Glenwood Springs 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 Glenwood Springs (VGS), tourism department of the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association, applied for the inaugural Accessible Travel Program through CTO, and facilitated the mapping process in collaboration with Wheel the World for 23 local 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.

“It’s rewarding to live and work in a community that welcomes people of all abilities. When we brought the Accessible Travel Pilor Program to our local tourism-related businesses, it was met with enthusiasm and a willingness to participate,” said Lisa Langer, Tourism Director, Visit Glenwood Springs. “We are proud of our community and know this designation will benefit visitors and residents alike.”

Visit Glenwood Springs 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. VGS

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.

“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.

Lisa Langer and Heidi Pankow are the staff of Visit Glenwood Springs, a department of Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association. For more information checkout VisitGlenwood.com.