NATCHEZ — The focus of the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission’s regular meeting was technological.

That’s because the Nathez Convention and Vistors Bureau is working toward launching its new visitors Web site.

The site — www.visitnatchez.org — already has its homepage uploaded but lets its visitors know that it is still under construction.

The design of the site drew inspiration from San Antonio’s visitor Web site, said Sally Durkin, media liaison with the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“We really emulated their site because we liked their components,” she said. “It’s very user-friendly.”

The new site will have several different tabs directed at several different markets.

The Natchez site will have a visitor’s tab that lists lodging, dining and tourist attractions free of charge, Tourism Director Connie Taunton said.

“There will be no advertising on the site,” she said.

But every property or restaurant has the option to have its link displayed on the site with the listing.

Durkin said the CVB wants the site to be all-inclusive — to not drive away people unwilling to pay — which will ultimately lead to a site that shows off all of the many things Natchez has to offer.

Plus, Taunton said moving from contracting with Miss Lou Internet to self-regulation, the CVB can’t try to profit from the site.

“We don’t have the man power to sell it or track it,” she said.

She also said competition is too strong from other competing area visitors sites.

But ads also have a negative drawback, she said.

“We don’t want our site to be cluttered up with ads,” Taunton said.

Other tabs on the site are directed toward film producers, the media and meeting information so conferences can be booked.

“It will have all the meeting amenities, it will show floor plans — everything,” Taunton said.

Durkin said a virtual tour of the convention center will be available, as well as other conveniences.

“You can actually put together an itinerary,” she said.

Finally, a tab will direct those interested in Natchez as a wedding destination — a direction the city is moving toward, Taunton said.

The site is barreling forward, Durkin said. A three-minute high definition video of the city to be included on the site has already been shot.

Taunton said the CVB is expecting the site’s launch date to be mid- to late December.

The funding for the Web site is comes from funds sets aside in the $2 tax budget specifically for this, and the rest is coming from the CVB’s regular budget, Taunton said.

The commission also discussed being a part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Web site, as well.

Taunton said $4 million in advertising will be spent on the Trust site to drive people to it.

If Natchez were to sign up, all of its historic attractions would be listed on the site, she said.

Other cities that have already signed up to be a part of the site or agreed to enter the contract are Louisville and Lexington, Ky.; Natchitoches, La.; Knoxville and Jonesborough, Tenn.; Buffalo N.Y.; and others.

If the CVB enters the two-year contract by Nov. 30, the annual fee is reduced from $7,500 to $6,000.

The commission voted unanimously to sign the contract.