Tourism group named
Published Thursday, July 17, 2008
CORRECTION: This story originally contained an error. Michael Cates was appointed to represent the Historic Natchez Foundation. We regret the error and are happy to set the record straight.
NATCHEZ — The members of the Natchez Tourism Advisory Committee designed to appropriate the $2 occupancy tax have been appointed.
On July 14, the Natchez Convention and Promotion Commission met to pour over nominations submitted by different industries to be affiliated with the committee.
The commission announced the advisory committee Wednesday at the regular commission board meeting.
The members of the committee are:
From the hotel industry, Jill Alexander, Country Inn & Suites; Wendy Grandin, The Briars and Rene Adams, Monmouth.
From the restaurant industry, Janice Guido, the Castle; and Modie Mascagni, Lil Dagos’.
From Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, Marsha Colson.
From the Natchez Adams Chamber of Commerce, Bill Rush Mosby.
From the Natchez Business and Civic League, Larry Jackson.
From the Historic Natchez Foundation, Michael Cates.
From the Natchez Association for the Preservation of African American Culture, Helen Brooks.
From the casino industry, Tony Scudiero, the Isle of Capri.
Chairman of the commission Royal Hill said selecting the marketing committee went smoothly and they were able to select from the nominations.
“While we weren’t held to those particular names, we went ahead with those suggested names,” he said.
The first meeting of the committee will be Aug. 4, which Hill said will be an introductory meeting that the convention commission will sit in on.
He said this is a great opportunity for the convention and visitors bureau.
“These are the individuals who are on the front lines every day and they’ll have input directly into the marketing of the city,” Hill said. “We’ll be a unified front, the tourism industry as a whole.”
When the occupancy tax was passed, it was written in the legislation that a marketing committee would be formed to set up a financial marketing plan for the city each fiscal year using the additional funds created through the tax.
The plan will be approved by the CVB and then will go before the Natchez Board of Aldermen for final approval.