Visit Colorado Springs Awarded Tourism Management Grant
Grant will fund a partnership with Wheel the World to improve accessible travel planning
April 6, 2023 – Colorado Springs, Colo. – Today Visit Colorado Springs was awarded a 2023 Tourism Management Grant from the Colorado Tourism Office.
Visit Colorado Springs received $20,000, which will fund a partnership with accessible travel organization, Wheel the World. Wheel the World allows travelers with various disabilities to find and book accessible experiences and excursions around the world. They create a custom profile and are then shown results that match up best with their individual travel needs.
In 2022, Visit Colorado Springs co-sponsored a study conducted by MMGY titled – “Portrait of Travelers with Disabilities: Mobility and Accessibility.” The study found that the two main pain points identified by these travelers were transportation and lodging. What travelers need is access to more information before visiting a destination, expanded infrastructure in cities and the promotion of accessible lodging options through pictures and virtual tours.
"The visitor experience starts in the planning phase, researching options online, “said Doug Price, President & CEO of Visit Colorado Springs. “A partnership with Wheel the World allows us to improve access to accessibility information for our destination before visitors set foot in Colorado Springs. As Olympic City USA, we’re home to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, Training Center and Museum. Ensuring that our city is accessible to athletes and potential visitors is imperative.”
Our partnership with Wheel the World will allow Visit Colorado Springs to create listings for bookable partner experiences and stays around the Pikes Peak Region. These businesses will in turn gain exposure to a highly engaged audience, comprehensive training for their staff and tips on how to improve the accessibility of their location.
The Colorado Tourism Office appointed a committee to review applications based on strength of the proposed project and attainable deliverables that will advance the development, enhancement or management of the visitor experience in Colorado. Eligible applicants included Colorado destination organizations, tourism leadership organizations, government entities and Colorado tourism industry associations.
For more information, visit the Colorado Tourism Office website.
About Visit Colorado Springs Visit Colorado Springs is the leading marketing organization for group and leisure travel and tourism to the Colorado Springs – Olympic City USA and the Pikes Peak Region. The organization is dedicated to a strong national and international presence so that tourism is a primary contributor to a thriving local economy. We create economic vitality through memorable visits to the wonders of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region.
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