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Nine Counties Grow Travel Spending and Overnight Stays Through Statewide Stargazing Program

vibrant Milky Way Galaxy at night over lake with Colorado Experience the Night logo

The Challenge

Several counties in Colorado known for their night skies and incredible stargazing opportunities sought to increase visitors through astrotourism, but with so many moving pieces, they didn’t know where to start.

The Solution

Colorado Stargazing is a cooperative project between several counties. Our role is to manage financial contributions and develop and execute creative and marketing strategies, making communication between all participating counties key to the continued success of this project.

The program draws visitors out of busy metro areas and large mountain resorts and into rural Colorado, where visitors not only take in the wonders of Colorado’s dark skies but also book overnight stays and engage in daytime activities.

The Results

Colorado Stargazing: Experience the Night reached millions of potential visitors in just nine months.

According to the 2022 Colorado Economic Impact of Travel Report, counties involved in this statewide program experienced consistent year-to-year growth in travel spending since the program’s launch (2019 – 2022).

Average time on webpage: 4:20
Click-through rate: 16.49%

Colorado Stargazing: Experience the Night - County Travel Spending Growth

35.1%

Alamosa

11.7%

Custer

34.5%

Gunnison

18.1%

Hinsdale

23.8%

Huerfano

15.3%

Ouray

12.3%

Mineral

35.7%

Montrose

23.4%

Saguache

Fill the gap in your DMO

Do you feel like there is not enough time or expertise for you and your staff to elevate your community tourism efforts to the next level?

Hiker on a large mountain in beaver county overlooking a sunset
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Kirsten Slavin | Account Director

Kirsten has always been driven by curiosity and connection. Her love for travel, the outdoors, and discovering new places fuels both her personal adventures and professional passion for helping destinations reach their fullest potential.

Before joining DestinationiQ, Kirsten spent several years in the hospitality industry, where she developed a deep appreciation for exceptional guest experiences and the power of meaningful relationships. She joined DestinationiQ in early 2022 as an administrative assistant, quickly immersing herself in every facet of the company. Her eagerness to learn, natural leadership, and ability to bring teams together led her to grow into the role of Project Manager and ultimately, Account Director.

Kirsten thrives on equipping people and organizations to be the best they can be, whether she’s helping a client strengthen their destination identity or supporting her team behind the scenes. When she’s not working, you’ll find her exploring new places, spending time with her family, or finding the next trail to wander.

Lindsay Diamond | VP of Client Strategy

Lindsay has been an explorer her entire life. She has traveled much of the world, falling in love with all the outdoor recreational opportunities, geologic diversity, rich history, and cultural depth it has to offer.

She began working with DestinationiQ in 2016, where she encouraged the company to focus even more on Destination Management and easily moved into an account director position where she further shines a light on her communications, relationship-building, strategic planning, and leadership skills; guiding clients on a successful path of tourism evolution.

Lindsay’s extensive network includes tourism directors and board members, social media influencers, members of state tourism offices, journalists, photographers, business leaders, and more.

Bryan Jordan | President & Owner

Bryan is the president and owner of DestinationiQ. He has decades of experience in the tourism field and remains on the cutting edge of the industry. He firmly believes in building open and honest long-term relationships through transparent communication and providing regions with sustainable and responsible tourism strategies that have a significant economic impact.

Years ago, he recognized the ROI on tourism far outpaced many other investments, yet there was always a gap where traditional tourism consultancies and regional staff were seldom able to do everything they need to do. DestinationiQ was born to meet these needs and fill the gap; treating our clients as the experts, actively listening to their goals, forming long-lasting partnerships, and functioning as an extension of their teams, overseeing budget decisions, crafting tourism programs, executing marketing plans, and delivering the products and services they need and deserve.

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