NATCHEZ — The process to enact the hotel assessment has been a lengthy one and it’s not over yet.

Before the $2 per occupied room tax goes into effect Aug. 1, the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau Commission Board must first appoint the Natchez Tourism Marketing Advisory Committee, attorney Walter Brown said.

“This committee needs to be appointed as quickly as you can do this,” he said during the CVB’s regular meeting on Wednesday.

The 11-member committee will be comprised of:

4 Three members of the hotel and lodging industry, which is to include bed and breakfasts

4 Two members from the restaurant, food and beverage industry

4 One member from Natchez Pilgrimage Tours

4 One member from the business community at large, which will be recommended by the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce

4 One member from the Isle of Capri

4 One member from the Natchez Association for the Preservation of African-American Culture

4 One member from the Historic Natchez Foundation

4 One member from the Natchez Business and Civic League

Once the Grand Soleil begins its operations, one member will be added to the board representing that entity and the same goes for any subsequent casinos.

Tourism Director Connie Taunton said the committee will be capped at 13 members.

Brown said the committee really encompasses everything in the city.

“The whole idea is to make this as broad-based as we can,” he said.

Taunton asked Brown if representatives from the Isle of Capri could serve on the board as hotel, restaurant and casino members.

It’s stated in the legislation that “there shall be only one representative from a corporate or ownership relationship which may cross multiple sectors of the tourism industry,”

Each entity can nominate who it would like to place on the committee.

Nominations forms have already been sent out and are due back to the CVB by July 1.

At the commission board’s next regular meeting, July 16, the appointments will be made.

Brown said there may be some initial struggles with the committee.

“It’s going to be a work in progress because we’re creating something brand new,” Brown said.

He said it’s going to take the leadership of the CVB board to direct the advisory committee and that everyone will need to work together.

The role of the committee is to propose a financial plan for the entire fiscal year to market Natchez with the revenue accrued through the new tax.

The plan will go before the CVB for approval and then will also have to be approved by the Natchez Board of Aldermen.

Brown said he didn’t agree with this decision.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to politicize the process,” he said.