by Sabrina Simms

NATCHEZ — Local tourism officials invite residents to learn something new about tourism and win a prize, too.

Visit Natchez and the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission are partnering with Kathleen Bond, Natchez National Historical Park superintendent, to present a free program titled “Creating New Tourism Experiences” at 5:30 p.m. today following a brief reception at 5 p.m. in the Natchez Visitor Center.

Bond recently attended a training session in Columbus, Ohio, with nationally recognized tourism expert Joe Veneto and will be sharing some of what she learned with Natchezians.

“I first met Joe as an instructor in the 3-year Tourism Marketing College training offered by the Southeast Tourism Society,” Bond said.

She said Veneto has a decades-long career successfully working with convention and visitors bureauss and other tourism partners to build community-wide experiences that can be marketed to group tours and conventions.

“We encountered first hand the creative partnerships he had worked to create, and the economic impact they had on the community. I will share what I experienced, and hopefully there will be some good conversation about Natchez possibilities.”

Executive Director of the NCPC and Visit Natchez Jennifer Ogden Combs said Bond’s training in Ohio was both “really exciting” and “experiential.”

“We have so many fantastic resources here. She is going to share information from that training about where we should go next to create new tourism experiences,” Combs said.

There will also be a drawing for a secret door prize at the presentation.

“The prize includes two tickets to a special event in New Orleans. I won’t give it away because the winner will have a choice between two different things … a potential concert or a really marvelous event,” Combs said.

She said the presentation is in the interest of all Natchez citizens as well as tourists.

“I think every single one of us, whether in tourism or not, should have a voice. It is an opportunity to hear from people and a chance for them to hear from us and give ideas of something that they might do.”

She said the presentation is something to share with the entire community.

“I hope people will come and be prepared to have some fun and be a part of it. We all want Natchez to grow … and we all want the best for Natchez … We want to see Natchez thrive,” Combs said.

Bond said she hopes Natchez will reach “a new era of Natchez tourism for the 21st century. It’s about what we can accomplish together.”