Destination Development Mentor Program
Program Summary
The Destination Development Mentor Program seeks to match destination organizations and industry association partners with experienced tourism consultants to provide expertise, resources, mentorship, and capacity building. Awarded applicants will receive 100 hours of consulting to advance priority projects through June 2026.
The Destination Development Mentor Program provides an opportunity for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and industry associations to join the Colorado Tourism Office in its effort to advance destination stewardship.
Participating DMOs and industry associations are encouraged to focus their projects on one or more of the following shared industry priorities, many of which are reflected in strategies from the Destination Stewardship Strategic Plan.
Shared Industry Priorities
- Advance off-peak tourism opportunities
- Identify opportunities to extend the benefits of tourism throughout the year and increase demand for tourism outside of existing busy seasons.
- Advance tourism workforce
- Provide professional development opportunities for tourism-related staff and foster a stronger community of workforce in your destination.
- Champion the value of tourism
- Build awareness of the value that tourism provides to your destination and the role that destination organizations have in enhancing local quality of life.
- Develop and enhance visitor experience
- Diversify tourism offerings that showcase the unique potential of your destination by advancing outdoor recreation, agritourism, cultural tourism, stargazing, etc.
- Encourage responsible and respectful use
- Inspire visitors to engage in low-impact travel within Colorado, such as launching a Do Colorado Right campaign or advancing climate action strategies.
- Foster inclusive travel opportunities
- Develop strategies and resources to ensure your destination is welcoming and accessible to everyone.
- Promote local businesses and experiences
- Enhance promotional efforts through strategic marketing and storytelling tactics.
Program participants receive:
- Access to tourism subject matter experts and tourism resources
- Capacity to implement priority tourism projects
- Alignment with statewide tourism initiatives
Colorado DMOs and industry associations that participated in previous Destination Development programs and/or last year’s Destination Development Mentor program are still eligible to apply.
Overview
Type: Program
For: Destination marketing organizations and industry associations
Application deadline: Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 4 p.m. (MT)
OEDIT division: Colorado Tourism Office
| Timeline: | Dates: |
|---|---|
| Application Open | Tuesday, September 16, 2025 |
| Application Close | Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 4 p.m. (MT) |
| Award notifications | November 6, 2025 |
| Mentors Assigned, Projects Scoped & Work Begins | November-December 2025 |
| Program Completed | June 2026 |
Eligible applicants include Colorado DMOs and Colorado regional and statewide tourism industry associations.
The Colorado Tourism Office 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, committees, or panels
- Chambers of commerce or chamber resort associations
- Government entities in Colorado (federally recognized tribes and local governments)
Eligible industry associations include:
- Regional tourism industry association is a registered nonprofit trade organization that represents one or more tourism-related business sectors and represents a collection of tourism businesses within those sectors. Associations must represent a market-ready product or experience, and be regional in approach.
- Statewide tourism industry association as a registered nonprofit trade organization that represents a collection of tourism businesses statewide within a tourism-related business sector. Associations must represent a market-ready product or experience, and be statewide (where it exists) in approach.
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.
- Destinations that are currently participating this fiscal year in the Destination Blueprint Program are not eligible to apply.
The following DMOs have been selected to participate in the FY26 program:
- City of Central
- Fremont County Tourism Council
- Grand County Tourism Board
- Lake County Tourism Panel
- Logan County
- Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce
- Town of Ridgway
- Visit Manitou Springs
A panel of industry partners and Colorado Tourism Office staff reviews applications and recommends awards based on an understanding of priorities, capacity to participate, and demonstrated need. A representative from the Colorado Tourism Office will respond to your application within one month of the application deadline.
Applications are now closed.
Program Manager