(Pueblo, CO) - Visit Pueblo joins the growing list of Colorado destinations to receive “Destination Verified” status by Wheel the World following the conclusion of the Colorado Tourism Office’s (CTO) inaugural Accessible Travel program. This program is a strategic partnership with the CTO and Wheel the World. It offers destinations across Colorado the opportunity to advance Colorado’s commitment to providing welcoming, inclusive, and accessible experiences for everyone.
To earn the “Destination Verified” status, Visit Pueblo facilitated the mapping process in collaboration with Wheel the World for 23 tourism businesses. The site mapping process included gathering detailed accessibility information that meets Wheel The World’s minimum standards for accessibility. The CTO’s Accessible Travel program provided participants with a guiding report, access to the Wheel the World training academy, and listings on Wheel the World’s accessible travel booking platform.
“As accessible experiences becomes an essential pillar of modern tourism, Visit Pueblo is committed to ensuring the city is inclusive for all, where barriers are removed and possibilities are limitless,” said Donielle Kitzman, Vice President of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce & Visit Pueblo.
Visit Pueblo began its work on the Accessible Travel Program by convening a core team of local tourism stakeholders to provide input throughout its design and delivery. Visit Pueblo hosted three core team meetings to identify priority barriers and opportunities for advancing accessibility, engage program stakeholders, discuss findings from site assessments, inform promotional opportunities, and explore solutions to enhance accessibility offerings. The 23 sites included are:
1. Historic Arkansas Riverwalk Pueblo
2. Sangre de Cristo Arts Center
3. Memorial Hall
4. El Pueblo History Museum
5. Weisbrod Aircraft Museum
6. Impossible Playhouse
7. Brues Alehouse Brewing Company
8. Fuel & Iron Food Hall
9. Cactus Flower
10. Gray’s Coors Tavern
11. Lake Pueblo State Park
12. CSU Pueblo - Thunder Bowl Stadium Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center
13. Pueblo Zoo
14. SpringHill Suites
15. TownePlace Suites Downtown
16. Angelo’s Pizza Parlor
17. El Centro de Quinto Sol
18. Pueblo Pillars Park/Levee Walk Murals
19. Minnequa Park Sports Complex
20. Blo Back Gallery
21. Pueblo Heritage Museum
Visit Pueblo in partnership with Pueblo Diversified Industries will be honoring these 23 certified sites during Pueblo Diversified Industries - Inclusion Day at the Pueblo Zoo on Saturday, July 12, highlighting the community’s commitment to accessibility and inclusive adventure. This event will include a ceremony at 11:00am, that will award all 23 sites with their Accessible Travel verifications from Wheel the World.
"We are incredibly proud to see Colorado destinations achieve 'Destination Verified' status through our Accessible Travel Program," said Timothy Wolfe, CTO Director. "This initiative underscores our unwavering commitment to making Colorado a welcoming and accessible place for all travelers, ensuring that everyone can experience the beauty and adventure our state has to offer."
Wheel The World is an accessible travel booking platform that provides detailed, verified accessibility information, offering a user-friendly experience with a focus on accessibility. Through a Destination Verified program, Wheel the World helps destinations assess, improve, and promote their accessibility to reach the market of travelers with disabilities and their companions.
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For more information about the Accessible Travel Program, please visit the program website: https://oedit.colorado.gov/programs-and-funding/colorado-tourism-office/accessible-travel- program
ABOUT VISIT PUEBLO CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Visit Pueblo Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the official tourism organization for the City of Pueblo, dedicated to promoting the area as a premier destination for leisure travel, meetings, conventions, and events.
ABOUT 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 2023, Colorado travelers spent $28.2 billion, generating $1.8 billion in local and state revenues, a 5.7% increase from the previous year. For more information, please visit www.colorado.com.
