Durango Area Tourism Office’s Marketing Update February, 2012

Durango Area Special Events
Please visit http://www.durango.org/calendar for the Durango Area Special Events. If you have specific questions on any of the events, please call 970-247-3500 . If you would like to include your event in this calendar, please email Charlotte at [email protected] and write “calendar of events” in the subject line.

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In the News

Durango was recently featured in:

– News & Observer
– Gazette
– Yorkshire Post
– Dallas Morning News
– Wall Street Journal Eastern Edition New York Metro
– Spectrum
– New York Times
– Bottom Line Personal
– Travel World Magazine
– Daily Times
– Petit Jean Country Headlight (Conway County)
– Milehighonthecheap.com
– Restaurant News of the Rockies
– RV Journal
– Courier
– Arizona Republic
– Raising Arizona Kids
– American Cowboy
– Motor Trend
– True West
– American Motorcyclist
– National Geographic Adventure (NY, NY)
– Bon Appetit Blogs & Forums (Los Angeles, CA)
– Examiner.com (Denver)
– Denver Business Journal
– ProVeloPassion
– Meetup (NY, NY)
– Outside Magazine (Santa Fe, NM)
– Travel Agent (NY, NY)
– Lonely Planet’s USA Best Trips

Media Relations Update

Upcoming Familiarization and Media Visits:
Andy Hayes – February
Bob Schulman – February
Karin Lazarus – February
Dawna Robertson – February
Financial Times – March
Group Sales Update

Groups DATO is currently working on:
USA Pro Challenge, August 2012
Rocky Mountain Gun Show, Fall 2012
Paramount Travel, October 9-11, 2012
MJ Tours June 25-27, 2012
Jade Travel, September, 2012
Coventry Workers Comp Services, March-April, 2012

Tourism Industry Events

DATO will be attending:
Go West Summit, Las Vegas, NV February 6-9, 2012
AAA Travel Show, Phoenix, AZ, February 18-20, 2012
News & Updates

Have you seen Durango in the News?
If you see Durango featured in a news article/blog/broadcast, please share it with us. We utilize a clipping service to track our pitches and stories however they don’t catch everything. Many thanks to those who have been sharing items with us. Please email to [email protected].

Durango Selected as Start of Stage 1 for 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge

With nearly 40 cities across the state expressing initial interest in the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, race officials have selected Durango as one of the 12 host cities that will serve as starts and finishes for the second annual stage race. After drawing more than 1 million spectators in its inaugural year, the 2012 race will return to Colorado from August 20-26, 2012 and will visit Durango as the start of Stage 1 on Monday, August 20. Further details of the start and finish line locations, as well as the specific, detailed route will be announced in the spring. More information can be found on the website www.USAProCyclingChallenge.com, and Twitter page @USAProChallenge.

Last Call for Durango’s Top Story Ideas for 2012
The Durango Area Tourism Office includes “2012 Durango Area Story Ideas” in our media kit that is distributed to hundreds of media outlets each year. This resource provides story ideas and inspiration for media working on or planning stories. It is a brief update on NEW things happening in Durango in 2012. Please take a moment to share what’s new for your business in 2012 and include it in a one-page face sheet. Please send your information to Anne at [email protected]. Deadline is February 10, 2012.

2012 Durango Area Travel Planner
Advertising space is now available in the 2012 Durango Area Travel Planner, the official guide to the Durango area. This year Shared Vision Publishing is serving as the executive publisher of the Planner. More than 50,000 Planners are disturbed annually through requests by phone, internet, Trade Shows, mail and more. The Planner will also be available online and will include a link to all advertisers” websites to encourage even more revenue generating opportunities. If you are interested in advertising, please contact Jennifer O’Donohue at [email protected].

Save the Date – 2012 Southwest Tourism Summit
The First Annual Southwest Tourism Summit is scheduled for April 5 – 6, 2012 in Durango. The theme for this year’s summit is The Source. The mission of this conference is to give Southwest businesses a premier opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from numerous seminars, workshops and presentations by tourism industry professionals from around our state.

This Summit offers businesses and professionals a source to build new partnerships with the best minds in the travel industry while making critical contacts with association and state tourism leaders. Through presentations, panel discussions, workshops and seminars learn the trends, factors and forecasts of the tourism markets. Highlights of the Summit include Presentations by Al White, Director of the Colorado Tourism Office and his staff; Tour Colorado; Grand Circle Travel association, Southwest Travel Region, Durango Area Tourism office, Durango Chamber of Commerce and Durango Downtown Improvement District. The 1&1/2 Day Agenda and Registration information will be coming soon.


2nd Annual Downtown Durango “Tug-of-Weather” set for Mar. 1, 2012
In an attempt to forecast whether spring is on the way or if Durango is in for six more weeks of winter, the Durango Business Improvement District (BID) will host the 2nd Annual Tug-of-Weather (Durango’s version of Groundhog Day) on Thursday, Mar. 1, 2012. The “battle of the seasons” will pit winter sports enthusiasts against the boys (and girls) of summer in an official “tug-of-war.” Festivities begin at 4:30 pm and the staging area is in Downtown Durango on E. Second Ave. in front of Steamworks Brewing Co. Prior to the “official” tug, community teams of six each are invited to compete in 50-ft. rope pulls – all in good fun. Youth teams are also invited to join in. Participation is free, and teams are encouraged to sign up in advance at 970-375-5067 or email [email protected]. To learn more visit www.downtowndurango.org or call 970.375.5067 .

BID establishes Downtown Durango Enhancement Fund
To help further its efforts to enhance and sustain Downtown Durango, the Durango Business Improvement District (BID) has established the “Downtown Durango Enhancement Fund” under the auspices of the Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado. The fund will open up the grant arena to the BID and allow businesses and individuals to make tax-deductible donations in support of Downtown Durango. Funds donated to the Downtown Durango Enhancement Fund will be retained in a designated fund at the Foundation. To donate to Downtown Durango, visit the Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado at www.swcommunityfoundation.org. For additional information about the Durango Business Improvement District and its projects, visit www.downtowndurango.org or call 970-375-5067 .

Ride Two-for-One on the Snowdown Balloon Rally Train
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is the proud sponsor of the Snowdown Balloon Rally Mass Ascension on Saturday, February 4, 2012. As part of the celebration, the D&SNGRR is running the Snowdown Balloon Rally Train. Two-for-one tickets are being offered in Standard-Class coaches and in the Premium-Class Cinco Animas car. The train will stop in the Animas Valley for the colorful mass hot-air balloon ascension and will continue to Cascade Canyon for a short break by the Animas River before returning to Durango. The train departs Durango at 8:00 a.m. and returns by approximately 1:30 p.m. For additional information on this event, visit www.durangotrain.com for more information and call 970-247-2733 or 888-872-4607 for tickets.

Readers’ Choice Awards
About.com holds an annual Readers’ Choice Awards competition that showcases the best products, services and travel destinations in many categories across About.com. We encourage industry partners to nominate Durango and our state’s national parks and outdoor activities for camping awards. Nominations are open from now until Feb. 15, and voting will run from Feb. 22 through March 21, with winners announced March 30. There’s no prize — just the bragging rights that come with getting recognized by the readers of one of the most popular camping websites. To learn more about the awards program on the About.com camping site visit: http://bit.ly/xcdbaD

Valentine’s Brunch Train
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is offering a brunch train on Saturday, February 11, 2012 as a unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Cars offered for this package are the Premium-Class Cinco Animas or Alamosa Parlor car or the Deluxe-Class San Juan car. Passengers will receive a hot brunch buffet, dessert, a treat from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, a complimentary glass of wine or sparkling cider and ladies will receive a red rose. The train departs Durango at 10:00 am and returns at 3:00 pm. For more information and reservations, call 970-247-2733 or 888-872-4607 or visit www.durangotrain.com.

Update from Durango Discovery Museum

The Double Black Diamond Parking Lot Deal – Brave the Durango Discovery Museum’s snowy (and free) parking lot this winter from Feb 1 to Apr 1 for a special award package when you get to the front door of the Powerhouse: $7.50 discount admission and a double diamond Powerhouse tattoo.
Pay-What-You-Wish Sunday – Get into the Powerhouse for free, cheap, or whatever you care to pay on Sunday, Feb 5 and the first Sunday of every month.
Valentine’s Day Heart Dissection – Bring a date to the museum and role up your sleeves for an anatomically correct look at real hearts and heart parts. Saturday, Feb 11 at 12p; Tuesday Feb 14 at 12p and 5p. Free with admission to the museum.
Additional Opportunities

Business Listings on Durango.org
Just a quick reminder that the Durango Area Tourism Office offer free business listings for Tourism Related businesses in La Plata County on www.durango.org. If you are an existing business please double check your current listing and let us know if you need any changes. If you are a new business, please contact Heather Knight at 970-828-1036 or at [email protected] for more information.

Bloggers Needed
DATO is looking for tourism related providers who are interested in writing a blog for the durango.org website. The blogs are located on the following section: Things to Do, Restaurants and Durango Area Info. If you are interested or would like more information, contact Heather Knight at [email protected]. DATO FREE Website OpportunitiesDATO is continuously looking for new information on tourism in La Plata County. If you are a tourism related business and have special events, specials or packages that you would like to promote on durango.org, please contact Heather Knight at 970-828-1036 or at [email protected]. This is a free opportunity to promote your business.

Colorado Tourism Office Update and Opportunities

Free Opportunity on Colorado.com
The CTO would like to ask you for your help in populating the events and deals that you have available in your area.

What is needed:
Calendar of events (this can be hard copy, digital, or website link). If you already have an Industry Partner account, please add your events directly to your listings.
Deals and discounts – we would like to include any deals that are available our Hot Deals program. If you already have an Industry Partner account, please add your deals directly to your listings. Point of contact (if not you, please let us know who to reach out too).
If you have any questions, contact Heather Knight at [email protected]

DATO Contacts
John Cohen, Executive Director [email protected]
Anne Klein, PR Specialist – [email protected]
Heather Knight, Marketing/PR Manager – [email protected]
Sarah McLean, Group Sales Manager – [email protected]
Kieran Hall, Online Manager – [email protected]
Emily McConnell, Administrative Assistant – [email protected]
Charlotte Klein, Visitor Center Supervisor – [email protected]

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