Grand Junction residents and the city’s official tourism body, Visit Grand Junction, were recognized with significant state honors during the Colorado Governor’s Tourism Conference in September. Rollee Smith and Taryn Brooks, both from the Grand Junction area, along with Visit Grand Junction, each received a 2026 Governor’s Award for Outstanding Colorado Tourism Efforts. These awards were presented at the Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge.
The recognition highlights the contributions made by individuals and organizations from the Grand Valley to the broader tourism landscape of Colorado. For Grand Junction, having its primary tourism promotion agency, Visit Grand Junction, and two local community members receive these prestigious awards underscores the city’s role in attracting visitors and boosting the state's economy through travel and recreation. The Governor’s Awards for Outstanding Colorado Tourism Efforts are designed to acknowledge those who demonstrate exceptional dedication and innovation in developing and promoting tourism within Colorado.
The annual Colorado Governor’s Tourism Conference serves as a key gathering for the state's tourism industry, bringing together professionals, leaders, and stakeholders from across various regions. Held this year in September at the Beaver Run Resort, the conference provided the platform for honoring these significant achievements. The three awards received by Grand Junction-affiliated recipients for 2026 reflect a strong performance and commitment to enhancing the visitor experience and economic impact of tourism in the region and state.
Local residents, small business owners, and those involved in the hospitality sector in Grand Junction stand to benefit from the positive recognition these awards bring. The efforts of Visit Grand Junction contribute directly to drawing tourists to local businesses, attractions, and outdoor spaces, from downtown Grand Junction to the Colorado National Monument. Similarly, the individual efforts of Rollee Smith and Taryn Brooks, acknowledged by the state, contribute to the overall appeal and success of Colorado as a destination, reflecting well on their local community.
The awards ceremony in Breckenridge marked an important moment for Grand Junction’s presence in the statewide tourism conversation, reaffirming its position as a vital contributor to Colorado's tourism economy. The 2026 Governor’s Awards for Outstanding Colorado Tourism Efforts, presented to Visit Grand Junction, Rollee Smith, and Taryn Brooks, celebrated their dedication to fostering a vibrant and attractive environment for visitors and, by extension, for the residents who call Grand Junction home. The September conference, where these honors were bestowed, concluded with a clear acknowledgment of the positive impact of these local efforts on the state’s tourism goals for the coming year.