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| Mesa Verde Country® Press Room |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: | ||
| Contact: |
Lynn Dyer, Tourism Director (970) 565-8227 Mesa Verde Country® lynnd@mesaverdecountry.com |
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| COLORADO GOVERNOR HONORS MESA VERDE COUNTRY® FOR OUTSTANDING TOURISM INITIATIVE |
| MESA VERDE COUNTRY®, COLORADO - Out of the ashes of the 2002 fires at Mesa Verde National Park grew the seeds of a tourism initiative that would focus world attention on the cultural heritage of the region, culminating in a host of awards, including recent recognition by Colorado Governor Bill Owens. The Mesa Verde Country® Indian Arts and Western Culture Festival received the award for "Outstanding Community Tourism Initiative" recently at the 2002 Governor's Conference on Tourism in Grand Junction, CO. The honor acknowledges an activity/event/project undertaken by a community/region to promote tourism in Colorado. |
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The weekend festival was such a resounding success that it was extended to
a full week in only its second year. The Festival's Indian Art Market showcases
dozens of major artists, all from groups with a cultural affiliation to Mesa
Verde National Park. Hopi Dancers, a Navajo Rug Auction, concerts and special
archaeological tours at participating institutions are all part of the week-long
event that ends with the Ute Mountain Ute Bear Dance and the Mancos Valley
Fiddle Contest.
The Festival met all the criteria set forth by the committee including: utilization of coalitions/partnerships; creativity and innovation; promotion of tourism to the region/community/state; contribution to the local/regional/state economy; and investment of public/private resources. While the fires were still burning at Mesa Verde National Park in Summer 2000, a coalition of local organizations, determined to show the world that the area was still open for business, met to plan a recovery effort. Mesa Verde Country Visitor Information Bureau, Mesa Verde National Park, and ARAMARK Mesa Verde Company joined forces to create the Mesa Verde Country® Indian Arts and Western Culture Festival, a celebration of the culture so unique to the region. Other partners included: Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, Cortez Cultural Center, Anasazi Heritage Center, Ute Mountain Tribe, Ute Mountain Tribal Park, Cortez Chamber, Mancos Chamber and the Mesa Verde Museum Association. "We're thrilled to receive this award, which is truly an award for the entire community," stated Lynn Dyer, tourism director.
The Governor's Award comes just one week after the announcement that the Festival
had been recognized by the American Bus Association as one of the Top 100
Events in North America for 2003. "Both of these awards are especially important
recognition for an event that is only in its second year of development,"
Dyer stated. "These awards are a reflection of the hard work of all our tourism
partners and the generous support we have received from area businesses and
individuals."
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