I think it may be time to cancel my Post subscription... frankly, I have better things to do with my time and money than read a puff piece every single day about regionalism - which is code for "fairness to Aurora." I haven't yet seen a story about regionalism that concerned any community other than Aurora. And it's now
every single day there is something in the Post. I think the editorial board has been co-opted.
In any case, maybe we can use this thread for Gaylord, the Stock Show, and whatever other nonsense comes up.
Today's version from the master of spin, Penny Parker, is this. Apparently our region's Visitor's Guide doesn't do an adequate job of being fair to everybody. If only God had graced Aurora with some actual attractions, we wouldn't be forced to this. (Can we say that God hates regionalism, therefore, we must hate God?) But apparently destinational equity is now a requirement of "regionalism." It doesn't matter whether there's actually anything
worth seeing in a particular community - it's only fair that we spread the wealth, legit or not.
Tell me, though, will it be good for tourism at the end of the day if we start recommending tourists make day trips out to Aurora, skipping, say, Boulder, Colorado Springs, or Blackhawk, where there are actually things to do? Or maybe, just maybe, will they leave a tad disappointed...???
But who am I to judge what's a worthy travel destination? Aurora may be exactly what out-of-state visitors have in mind when they come to visit our fair state.
Pikes Peak... or downtown Aurora? I'll let you decide! -
http://www.visitaurora.com/index.php (Ignore the fact that they spelled "heritage" wrong on their website.)
Parker: Penny Parker: Visitors guides offer varying takes on "regionalism"
By Penny Parker
Denver Post Columnist
Posted: 10/23/2011 01:00:00 AM MDT
http://www.denverpost.com/pennyparker/ci_19169757
The new edition of Discover Denver, the area's official visitors guide, debuts Monday, sending the message of "regionalism," a favorite buzz word of city boosters and politicians these days.
"We've always been regional in our approach to tourism," said Visit Denver spokesman Rich Grant. ". . . We have a full page on Colorado Springs, a full page on Golden and all the ski areas. We've always seen Denver as a gateway to the whole region."
It's interesting that Grant uses the word "regionalism," a pet term of former Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper when referring to close ties he helped form with Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer. Leaf through the slick magazine and there's nary a mention of Colorado's third-largest city.
To be fair, the visitaurora.com website lists day-trip destinations to everywhere except Denver.
But while practically ignoring Aurora, the Denver guide touts other outlying destinations such as Boulder, the Pikes Peak area and Black Hawk/Central City.
The guide is meant to be Denver-centric with day-trip recommendations, along with lists of restaurants, hotels, shopping areas and events.
This year's free publication features a cover cartoon by Kenny Be, the iconic artist who made his name — and tweaked the noses of countless local notables — at Westword.
Be illustrates Denver attractions such as the skyline, the "big blue bear" sculpture at the Colorado Convention Center, Elitch's, the Denver Art Museum and the state Capitol.
The bottom half of the drawing is a reflection showing mountain scenes of skiing, river rafting, Red Rocks and the famous "Sleeper" house.
There are 250,000 copies of the advertising-supported guide distributed to hotels, the Convention Center, Denver International Airport and the Denver visitors center at 16th and California streets.
? 
Linear Mode
