Voters in mountain towns could soon redirect lodging taxes traditionally collected to lure visitors toward housing and recreational infrastructure. Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 1117, the bipartisan legislation allowing that option, into law Thursday in Edwards. Since 2002, voters in 29 Colorado counties have approved a lodging tax for tourism marketing. The new legislation […]
Cathy Ritter
Posted inBusiness, Economy, News, Politics and Government
Colorado Tourism Office’s new director will stay the course on sustainability, mitigating visitor impacts
Colorado hospitality veteran Timothy Wolfe is taking the reins at the Colorado Tourism Office just as the state’s tourism industry lurches and limps out of a pandemic decline. “Economic recovery for our industry is essential,” said Wolfe, pointing to the Colorado Tourism Office’s two-phase, $3 million Roadmap to Recovery to reignite the state’s tourism economy. […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
Colorado Tourism Office boss suddenly shown the door to dismay of officials across the state
On his first day as the boss at Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Pat Meyers dismissed Cathy Ritter, the well-regarded director of the Colorado Tourism Office. “Cathy Ritter has concluded her service with the Colorado Tourism Office. We thank her for contributions to the state and we wish her the best of […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Outdoors, Politics and Government
Colorado’s tourism marketing budget revived as lawmakers bet travelers will be crucial to coronavirus recovery
The Joint Budget Committee on Friday finalized a plan to give the Colorado Tourism Office $10 million, reversing an initial plan to defund tourism promotion as lawmakers slash more than $3 billion from the state’s COVID-19-ravaged budget. The tourism industry rallied last week after committee staff recommended eliminating 87% of the state’s tourism budget. The […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: A sure but not simple path to Colorado’s economic recovery
Amidst the sadness of marking National Travel and Tourism Week during this global pandemic is a ray of hope pointing the way to economic recovery. Unlike the last two recessions, this one will not require unwinding the twisted schemes of either terrorists or greedy traders. This recovery hinges on reactivating consumer spending. The global economy […]