Ten Colorado destination organizations were selected to participate in a new program that furthers destination development in their communities&nbsp;

DENVER, CO, July 21, 2023&nbsp;— The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) announced today the 10 participants of Destination Blueprint. Through Destination Blueprint, the CTO seeks to serve as the extended strategy and implementation team for Colorado destination organizations. Successful implementation will increase alignment between local tourism stakeholders and advance priority tourism projects in local communities across Colorado.&nbsp;

“With destination stewardship as a core pillar in tourism strategy, our programs support destinations that balance quality of life for residents, quality of visitor experiences, while also enhancing our environment,”&nbsp; said Timothy Wolfe, CTO Director. “Providing new programs such as Destination Blueprint, is vital to maintaining a healthy, resilient and diversified tourism economy throughout Colorado.”

Participating destinations will be paired with a tourism consultant that they will collaborate with to conduct an assessment of the destination, deliver a community visioning and action planning workshop, and implement 100 hours of project-based consulting. As a result, each organization will receive a stakeholder-driven action plan and advancement of priority actions within the plan.

Awarded destinations include:

<ul>
	<li>Chaffee County Visitors Bureau</li>
	<li>City of Trinidad</li>
	<li>Delta County</li>
	<li>Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce</li>
	<li>Saguache County Tourism Council</li>
	<li>Steamboat Springs Chamber</li>
	<li>Town of Nederland&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Visit Grand Junction</li>
	<li>Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes</li>
	<li>Visit Ouray</li>
</ul>

Destination Blueprint builds on the findings from the Colorado Recovery Assistance For Tourism Programs and the Colorado Rural Academy For Tourism Programs that have been implemented by the CTO since 2014. A focus on striking a balance between driving visitation and enhancing residential quality of life is central to these offerings, and common focus areas include:

<ul>
	<li>Encouraging responsible and respectful use through educational messaging related to behavior on public lands and in communities</li>
	<li>Advancing tourism workforce through frontline staff training and other professional development opportunities</li>
	<li>Developing and enhancing visitor experience by launching new offerings like agritourism trails, stargazing activities and gravel adventure guides</li>
</ul>

“The last three years of Destination Development programs have provided our team with a unique understanding of the different barriers and opportunities facing destinations across the state,” said Andrew Grossmann, CTO Director of Destination Development &amp; Research. “We are excited to maintain our momentum with these partners to advance destination stewardship principles and further establish tourism’s role in fostering resilient communities across Colorado.”

Organizations were able to apply for this program May 9, 2023 through June 22, 2023. Each applying destination was required to identify one or more local champions to serve as the lead applicant. As a condition of selection to participate in a program, local champions must commit to at least 50 hours of work throughout the duration of the 11-month program. The program will kick off in August 2023 and conclude in June 2024. For more information about the Destination Blueprint program, please visit the program website, <a href="http://www.oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-tourism-office/destination-blueprint">www.oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-tourism-office/destination-blueprint</a>.&nbsp;

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About the Colorado Tourism Office:&nbsp;

The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) is a division of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade. The mission of the CTO is to empower the tourism industry by inspiring the world to explore Colorado responsibly and respectfully. The CTO seeks to advance the strength and resilience of the entire industry through collaboration, inclusivity, innovation and leadership. In 2021, Colorado travelers spent $22.5 billion, generating $1.5 billion in local and state revenues, reducing the tax burden for every Colorado household by $690. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.colorado.com/">www.colorado.com</a>.&nbsp;

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