The Governor’s Awards for Outstanding Colorado Tourism Efforts are open to all individuals, businesses, organizations (non- and for-profit), associations and government agencies offering a tourism product or service in Colorado.

All nominations must fall within the scope of advancing tourism to or in Colorado. You may nominate yourself.

You will submit a nomination form for the person you are nominating. We may notify the nominator to ensure the winner attends the conference. Follow the link in the title to access the nomination form. 

New in 2023! Governor’s Award for Excellence in Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility in Tourism

• Please share your commitment to DEIA or how DEIA is embedded across your business goals and objectives. This can include any DEIA mission or commitment statements, individual commitments or goals and how DEIA plays an integral role in day-to-day activities to fulfill this commitment.
  • Please provide a high-level narrative or description of your current DEIA initiative or program. Please be sure to generally demonstrate within the description or narrative how your program aligns or has evolved within the below DEIA definitions:
  • Diversity: The representation of all varied identities and differences.
  • Equity: Quality of being fair and having the opportunity to have fair access to resources.
  • Inclusion: Building a culture of belonging by actively inviting the contributions and participation of all people that enables individuals and groups to feel safe, respected, engaged, motivated and valued, for who they are and for their contributions toward organizational and societal goals.
  • Accessibility: The practice of making information, activities and/or environments sensible, meaningful and usable for as many people as possible.
• Please share how your DEIA initiative has impacted your community and identify stakeholders benefiting from this work.
• Please provide documentation/testimonials from partner organizations or community stakeholders impacted by your DEIA initiative.
• Please provide any additional narrative to demonstrate you or your organization’s leadership in advancing DEIA to drive meaningful change and impact to improve Colorado’s hospitality and tourism industry.
• Please provide any photos, videos, or other assets that demonstrate the nominee’s work throughout the year (optional).

NEW in 2023! Governor’s Award for Top Tourism Workplace

• Please provide example(s) of intentional efforts to create a healthy company culture.
• Please provide information about your employee retention rates.
• Please provide example(s) of how leadership is involved and engaged with employees.
• Please provide example(s) of how positive company culture has benefited overall business performance.
• Please provide any additional information, photos, videos or other assets that demonstrate the nominee’s work throughout the year (optional).

Governor’s Award for Exemplary Community Tourism Initiative

• Please provide example(s) of how the community/region has demonstrated excellence in a tourism event, promotion or project and how it has contributed to promoting tourism in the community/region/state.
• Please provide example(s) of how the community/region has shown creativity and innovation in the initiative.
• Please provide example(s) of how the community/regional initiative contributed to the local/regional/state economy.
• Please share if the community or region incorporated sustainable practices in the initiative, please provide examples (optional).
• Please share if the community/region used coalitions or partnerships in the initiative, including investing public and private resources (in-kind or monetary), please provide examples (optional).
• Please share if the community or region incorporated diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the initiative, please provide examples (optional).
• Please provide any photos, video, or other assets that support the nomination, (optional).

Governor’s Award for Outstanding Colorado Tourism Champion

• Please provide the number of years the nominee has been in the tourism industry.
• Please share a description of the nominee’s involvement in the Colorado tourism industry, including role and responsibilities.
• Please provide two or three examples of the nominee’s significant contributions to Colorado tourism that demonstrate leadership, vision and inspiration that show creative and innovative approaches.
• Please provide any additional information about the nominee that you would like the judges to consider.
• Please provide photos, videos or other assets that demonstrate the work of the individual throughout the year (optional).

Governor’s Award for Rising Tourism Star 

• Please provide the number of years the nominee has been in the tourism industry.
• Please share at least three reasons why this individual should receive the Rising Tourism Star Award.
• Please provide examples of the nominee’s service/accomplishments in tourism.
• Please provide examples of nominees' enthusiasm and energy for the tourism industry.
• Please provide any photos, videos or other assets that demonstrate the nominee’s work throughout the year (optional).

Governor’s Awards for Creative Marketing Campaign 

• Please provide a description of the marketing campaign and how it has contributed to promoting tourism in the community or region in Colorado.
• Please provide an example(s) of the marketing campaign’s contribution to the local/state/regional economy.
• Please provide example(s) of how the campaign used creativity in the form of media, public relations, special promotions or direct marketing.
• Please share if sustainable messaging was incorporated within the marketing campaign, please provide examples (optional).
• Please share if a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion was incorporated within the marketing campaign, please provide examples (optional).
• Please provide any photos, videos or other assets that support the nomination (optional).

Jack Snow Award for Outstanding Volunteer

• Please share at least three reasons why this individual should receive the outstanding volunteer award.
• Please provide the nominee’s volunteer activities, length of service and any accomplishments.
• Please list only volunteer work for which no compensation was received.
• Please provide any photos, videos or other assets that demonstrate the nominee’s volunteer work throughout the year (optional).

In addition to the specific criteria listed below, nominations are first vetted through an internal compliance review to ensure eligibility and that all required materials have been submitted. Incomplete nominations may be rejected. The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) will appoint a committee to review eligible nominations. Awards will be based on the committee’s nomination scores and CTO final approval.

New in 2023! Governor’s Award for Excellence in Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility in Tourism
Judging Criteria: 

• Demonstrated commitment to DEIA
• Demonstrated leadership in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives
• Industry and community impact

NEW in 2023! Governor’s Award for Top Tourism Workplace
Judging Criteria: 

• Company efforts to recognize and build up their employees via innovative programming/mentoring
• High employee retention rates
• High quality of life benefits/incentives (profit sharing, free memberships, wellness offerings, dedicated rest spaces, free counseling sessions, etc.)
• Positive business outcomes relating directly to company culture

Governor’s Award for Exemplary Community Tourism Initiative 
Judging Criteria: 

• Well received by market constituents
• Demonstrates creativity and innovation
• Contributes to tourism and economy in community/region/state
• Measurable impact

Governor’s Award for Outstanding Colorado Tourism Champion
Judging Criteria:

• Has been in the tourism industry more than five years
• Significant contribution
• Dedication to Colorado tourism
• Leadership, vision and inspiration
• Creative and innovative approaches

Governor’s Award for Rising Tourism Star 
Judging Criteria: 

• Has been in the tourism industry less than five years
• Demonstrates the skills, talents, attitudes, initiative and leadership that are the hallmarks of a rising star
• Enthusiasm and energy
• Dedication to Colorado tourism

Governor’s Awards for Creative Marketing Campaign 
Judging Criteria:

• Clear, effective, focused and innovative
• Measurable contributions to the local and regional tourism economy
• Use of creative elements in media, public relations, special promotions and/or direct marketing
• Sustainability messaging or a focus on DEIA

Jack Snow Award for Outstanding Volunteer
Judging Criteria: 

• A commitment to the project at hand
• Flexibility and energy
• Creativity and imagination
• Integrity, sacrifice and selflessness

Finalists will receive: 

• Mention in CTO communications leading up to the conference
• Free awards dinner registration
• Recognition at the Colorado Tourism Governor’s Conference Awards Dinner on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 in Fort Collins.

All winners will receive:

• Recognition at the Colorado Tourism Governor’s Conference Awards Dinner on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 in Fort Collins.
• A commemorative award to be presented at the Governor’s Awards for Outstanding Colorado Tourism Efforts on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, in Fort Collins.
• Recognition on the CTO’s industry website and newsletter.
• Mention in a press release with possible subsequent media coverage.