GLENWOOD SPRINGS – Mitchell Kindman wants to help visitors enjoy all Glenwood Springs has to offer. That means folks tooling up from Denver for the weekend, motorists traveling through Glenwood Springs on Interstate 70, or even relatives and friends visiting this summer.

That’s not all. Kindman wants to help local business owners bring those visitors into area businesses.

Kindman has established the 1st Choice Inn Activity Center at the West Glenwood lodge. Kindman is the sales and marketing director for Successful Consultants, a vacation planning company and concierge service that runs the center.

---

---

The vacation business is all in the family. Kindman’s wife, Anita, is a ski tour operator who has operated Rocky Mountain Vacations in Glenwood Springs for the past 12 years.

Although Kindman’s activity center is located at 1st Choice Inn, anyone can use his services. First Choice Inn runs advertisements throughout the Front Range touting vacation package ads at the inn and Glenwood Springs attractions.

---

---

Kindman is on site at the inn to assist those customers with their vacation package planning. And he’s also available to the general public who call him or walk in and want his help making a dinner reservation or planning a horseback trail ride.

Pull off Highway 6 in West Glenwood into the inn’s parking lot, and enter the front lobby. There, in an all-glass room, couches draped with cow hides sit next to antique wagon wheels.

Kayaks and mountain bikes hang from the ceiling, posters of Glenwood Springs hang on the walls, and videos of various Glenwood Springs activities from river running to trap shooting play on a TV monitor. In the center is Kindman’s desk – at the ready for vacation planning.

“People can come in, have a cup of coffee or a soft drink, and I can help them map out their entire vacation schedule,” he said.

Kindman doesn’t charge consumers to arrange for river trips, horseback riding, hay rides or Western barbecues, nor does he charge for giving advice on local nightspots or to make reservations at area restaurants.

Like travel agents of the past, Kindman makes his money through the businesses he promotes, from the Bair Ranch’s High Canyon Adventures’ horseback riding and ATV rentals to Blue Sky Rafting, Canyon Bikes and Marshall Dillon’s.

“I look at the activity center as one-stop shopping for Glenwood vacations,” Kindman said.

Although Kindman has built up a list of local businesses, he’s still looking for more to promote.

“This town is really growing,” he said. “I’m looking to represent more local businesses.”

He provides information on the Hot Springs Pool and the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, and during ski season, Sunlight Mountain Resort. He also works with a transportation company, Discount Limousine, that offers all types of vehicles, from vans to limos catered to the needs of individual clients.

Kindman said he’s working with the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association on “Explore Glenwood,” a marketing program. He feels his work complements the promotions already being done by the chamber and other outlets – with an added plus.

“I can work with individuals or groups and really lead them through the process – make the phone calls, get reservations secured, so that people can really have fun on their vacations,” he said.

Kindman works with large groups and corporations, and is set up to plan events like weddings and reunions.

“That’s what we’re here for,” Kindman said. “To promote Glenwood and to let people really enjoy what we have to offer here.”

The 1st Choice Inn Activity Center is located at 51359 Highway 6, in West Glenwood. Beginning Memorial Day weekend, May 24, the center will be open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call 945-9444 or 618-2908.

Contact Carrie Click: 945-8515, ext. 518

cclick@postindependent.com