City of Cripple Creek to Participate in State’s “Destination Blueprint Program”
Cripple Creek Marketing and Special Events
The city of Cripple Creek was recently awarded as one of four destinations to take part in the Colorado Tourism Office’s (CTO) “Destination Blueprint Program.”
The Destination Blueprint program is a year-long program designed to help communities plan and advance important tourism projects while protecting local community resources and vibrancy. The city of Cripple Creek will work with members of the CTO team to assess their area, lead a community action planning workshop and implement project-based consulting.
The Destination Blueprint Program grew out of the CTO’s landmark Destination Strategic Destination Stewardship Strategic Plan, which aims to advance sustainable and regenerative tourism, enrich visitor experiences, enhance Coloradans’ quality of life, and protect natural resources. To support these objectives, the Destination Blueprint Program provides tailored assistance to each participating community, helping participants develop long-term plans with specific and actionable goals.
“Being selected for the Colorado Tourism Office’s Destination Blueprint Program is a great opportunity for Cripple Creek,” said Marie Rieger, director of marketing and events for the city of Cripple Creek. “We look forward to partnering with the CTO to plan for the future in a way that protects our community resources, preserves our vibrant character and enhances the visitor experience.”’
Phase one of the program will bring together tourism champions, stakeholders from the public and private sectors, and residents throughout the city of Cripple Creek to discuss barriers and opportunities throughout their destination. As part of the second phase of the program, the city of Cripple Creek will receive 100 hours of free consulting from a CTO designated tourism expert. The focus of this consulting will be implementing priority projects that support the development, marketing, and management of the visitor experience in Cripple Creek.
“The Destination Blueprint program empowers Colorado destinations to design specific strategies for sustainable growth, ensuring that tourism benefits both visitors and residents. This work advances the CTO’s mission to develop responsible tourism and supports local communities with the tools they need to create long-term economic resilience,” said Eve Lieberman, Executive Director of OEDIT.
For more information about the Destination Blueprint program, please visit the program website, https://oedit.colorado.gov/
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 2025, Colorado travelers spent $29.2 billion, generating $1.91 billion in local and state revenues. Additionally, the tourism sector supported 187,860 jobs across the state in 2025. For more information, please visit www.colorado.com.
