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. 

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New in 2024! Frontline Hospitality Tourism Worker Awards (formally Frontline Tourism Worker Award)

• Recognizes a person that has made significant contributions to delivering excellence in hospitality for Colorado’s tourism industry. Frontline Hospitality Workers are defined as those who work directly with residents and visitors to provide goods and services.
• Multiple winners will be chosen based on the strength of the nomination and supporting information.

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. 

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.

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. 

Type: Awards

For: Tourism professionals and organizations

Application period: Closed

OEDIT division: Colorado Tourism Office