This article first appeared in the KREX TV News blog. By Cori Coffin
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo.- Of the two million tourists that come into Glenwood Springs every year, only about 50,000 of them visited the city’s old commerce center.
Officials hope to double that this year through a unique partnership between the chamber resort association and Colorado Mountain College. “If we had a brochure and talk about the college to the parents at the same time that we’re telling them what else is available to do in Glenwood, that’s a real win-win situation,” said Mike McCallum, board president for the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association (GSCRA).
“About the third-most-commonly referenced reason people find out about Colorado Mountain College is they came here on vacation,” added Dr. Stan Jensen, Ph.D., the president of Colorado Mountain College.
Whether they’re out for play or school scouting, visitors can take advantage of the newly built $100,000 facility. “It has a two story effect as far as its openness,” said Jensen.
“This is kind of our interactive wall and we have iPads here that visitors can come in they can touch in and go right to visitor information,” said Doug Stewart, marketing director for Colorado Mountain College.
“I can look, for example, for restaurants in Glenwood Springs. We have over 700 member businesses so it’s quick and easy access,” added Marianne Virgili, the president and CEO for GSCRA.
And for the more old fashioned folks, there’s a wall with a time line of the history of the city. “Here we have Doc Holliday, who was a dentist-turned-gunslinger,” said Stewart.
Looking backward as well as toward the future, the new facility hopes to make the area even more legendary. “Being able to create more jobs and inform people about the treasures here in western Colorado is what we’re all about,” said Jensen.
You can see a video of the Welcome Center opening at the KREX-TV blog: http://www.krextv.com/news/around-the-region/Glenwood-Springs-Celebrates-New-Welcome-Center-158268415.html