Program Summary

The Accessible Travel Program, a program in partnership with Wheel The World, aims to amplify accessible spaces in destinations across Colorado. This innovative program aligns with the CTO Destination Stewardship Strategic Plan, demonstrating Colorado’s commitment to providing welcoming, inclusive and accessible experiences for everyone.

Wheel The World is an accessible travel booking platform that provides detailed, verified accessibility information with a user-friendly experience focused on accessibility. Through their Destination Verified program, Wheel the World helps destinations assess, improve, and promote their accessibility to reach the market of travelers with disabilities and their companions.

Program outcomes include:

Wheel The World site mapping and reports for up to 25 selected sites
Online course to train hospitality professionals about accessible travel
Booking solution at wheeltheworld.com for all verified sites
Promotion of destination and sites on colorado.com and wheeltheworld.com
Accessible travel core team
Recommendations on continued work once the program is complete

Up to four destination marketing organizations (DMOs) will be selected to participate. Selected destinations will be paired with a tourism consultant that will serve as their lead point of contact throughout the duration of the program. Program elements include:

Stakeholder engagement
- Core team meetings with key stakeholders to ensure program goals and outcomes are met
- Informational webinar for all interested stakeholders
- Press release template
Wheel The World site mapping for Verified Accessibility status
- Map up to 25 sites (accommodations, restaurants, services and/or attractions) in the destination that includes pictures, measurements, and data according to Wheel The World standards
- Each mapped site will receive a report that includes accessibility status and recommended improvements
Marketing and training
- Wheel The World Destination Verified status for all destinations completing the program, including a landing page on wheeltheworld.com and marketing assets
- Business listing on wheeltheworld.com for all Wheel The World Verified Accessible sites
- Promotion by the Colorado Tourism Office on colorado.com and other media opportunities
- Free online access for all participating sites to the Wheel the World Academy: Accessible Tourism Training Platform
Final program summary report and recommended next steps

Overview

Type: Program

For: Destinations

Division: Colorado Tourism Office

August 26, 2025	Applications open
October 9, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. MDT	Applications close
October 16, 2025	Award notifications
November 2025	Program kick-off
June 2026	Program ends

This program is open to DMOs. The CTO defines a DMO as a not-for-profit organization or governmental unit that typically is the recipient of jurisdictional lodging tax revenue and serves as the lead for year-round tourism promotion and development efforts in a destination.

Example DMOs may include:

Destination marketing organizations (e.g. Convention & Visitors Bureau).
Lodging tax boards, committee, or panels.
Chambers of commerce or chamber resort associations
Government entities in Colorado (federally recognized tribes and local governments).

Other considerations:

Only one application can be submitted for an individual destination.
Multiple organizations within a single destination should collaborate on a single program application.
Participation in previous Colorado Tourism Office programming does not impact eligibility or competitiveness.
Participants in previous Destination Development programs are encouraged to apply to advance the action plans that were created and/or update the existing action plan.

Applicant lead will act as the community champion and expect to commit to at least 50 hours of work throughout the duration of the program
- Coordinating core team meetings
- Communicating program opportunities and results to stakeholders
- Marketing program results on the destination’s website
Community champion will develop a core team of stakeholders that will provide input and support to ensure program success
- Core team members will be responsible for meeting virtually three times throughout the duration of the program
Only one application can be submitted for an individual destination
- Multiple organizations within a single destination should collaborate on a single program application
Participation in previous Colorado Tourism Office programming does not impact eligibility or competitiveness
Existing community partnerships with local disability inclusion organizations are not a requirement but make the application more competitive

The Letter of Interest (LOI) form and application will open on August 26.

A panel of industry partners and representatives from the Colorado Tourism Office reviews applications and recommends awards based on demonstrated need, capacity to participate, and demonstrated support from appropriate governing bodies. A representative from the Colorado Tourism Office will respond to your application within one month of the application deadline.