Chamber gets to know tourism

Published 9:35 am Wednesday, April 15, 2015

TOURISM: Mississippi Welcome Center supervisor Debbie Dolan talks Tuesday to Vicksburg business owners and employees at the Chamber of Commerce.

The Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce has begun offering sessions in an effort to promote relationships in the tourism industry.

“The ‘Get to Know You’ sessions are geared towards getting to know our hoteliers, restaurateurs, museum directors and anyone interested in tourism,” executive director of the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce Jane Flowers said.

During the inaugural session, participants were told how the Warren County Welcome Center can help promote businesses.

“Brochures help bring revenue in,” Debbie Dolan said.

Dolan is the supervisor of the Mississippi Welcome Center on Washington Street.

“The welcome center is more than just a place where tourists can stop in and use the restroom or grab a map, it is also a place where locals can promote their businesses,” she said.

When tourists stop at visitor centers, brochures from across the state are displayed, which include information on lodging, dining and entertainment.

Dolan said if a business is interested in having a brochure displayed at the visitor center they must first submit a written request with a sample publication or they can email a request with an electronic copy of the materials being submitted.

“If a publication is approved, brochures will then be displayed at all 13 welcome centers throughout the state. Last year 337,270 people visited Mississippi state welcome centers, and in March there were 4,800 visitors at the Warren County Welcome Center,” Dolan said.

The cost of printing and shipping the brochures is the responsibility of the business owner, she added.

Dolan said another opportunity for businesses to promote themselves at the Warren County welcome center is to participate in the monthly events.

“We have a theme every month at the welcome center,” Dolan said.

This month’s theme is food.

“Snacks entice tourist,” she said.

Dolan said she and her staff work hard to promote the local businesses, but encouraged help.

“It’s your welcome center. I work for you, but they won’t know as much about you if you are not there,” she said.

“The Mississippi welcome centers are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week with 24-hour security,” Dolan said.

For more information about the Warren County welcome center or information on brochure applications, call 601-638-4269 or visit www.visitmississippi.org.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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