The Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the second reading of an ordinance creating a new Tourism Department during the April 7 meeting.

The motion, which passed 5-1 with Alderman Julie Anderson giving the no vote, also creates an executive director position that will be recommended by the mayor and approved by BOMA.

The first reading of the ordinance was in December of 2025 and will reshape how tourism efforts are conducted by the city.

It creates the new Department of Tourism and creates a citizens advisory board with the goal of promoting tourism and conducting operations at the Manchester Event and Visitor Center (formerly the Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center).

All revenues generated by the event center and 100% of the hotel/ motel tax will go to the Department of Tourism.

“That is your hotel/ motel tax money,” Mayor Joey Hobbs said during the April meeting. “It has nothing to do with sales tax or property tax. It is only money that people spend here when they spend the night in the city of Manchester.”

The advisory board will be comprised of two city aldermen, representatives from a restaurant, hotel and retail establishment as well as two at-large positions. Non-voting members will include the Mayor, the Director of the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce and the Director of Tourism.

This prevision removes the current three voting members of the Chamber and adds a second alderman to the board.

According to the proposed amendment, the function of the advisory board will be to provide BOMA and the Director of Tourism guidance on a variety of topics including the development of policy and advertising budgets to attract outside people to the city.

Alderman Julie Anderson in December said the city should hire a certified planner or city administrator rather than a Director of Tourism.

The first reading passed 5-1 with Alderman Anderson voting no.

Requirements for the Tourism Director position will be to plan, promote, and manage the City of Manchester’s “tourism, blending marketing, economic development and stakeholder relations to attract visitors and boost the local economy.”

The key duties include developing marketing campaigns, preparing and managing budgets, building partnerships with businesses and government and overseeing the Manchester Event and Visitor Center. Those duties include managing, supervising, and coordinating the use of the center.

“It is required that the Tourism Director supervises and participates in the planning and daily execution of all MEVC functions,” according to the job description.

Four years of fulltime work experience in special events, sales, and marketing operations, including supervisory and financial management/ budgeting experience or comparable experience is required.