A Durango man who is a veteran of the state’s tourism industry was honored this week for his commitment.
The Colorado Tourism Office honored Durango Area Tourism Office Executive Director Bob Kunkel Thursday evening during its annual awards dinner.
He received the Board Chairman’s Award for his work on local marketing boards and two terms on the state tourism board, according to a release issued Friday.
He was nominated for the award by the Colorado Tourism Office Chairman Matt Skinner.
“I was completely surprised,” Kunkel said.
He has worked in tourism marketing since about 1980. He started working in ski resorts, including Copper Mountain, Winter Park, Beaver Creek and Purgatory Ski Resort, he said. In every town that he’s lived in, he has been on a marketing or chamber of commerce board, he said.
He also worked for the city of Durango and the Business Improvement District for 11 years.
Three years ago, he was named head of the Durango Area Tourism Office after working on the organization’s board.
As a tourism professional in Colorado, he’s been blessed with a wonderful product and colleagues, he said.
“Tourism people, travel people are just upbeat, positive, vibrant,” he said.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
