Colorado Tourism Industry Leaders, Frontline Workers and Mascots Kick-Off the Summer Season at the Discover Colorado Rally

WHAT: Colorado legislators, tourism industry leaders led by Al White, director of the Colorado Tourism Office, tourism frontline workers and colorful mascots atop Denver B-cycles will gather to recognize National Travel and Tourism Week, kick off the start of the summer travel season and celebrate the power of travel and tourism in Colorado.

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WHO: The rally will feature colorful Colorado mascots, from the Victorian Ladies of the Molly Brown House to Bernie the St. Bernard from the Colorado Avalanche, along with remarks from the following:

Al White, Director, Colorado Tourism Office

Ken Lund, Executive Director, Office of Economic Development & International Trade

Tim Wolfe, General Manager at the Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs and Vice Chairman, Colorado Tourism Office Board of Directors

WHEN: Tuesday, May 1, 2012 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: West Steps of the Colorado State Capitol, 200 E. Colfax, Denver

WHY: Tourism, one of Colorado’s leading industries, employs nearly 138,000 people statewide. According to the Longwoods International Colorado Travel Year 2010 report, Colorado attracted 55.1 million domestic visitors, who spent approximately $14.6 billion in tourism-related expenditures generating $750 million in local and state taxes in Colorado.