LART Tourism Contract Update

At a glance

What: Reports to Council under the Lodgers and Auto Rental Tax (LART) tourism contracts: 2025 year-end updates from Visit COS and the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC on April 27, 2026, then 2026 mid-year reports from Visit COS and the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPeR) on August 24 and the Chamber and EDC on September 21.
Amount: The Chamber and EDC receives 750,000 dollars from LART.
Where it stands: Informational presentations only; no votes.

Doug Price of Visit COS presented vendor collections through December 2025, RevPAR, trade shows attended, estimated group room nights and economic impact; Melissa Williams covered website KPIs, social media, ad placements, short-term meetings and events, winter campaigns and the 250/150 campaign. Henjum confirmed the international statistics include only American travelers; Rainey learned a drone show is planned for the City's 150th birthday; shoulder season runs early October through early March.
Dani Bolling of the Chamber and EDC covered the 2026 Space Symposium, a national and international media briefing, Sports Illustrated coverage, and the Source Colorado Springs rebrand (Henjum asked why; Bolling said to align everyone in telling their story). Leinweber and Donelson asked for lists of organizations and events brought in; Bolling agreed. Donelson confirmed the City contract is 750,000 dollars. No votes.

April Perez and Melissa Williams of Visit COS (led by Doug Price) reported vendor collections through May 2026, RevPAR, trade shows, group room nights and economic impact, plus website and social media metrics (YouTube Shorts drove the rise in views; a music tourism strategy is under way with Mission to Market). Donelson asked why the American Bus Association skipped Colorado Springs this year and whether hoteliers have a RevPAR goal; Perez will follow up. Summer metrics were not yet available and state fires affected domestic tourism.
Angela Seals of COPPeR covered cultural promotion, Art at COS and granting; she said cultural tourists spend 17 percent more than other visitors and that hotel night and rental car counts are being worked out with Visit COS.

Dani Barger, Chief Operating Officer of the Chamber and EDC, covered LART Powered by Tourism, Economic Development on the Road, national earned media results and a familiarization tour for business meeting planners on October 27 to 29, 2026. She reviewed national messaging and branding and noted the launch of the national website.
Results cited: 55 national, trade and local placements and 213.8 million unique visitors reached.
Donelson asked about negative stories about Colorado Springs; Barger said they concern Colorado as a whole and the tour aims to tell the city's story in its own voice. He suggested the Pikes Peak Ascent and marathon as an event to focus on; Barger said it was not pitched but they look for unique local events for reporters.

City Council Work Session minutes, April 27, 2026: https://legistar2.granicus.com/coloradosprings/meetings/2026/4/2780_M_City_Council_Work_Session_26-04-27_Meeting_Minutes.pdf (files 26-094 Visit COS and 26-093 Chamber and EDC, 2025 year-end presentations)
City Council Work Session minutes, August 24, 2026: https://legistar2.granicus.com/coloradosprings/meetings/2026/8/2797_M_City_Council_Work_Session_26-08-24_Meeting_Minutes.pdf (attachments: Visit COS Q1 and Q2 KPI presentation; COPPeR mid-year 2026 slide deck)
City Council Work Session minutes, September 21, 2026: https://legistar2.granicus.com/coloradosprings/meetings/2026/9/2800_M_City_Council_Work_Session_26-09-21_Meeting_Minutes.pdf (attachment: Chamber and EDC LART Council presentation, September 2026)

Mid-year LART contract update presented; questions from Donelson on media coverage and the 750,000 dollar amount.

Visit COS and COPPeR mid-year updates; questions from Donelson, Henjum, Casey, Gold and Rainey.

2025 year-end updates from Visit COS and the Chamber and EDC (750,000 dollar contract); information lists requested by Leinweber and Donelson.