Visit Colorado Springs Becomes “Destination Verified” by Wheel the World
Accessibility initiatives put COS at the forefront of the new program
April 26, 2024 – Colorado Springs, Colo. – Recently, Visit Colorado Springs received Wheel the World’s official Destination Verified Seal as part of its program to improve information available on accessible travel to the destination.
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 best with their individual travel needs. The Destination Verified program, launched in 2023, focuses on enabling Destination Marketing Organizations to enhance the information available about accessible travel to their destinations.
"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 allowed us to drastically improve the accessibility information for our destination before visitors arrive 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.”
As an early adopter of this program, VCOS orchestrated an accessibility audit of more than 30 business, attractions and hotels around the Pikes Peak Region. Each participating business received a detailed report with recommendations of improvements that can be made in order to make it even more accessible. Businesses also acquired access to Wheel the World Academy, a training and certification program that improves frontline staff knowledge about accessible tourism.
Colorado Springs listings can be found on WheelTheWorld.com. Properties that have been assessed include hotels like The Mining Exchange and The Lodge at Flying Horse, and attractions like Cave of the Winds Mountain Park and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum.
Our partnership with Wheel the World was made possible by grant funding awarded to the organization in 2023 by the Colorado Tourism Office. The CTO 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 on the recipients of the Tourism Management Grants, 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 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.
About the Colorado Tourism Office
The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) is a division of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade. The mission of the CTO is to empower the tourism industry by inspiring the world to explore Colorado responsibly and respectfully. The CTO seeks to advance the strength and resilience of the entire industry through collaboration, inclusivity, innovation and leadership. In 2022, Colorado travelers spent $27.7 billion, generating $1.7 billion in local and state revenues, reducing the tax burden for every Colorado household by $760. For more information, please visit www.colorado.com.
About Wheel the World
Wheel the World is a social enterprise with the goal of empowering people with disabilities to explore the world without limits. Wheel the World’s commitment is to provide detailed information about accessibility and specialized customer support throughout the entire travel experience. https://wheeltheworld.com/
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