Colorado Continues Tradition of Industry Leadership with Award-Winning PR, Influencer, Stewardship and Innovation Campaigns
DENVER, CO, Febaruary 19, 2026 - The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) is proud to announce it has received four honors at the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Adrian Awards, recognizing excellence across public relations, sales and marketing.
Building upon a legacy of accolades, the Colorado Tourism Office’s recognition at this year’s HSMAI Adrian Awards marks the fourth consecutive year the organization has been honored for its marketing and communications work. This year’s awards reflect the breadth of the CTO’s efforts and its commitment to delivering strategic, creative and impactful marketing that benefits communities across Colorado. The honors span four distinct categories, highlighting the organization’s excellence across multiple disciplines.
CTO Director, Timothy Wolfe, commented on the success, stating, "These campaigns showcase the creativity and dedication of the CTO team and its agency partners to inspire the world to explore Colorado responsibly and respectfully. From promoting destination stewardship to our elevated food scene , the recognition from HSMAI emphasizes the impact of thoughtful tourism partnerships across the state."
Silver (Best of Category) – Public Relations Campaign
Ouray: Breathing New Life into a Historic Western Colorado Town
CTO PR placed compelling editorial features in major national travel publications to inspire a high-value traveler to venture off the beaten path and explore Ouray during off-seasons, contributing to visitor dispersion, economic vitality and destination stewardship.
Silver – Influencer / Content Creation
Do Colorado Right: We Love You Influencer Partnership
CTO partnered with We Love You on an influencer-led, social-first activation that reimagined sustainable travel messaging through immersive storytelling.
Bronze – Purpose Driven Campaign
Do Steamboat Springs Right Activation
The Do Steamboat Springs Right Activation was a first-of-its-kind partnership demonstrating how tourism marketing can drive sustainable, in-destination behavior change.
Bronze – Innovation
Elevating Colorado’s Peak Culinary Scene with Blue Apron
CTO partnered with Blue Apron and Atlas Obscura on an innovation-led campaign that blended storytelling and destination marketing to reshape perceptions of Colorado's culinary scene.
The honored campaigns demonstrate the CTO’s ability to apply thoughtful strategy and creative execution across different objectives. From breathing new life into historic mountain towns and promoting responsible travel through influencer storytelling, to activating purpose-driven community initiatives and elevating Colorado’s culinary scene through innovative partnerships, each campaign reflects a shared commitment to sustainable growth and meaningful visitor engagement.
Media Contact:
Caitlin Johnson
720-233-8520
[email protected]
###
Adrian Awards Celebration: The CTO team was honored at the HSMAI Adrian Awards Celebration on Feb. 18, 2026, at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York, NY. This recognition reinforces the CTO's commitment to inspiring the world to explore Colorado responsibly and respectfully, empowering the tourism industry through collaboration, inclusivity, innovation and leadership. To learn more about the HSMAI Adrian Awards, visit adrianawards.hsmai.org.
About the Colorado Tourism Office: 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 2024, Colorado travelers spent $28.5 billion, generating $1.9 billion in local and state revenues, reducing the tax burden for every Colorado household by $816. For more information, please visit www.colorado.com.
About HSMAI: The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners, and is the industry’s leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing and optimize revenue through programs such as HSMAI Marketing Strategy Conference, Adrian Awards and Revenue Optimization Conference. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is a membership organization comprising more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. Connect with HSMAI at www.hsmai.org.