John Coffelt, Editor

The Manchester Tourism Commission discussed with Mayor Joey Hobbs during the July 14 meeting its role moving forward in regards to planned changes by the Mayor’s Office.

“There’s going to be some new goals that will come out based around tourism,” Hobbs said. “We have developed a tourism department within the city. We are going to change some of the Charter language to be able to hire a Director of Tourism.”

Hobbs outlined his plans that include the shifting of the operational model of the Conference Center (to be renamed the Manchester Event Visitor Center) to a rental venue/welcome center that could even offer retail space for locally produced goods.

The Hotel/Motel tax, which is expected to net $945,000, was moved into the Tourism budget. Those revenues will be divided three ways: to Parks and Recreation, to the operation of the Conference Center and the remainder to stay at the discretion of the Tourism Commission to support tourism related ventures within the city.

In addition to the Tourism Director hire coming sometime in about six months, the city will also hire a marketing director who will help promote city-related tourism.

Hobbs said the city will dissolve the Manchester Public Building Authority (the body that oversees the Conference Center). Last month the entire board resigned, so the Board of Mayor and Aldermen will have to appoint four new members to the PBA to close out what Hobbs called an open item or two.

The new Manchester Event Visitor Center will narrow its business model to only renting event space, tables and chairs. Local businesses such as caterers and florists can be contracted directly by the customer to provide their services.

Hobbs said the move will be a win-win for local business and the city.

“A lot of the conversation in the last year or so is that we are competing against local businesses, and we’re going to stop all of that,” he explained.

The Tourism Department personnel are intended to grow tourism income by strategizing how to bring people to the area.

Hobbs told the Tourism Commission that their roles will remain much the same, and that the Tourism Director and marketing person will help guide the efforts of the committee. 

Organizations, both for profit and nonprofits, seeking tourism funding can still approach the Tourism Commission as before. Allocations to for-profit business must be approved by BOMA, while the non-profit application decisions remain at the committee level.  

Hobbs said the Tourism Director will focus on high level things under a different budget from what the Tourism Commission oversees. 

Tourism Commission Chair Lori Perry said that she could envision Manchester being promoted as a three-day destination.  

The Tourism Commission approved a $3,000 contribution for marketing of the Mach 10 Running Club’s Halloween themed run, $3,000 to the Out of Darkness Walk and recommended a $4,000 contribution to Common John Brewing Company to promote its annual Brew Fest event in September. The Brew Fest is being promoted as a multiday event.   

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.