Tourism on the Web

When the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau launched a Web site in August 1995, it was one of the first bureaus in the U.S. to do so.

The visitors bureau, now called Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak, was at the head of the pack again earlier this year when it became one of the first in the state to launch a Web site using the new Internet domain .travel. The new site, www.coloradosprings.travel, launched March 1.

The site, which boasts an attractive design and no ads, is a way to woo potential travelers, then lead them to www.experiencecoloradosprings.com for further information, says Amy Long, marketing director for Experience Colorado Springs.

“Before you can get someone to take action, you need to inspire them and romance them, and that’s the intent of all .travel sites,” Long said.

Experience Colorado Springs is also helping the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region launch www.peakradar.com, a cultural events Web site, in mid-June.

“Updating our calendar is something we wanted to do, but it’s a huge undertaking,” Long said.

Read the Business section in Wednesday's Gazette or go to gazette.com for a story about Experience Colorado Spring Pikes Peak's annual business meeting.