Colorado Governor's Tourism Conference

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Sponsorship Opportunities are now available for the 2023 Colorado Governor's Tourism Conference, taking place Sept. 27-29 in Fort Collins. Connect with tourism industry professionals and get acknowledged for all that you do to promote Colorado. Plus, check out the CTO 2023 Gov Con Partner Opportunity – for $1,500 you can align your brand with this year’s conference and receive four Gov Con registrations. 

The Governor’s Awards for Outstanding Colorado Tourism Efforts honor individuals and organizations by recognizing excellence in the Colorado tourism industry. Awards are presented at the Colorado Governor's Tourism Conference each fall during an awards ceremony. For more information about how to submit a nomination, please visit the awards page. 

This year's award categories are as follows:

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

• Recognizes and celebrates an individual or organization who has shown exemplary leadership in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives to drive meaningful change and impact to improve Colorado’s hospitality and tourism industry. 

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

• Recognizes an organization where being a part of a team is about more than a paycheck. This is a workplace where employees are encouraged to grow and succeed via innovative programming, strong mentoring, high quality of life benefits or other creative incentives that make work fun and engaging for all.

Governor’s Award for Exemplary Community Tourism Initiative 

• Recognizes an activity, event or project by a community or region to promote tourism in Colorado.

Governor’s Award for Outstanding Colorado Tourism Champion 

• Recognizes an individual that has been in the tourism industry for more than five years and has made significant contributions towards promoting and developing the Colorado tourism industry.

Governor’s Award for Rising Tourism Star 

• Recognizes an individual who is new to the tourism industry – within the last five years – and has shown leadership, commitment and a passion for Colorado’s tourism industry.

Jack Snow Award for Outstanding Volunteer

• Recognizes an individual who has volunteered their time by promoting Colorado and provides exemplary customer service.

Governor’s Awards for Creative Marketing Campaign 

• Recognizes a Colorado organization for either a single targeted promotion or a full campaign to recognize creativity and excellence in promoting tourism.

Jack Snow Award for Outstanding Volunteer

• Recognizes an individual who has volunteered their time by promoting Colorado and provides exemplary customer service.
• The Outstanding Volunteer Award was presented to Jack Snow for his 26 years of volunteer service at the Trinidad Colorado Welcome Center. Jack served his community by sharing his great knowledge and love for the state, which is now carried on by his wife, Barbara Snow, who is also a lifetime volunteer at the Welcome Center. “He would be humbled but pleased that the state is acknowledging the value of welcome center volunteers,” said Barbara. 
• Jack received this award in 2011 and the CTO has since named the award in his honor.

The Colorado Tourism Office offers two scholarships to help tourism professionals and students offset the cost of attending the conference for the first time.

The Colorado Governor's Tourism Conference Professional Scholarship is available for first time conference attendees, and covers conference registration and up to $350 in reimbursement for lodging and mileage expenses.

The Colorado Governor's Tourism Conference Student Sponsorship is available for university student, first time attendees. The sponsorship covers conference registration and hotel.