mall has more than 50 shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Visitors can also hop aboard the free gondola (referred to as "Skittles" by the locals) and take a quick ride to Snowmass Base Village, featuring additional restaurants and night clubs.

The conference center facilities include more than 42,000 square feet of state-of-the-art flexible meeting space, including the 4,400-square-foot Bedford Ballroom and the 10,823-square-foot Snowmass Ballroom.

As a setting for one of the leading meetings for professionals in the cardiovascular specialty, loyalty to the Silvertree properties has been well earned. "I chose this location 40 years ago because of location, convenience and family ambiance," said Dr. Vogel. "Forty years later, I am even more impressed with everything this place has to offer."