NATCHEZ &045; To bring the factions of Natchez’s tourism industry together, the mayor should create a &uot;superboard&uot; of members from each tourism-related group in Natchez.

That was chief among the recommendations New Orleans-based tourism consultant Stu Barash made Tuesday in a presentation to the Board of Aldermen.

&uot;Everybody going in different directions has to stop,&uot; Barash said. &uot;If we can get harmony (among different tourism groups), we can get together and advance tourism.&uot;

The superboard, as Barash envisions it, would replace the current six-member Convention Promotion Commission.

The study Barash presented in the packed meeting was similar to the one he presented Sept. 16 to the Chamber of Commerce’s Tourism Council, which contracted with him to study of how Natchez could better market itself to tourists.

The newest report goes into more detail on a few points than the original study. For example, it details what types of information the Convention and Visitors Bureau should, in Barash’s opinion, include in a quarterly report to city leaders and the public.

It also includes an analysis of what other CVBs across the state spend on their marketing efforts as a percentage of their overall budgets.

As he did in the original report, Barash advocated that Natchez’s CVB be restructured.

When asked by Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux what the restructuring would entail, Barash said he would like to see the bureau’s job description and organizational chart match.

Moreover, he said he envisions having an overall president over the bureau, with a director of tourism next in the hierarchy.

He then envisions subdirectors on the next-highest level to handle the day-to-day operations and staffing of specific areas such as tourism, sales and the convention center.

Alderman and Mayor Pro Tem David Massey asked Barash which city Natchez would do well to model itself after when it comes to tourism marketing.

&uot;I would hate to see Natchez model itself off of one particular city,&uot; Barash said. &uot;I would look at all the competitive cities around you Š and see what they’re doing.&uot;

However, Barash did say that other cities in Mississippi, such as Corinth, are sending out much more attractive and informative printed materials to inquiring tourists than Natchez is.

Therefore, he advocates hiring an advertising firm to come up with a new Natchez &uot;brand,&uot; including new brochures and other printed materials. He has recommended that materials full of new photos featuring the best of Natchez be produced.

Although the board took no action on Barash’s report during Tuesday night’s meeting, Mayor Phillip West said he is optimistic that &uot;we’ll be able to use a good bit of it.&uot;

&uot;We’ll become a closer community Š as a direct reflection&uot; of the study, he added.