The Colorado Tourism Office awarded Doug Price, president and CEO of Visit Colorado Springs, the city’s tourism bureau, the Governor’s Award of Outstanding Colorado Tourism Champion last week during the agency’s awards conference in Fort Collins.

Price has been a focal player in the development of Colorado Springs’ image and vision for more than 10 years, co-founding the Olympic City USA brand by leading its task force and driving support for City for Champions projects that brought five new facilities to the city including Weidner Field, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum and Ed Robson Arena at Colorado College.

“There are few people who have championed Colorado Springs at the same level as Doug Price,” said Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade in a news release about the award. “Doug isn’t just a cheerleader. Doug gets things done.”

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Price, who spent his career working in the tourism industry with Marriott International as well as Destinations International, a trade association for visitor bureaus, started his tenure with Visit Colorado Springs (Visit COS) in 2011.

“I knew Visit COS was a highly professional and accredited business that sat at the foothills of Pikes Peak,” Price said via email to The Gazette. “Until I moved here, I did not fully comprehend the importance of tourism to the local and state economy.”

Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region hosted 24 million visitors during 2022 who spent $2.8 billion, according to a report by Longwoods International, a research consultant that provides travel data to Visit COS.

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Sales tax data also showed the city’s Lodgers and Auto Rental Tax generated $9.3 million in 2022, a levy on hotel rooms and rental cars and an indicator of tourism activity.

“Once people see the beautiful scenery, experience our warm hospitality and enjoy all the unique attributes we have to offer, people start thinking about moving here,” Price said. “It all starts with a visit and that is why it’s important to me to continue to work on the quality of life for our residents to keep inviting people to visit.”

Price was recognized for the award, which is given to an individual who spent more than five years in the tourism industry and has made significant contributions toward promoting and developing Colorado tourism, because of his involvement with organizations such as the Colorado Tourism Office, Colorado Springs Downtown Partnership and Pikes Peak Lodging Association.

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In March, Price also received the 2023 Spirit of the Springs award from former Mayor John Suthers at Visit Colorado Springs’ annual business meeting.

“Doug’s visionary leadership has helped bolster a tourism ecosystem that ranks Colorado Springs as a top travel destination,” Suthers said at the meeting, “and his steadfast support and advocacy for Olympic City USA and the successful City for Champions projects has helped create positive momentum for the city.”