Visit Estes Park hires Visit Loveland director Mackin

ESTES PARK and LOVELAND — Visit Estes Park, the local marketing district for the tourism-dependent town at the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, has hired Visit Loveland director Cindy Mackin as its chief strategy officer.

Mackin will resign her Visit Loveland post on April 18 after 12 years in that position, but the two visitors bureaus plan to launch collaborative tourism campaigns aimed at boosting visitation to both locations. Her first day in her new position will be April 22, said Kara Franker, Visit Estes Park’s CEO.

Chris Bierdeman, Visit Loveland’s group sales and event manager, will replace Mackin in Loveland until a permanent replacement is found.

“Cindy’s extensive experience in strategic planning, combined with her enthusiasm and love for northern Colorado and Estes Park, makes her an exceptional choice for this position,” said Franker in a prepared statement. “I am so excited to have her on board and am confident that her work will drive Visit Estes Park towards new heights of success.”

Mackin brings 25 years of experience in the tourism industry to her new role, most recently leading Visit Loveland since 2012. She has been recognized with several awards, including the 2016 Colorado Tourism Office Governor’s Award, 2018 PRSA Business Person of the Year, and 2020 BizWest Woman of Distinction. She has also obtained her Certified Destination Management Executive designation through Destinations International. 

“I am honored to join the Visit Estes Park team and contribute to the continued growth and success of this incredible destination,” said Mackin. “Estes Park holds a special place in the hearts of visitors and residents alike, and I am excited to work with the VEP staff and its stakeholders to enhance the visitor experience.”

In her new position, Mackin will lead the strategic planning and execution of tourism initiatives at Visit Estes Park, including destination development, domestic and international sales, and community engagement efforts. She will develop and implement tourism strategies to increase year-round visitation and visitor spending, advocate for new visitor experiences and events, identify funding opportunities for destination development initiatives and provide strategic counsel to stakeholders.

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