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CTO Committees, Coalitions & Advisory Groups

CTO Committees, Coalitions & Advisory Groups

The Colorado Tourism Office is overseen by the Colorado Tourism Board. Each of our standing committees ensures the industry's input on Colorado Tourism Office initiatives and is chaired by a Colorado Tourism Board member. The Colorado Tourism Office also names task forces to seek industry input into short-term initiatives from time to time.

Committees

The Destination Development Committee meets quarterly to share resources and discuss barriers and opportunities for developing and managing tourism across the state.

Review the committee's roles and operating procedures.

Members

Chair: Laura Valdez, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

Colorado Tourism Office team members:

Andrew Grossmann
Hilary Lewkowitz

Members:

Adam Ducharme, Visit Leadville-Twin Lakes
Beth Sumner, Visit Alamosa
Cassidee Shull, Colorado Association of Viticulture & Enology
Corry Mihm, Colorado Agritourism Association
Dale Heckerson, Trinchera Ranch
Heather Anderson, Visit Greeley
Brian Bartlett, Mesa Verde Country Tourism
Marilee Johnson, Logan County Government
Nancy Kramer, Northwest Colorado Cultural Heritage Program
Pete Piccolo, Bicycle Colorado
Rick Wallner, Canyons & Plains
Tom Kleinshnitz, Moffat County Tourism Association
Weylin Ryan, Visit Durango

Ex-officio members:
Christy Costello, Colorado Creative Industries
Danielle Trotta, Colorado Department of Agriculture
Debbie Lininger, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Traci Stoffel, Colorado Department of Local Affairs/Main Street Program
Matt Nunez, Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office

The International Promotion Committee helps develop an international program to drive and promote travel to Colorado from international markets.

Review the committee's roles and operating procedures.

Members

Chair: Alex Boian, Vail Resorts

Colorado Tourism Office team members:
Andrea Blankenship
Julie Dufault
Hope Smith
Liz Birdsall (contractor)

Members:
Chris Pilley, Rocky Mountain Holiday Tours
Jesse Davis, Visit Denver
Katy Schneider, Visit Fort Collins
Kiera Skinner, Visit Telluride
Laura Jackson, Denver International Airport
Lisa Langer, Visit Glenwood Springs
Mary Motsenbocker, International Tourism Marketing
Nicolas Barrancos, Alterra Mountain Company
Brenda Lytle, Vail Resorts
Molly Keech, Cherry Creek North

The Tourism Marketing Subcommittee helps develop marketing strategies and campaigns that inspire travel to Colorado.

Review the committee's roles and operating procedures.

Members

Chair: Rachel Brown, Visit Durango

Colorado Tourism Office team members:
Shelley Cooper
Natazshya Rodriguez
Christina Tuchman
Michelle Wulfson
Hayes Norris

Members:

Melissa Williams, Visit Colorado Springs
Holly Blando, Breckenridge Tourism Office 
Elizabeth Fogarty, Visit Grand Junction
Justin Bresler, VISIT DENVER  
Katy Schneider, Visit Fort Collins
Lisa Langer, Glenwood Springs
Nick Ragain, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Pamela Denahy, Visit La Junta
Jennifer Green, Visit Pagosa Springs

Coalitions

The Inclusivity in Travel Coalition provides the Colorado Tourism Office with recommendations to develop and promote travel experiences centering on the interests and preferences of diverse travel audiences. The group also works to identify strategies creating and supporting a welcoming and safe environment for diverse travelers, in keeping with Governor Polis’ goal of promoting equity, diversity and inclusion throughout Colorado.

In an effort to develop and promote travel experiences centering on the interests and preferences of diverse and inclusive travel audiences and to identify strategies for creating and supporting a welcoming and safe environment for travelers, the CTO is creating a permanent Inclusivity in Travel Coalition.

Ongoing input from thought leaders and industry stakeholders is needed for surfacing high-level and on-the-ground perspectives from Colorado’s many regions, industry groups, local tourism stakeholders and communities. Listening to stakeholders and learning about opportunities and challenges will help the CTO move its diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility efforts in the direction that is most helpful to the Colorado tourism industry. Meetings will be announced on our Tourism Tuesday newsletter.

Co-Chairs:
Laura Valdez, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
Wanda James, Simply Pure

Facilitator: Melissa Cherry, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Miles Partnership

Members:

  • Sara Matthews, Visitor Services Manager, Visit Boulder
  • Ani Steele, Public Programs and Events Manager, History Colorado
  • Chelsea Elder, Executive Director, Adaptive Adventures
  • Helanius James Wilkins, Associate Chair & Director of Dance, Dept. of Theatre & Dance, CU Boulder
  • Jeannie McFarland Johnson, Director of Marketing & Communications, History Colorado
  • Angela Wilson, Founder & CEO, Exploryst PBC
  • Alicia Gresley, Owner & Director, On Mountain Time
  • Itzel Delgado Lara, Communications & Public Outreach Coordinator, Town of Silverthorne
  • Sheridan Powell, Communications Coordinator, Visit Colorado Springs
  • Dawn Richardson, Owner, Rising Sun Distillery, Trinidad Kayak Company
  • Gillian Rossi, Senior Park Ranger, City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services
  • Celeste Helminski, Director, Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce
  • Donna Childress, Principal, Childress Communications LLC
  • Heidi Pankow, Tourism Project Manager, Visit Glenwood Springs
  • Crystal Egli, CEO, Inclusive Guide
  • Kendall Akin, Creative Manager, Visit Estes Park
  • Mar Naibi, CCO, Pure Adventures Aspen
  • Topher Downham, Outreach and Accessibility Coordinator, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks
  • Meera N Rosser, Brand Marketing/Hospitality/Coaching

The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) and Leave No Trace founded the Care for Colorado Coalition in 2020. Now an alliance of more than 100 statewide organizations, state/federal agencies and businesses, the coalition is dedicated to educating Coloradans and visitors on how to protect the state’s extraordinary natural and cultural resources. 

2024 Partners:
*Last updated March 2024

  • AC Hotel Frisco Colorado
  • Alpine Media Technology
  • Angler's Covey 
  • Aspen Chamber Resort Association
  • Aspen Expeditions
  • Backbone Media
  • Basalt Chamber of Commerce
  • Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
  • Bicycle Colorado
  • BLM
  • Bottomless Backpacks
  • Boulder Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Breckenridge Grand Vacations
  • Breckenridge History
  • Breckenridge Open Space & Trails
  • Breckenridge Tourism Office 
  • Canyons & Plains of Southeast Colorado 
  • Carbondale Chamber & Tourism
  • CB/Mt CB Chamber of Commerce
  • Chaffee County Visitors Bureau
  • Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
  • City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services 
  • City of Lafayette
  • City of Lakewood
  • City of Manitou Springs
  • City of Trinidad Tourism & Visitor Center
  • City of Trinidad Lodging Tax Advisory Board
  • City of Wheatridge Parks & Recreation 
  • City of Woodland Park 
  • Clear Creek County Tourism
  • Colorado 4x4 Rescue and Recovery
  • Colorado Association of Destination Marketing Organizations (CADMO) * no website 
  • Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST)
  • Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE)
  • Colorado Avalanche Information Center
  • Colorado Campground & Lodging Owners Association (CCLOA)
  • Colorado Canyons Association
  • Colorado Creative Industries (CCI)
  • Colorado Cross Country Ski Association (CCCSA)
  • CO Department of Agriculture (CDA) 
  • Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
  • Colorado Dude & Guest Ranch Association (CDGRA)
  • Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association  (CHLA) 
  • Colorado Kids Create 
  • Colorado Mountain Club (CMC)
  • Colorado National Monument Association
  • Colorado Open Space Alliance (COSA)
  • Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office (OREC)
  • Colorado Outfitters Association 
  • Colorado Parks & Recreation Association (CPRA)
  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)
  • Colorado River Outfitters Association (CROA)
  • Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways
  • Colorado Search and Rescue Association (CSAR)
  • Colorado Snowmobile Association (CSA)
  • Colorado State Land Board 
  • Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX)
  • Colorado Water Conservation Board 
  • Colorado Weed Management Association (CWMA)
  • Colorado Wildlife Council 
  • Colorado Wine Industry Development Council 
  • Cortez Tours
  • Creede/Mineral County Chamber of Commerce
  • Denver Parks and Recreation
  • Destination CO
  • East Central Council of Governments & Prairie Development Corporation
  • Echo Canyon River Expeditions
  • Elbert County Museum (Elbert County Historical Society)
  • Fremont Adventure Recreation
  • Geneva Glen Camp
  • Glenwood Hot Springs Resort
  • GO GOOD
  • Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway Association
  • Good Vibes River Gear
  • Grand County Tourism  Board
  • Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)
  • Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association
  • Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce
  • Haas Technical Writing
  • Human Potential Running
  • International Dark-sky Association - Colorado Chapter (IDA)
  • Island Acres Resort Motel
  • Jackson County Lodging Tax Panel 
  • Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa
  • Keep it Colorado
  • KeyBank
  • Lake City, Colorado
  • La Veta Trails 
  • Lively Tours and Talks
  • Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
  • Meeker Chamber of Commerce
  • Mesa Verde Country
  • Moffat County Tourism Association 
  • Moss Adventures
  • Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative
  • Motel Durango
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • Nucla Naturita Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Observer Ranch Campground & Learning Center
  • Outside 285 Regional Partnership
  • OutThere Colorado 
  • Pacaso
  • Palisade Chamber of Commerce
  • Palmer Land Conservancy
  • PATH
  • Pawnee Pioneer Trails Scenic and Historic Byway
  • Peak Performances
  • Pikes Peak - America's Mountain
  • Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance
  • Pikes Peak Region Attractions  
  • Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Rio Grande County Tourism Board
  • Roaring Fork Fishing Guide Alliance
  • Rocky Mountain Guide Association (RMGA)
  • Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center
  • Rocky Mountain Ranger Association (RMRA)
  • Royal Gorge Region 
  • Running Rivers
  • Sage Outdoor Adventures
  • Saguache County Tourism Association
  • San Juan Mountains Association
  • San Luis Valley Great Outdoors 
  • Shadow Mountain Nature Park, LLC
  • South Park National Heritage Area
  • Spanish Peaks Country Huerfano County
  • Stay the Trail 
  • Steamboat Lake Outpost
  • Steamboat Springs Chamber
  • Summit County Government
  • Summit Valley Horse Center
  • The Next Summit
  • The Silver Lining
  • Tour CO
  • Town of Breckenridge Open Space Division
  • Town of Frisco
  • Town of Georgetown
  • Town of Minturn
  • Town of Mt. Crested Butte
  • Town of Nederland 
  • Town of Snowmass VIllage
  • Town of Telluride
  • Town of Vail Welcome Centers
  • Trip Outside
  • UCHealth
  • Unaweep Tabeguache Scenic Byway 
  • USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region
  • Vail Valley Partnership 
  • Visit Alamosa
  • Visit Aurora
  • Visit Colorado Springs
  • Visit Durango 
  • Visit Estes Park
  • Visit Fort Collins
  • Visit Glenwood Springs 
  • Visit Grand Junction
  • Visit Greeley
  • Visit La Junta
  • Visit Leadville & Twin Lakes
  • Visit Longmont 
  • Visit Loveland 
  • Visit Moffat County/Moffat County Tourism Association
  • Visit Montrose 
  • Visit Ouray 
  • Visit Pagosa Springs 
  • Visit Pueblo 
  • Visit Silverton/Silverton Chamber of Commerce
  • Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC)
  • West End Dark Sky Alliance 
  • Western Museum of Mining & Industry
  • Westminster Chamber of Commerce
  • Wet Mountain Valley
  • Wild Aware
  • Wild Rhythms LLC
  • Winter Park & Fraser Chamber

Advisory Groups

The Destination Stewardship Council serves as an advisory group to the CTO supporting our ongoing work to elevate responsible travel and sustainability, champion resilient destinations and advance inclusiveness and collaboration.

Specifically, the Destination Stewardship Council will serve as advisors and thought leaders over the next two years on these main projects:

  • Creation and implementation of a statewide Destination Stewardship strategic plan, including creation of a Glossary of Terms for the Colorado Tourism Industry.
  • Creation and implementation of a statewide research approach and report for Destination Stewardship.

Members

  • Marlon Reis, First Gentleman of the State of Colorado, resident of Denver
  • Ken Murphy, President of Adventure Outdoors LLC, resident of Glenwood Springs
  • Kara Stoller, CEO of the Steamboat Springs Chamber, resident of Steamboat Springs
  • Jeff Lyman, Director of Hotel Operations for the Sky Ute Casino Resort, resident of Ignacio
  • Lucy Kay, CEO of the Breckenridge Tourism Office, resident of Breckenridge
  • Ethan Billingsley, Faculty of Colorado State University, resident of Fort Collins
  • Adam Ducharme, Tourism Director for Visit Leadville - Twin Lakes, resident of Leadville
  • Margaret Bowes, Executive Director of Colorado Association of Ski Towns, resident of Summit County
  • Topher Downham, Outreach Coordinator for City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, resident of Boulder
  • Alex Boian, Senior Director of Community Relations for Vail Resorts, resident of Erie
  • Pamela Denahy, Director of Tourism for the City of La Junta, resident of La Junta
  • Joe Lavorini, Program Manager for the National Forest Foundation/Gunnison STOR, resident of Crested Butte
  • Chelsea Elder, Executive Director of Adaptive Adventures, resident of Westminster
  • Taishya Adams, Chief Liberation Strategist for Mukuyu Collective LLC, resident of Boulder
  • Kathryn Redhorse, Executive Director of Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs
  • Kim Langmaid, Associate Professor of Sustainability for Colorado Mountain College and Mayor of the Town of Vail, resident of Vail
  • Greg Felt, County Commissioner for Chaffee County, resident of Salida
  • Becky Leinweber, Executive Director of Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance, resident of Colorado Springs
  • Dzidra Junior, Senior Sales Executive Senior Renditions Consulting, LLC 
  • Kyle Patterson, Management Specialist/Public Affairs Officer for Rocky Mountain National Park, resident of Estes Park
  • Jeff Christenson, Outdoor Recreation Planner for the Bureau of Land Management- Colorado State Office, resident of Dolores
  • Jackie Miller, Executive Director of Great Outdoors Colorado, resident of Denver
  • Kiera Skinner, Executive Director of the Telluride Tourism Board, resident of Telluride
  • Jody Kennedy, Regional Partnership Program Manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, resident of Denver
  • Beth Abbott, Director of Marketing and Branding for Denver International Airport, resident of Thornton
  • Jason Robertson, Regional Director Recreation, Lands, Minerals & Volunteers of USDA Forest Service, resident of Golden
  • Conor Hall, Director of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, resident of Denver

Contact