The Sundance Film Festival will relocate to Boulder, bringing with it the kind of tourism wave that once defined Park City, Utah. Boulder has already begun adjusting to meet the demand. City Council last Thursday gave initial approval for a Festival Lodging Ordinance that would allow homeowners to rent their properties more easily during major local events, easing the burden on the limited hotel supply. By the numbers, Boulder currently has only about 3,000 hotel rooms within city limits. Another 74,000 rooms are available within a 40 mile radius. The need for more capacity became clear as Sundance looks to replicate its previous impact, which drew 85,000 attendees to Park City. A City Council report projects that one third of the total headcount in 2027 will come from out of state. Boulder’s hotel landscape has already shifted. Two new properties opened this summer on University Hill and on the University of Colorado campus, Limelight Boulder and Moxie Boulder. These accommodations reflect both the rising demand tied to Colorado football’s surge in popularity and anticipation of larger cultural events such as Sundance. Not all properties are thriving. Boulder Broker Inn, once a popular choice, has seen its reputation erode over the past decade due to nearby drug activity. The site is now under consideration for redevelopment as part of the proposed Williams Village project. Hotel managers have voiced optimism. “We’re welcoming more visitors than ever, and those visitors’ needs and desires are shifting, so it’s exciting to watch Boulder shift too,” said the general manager of the St. Julian Hotel in downtown Boulder. For residents, the activity will be visible even before Sundance arrives. Boulder will host FounderCon from September 15 to 17, a TechStars global gathering. TechStars CEO David Cohen described the event as more than a networking opportunity, framing it as a celebration of the achievements of the community. As someone now based in Colorado, I plan to attend FounderCon personally. The festival and the convention highlight the benefits of being part of a dynamic metro hub where global cultural and business events meet local community life. Boulder’s preparation for Sundance is not just about hotels and lodging ordinances, it is about embracing a new chapter in the city’s identity.