Southern hospitality. These are two words we hear often. Many communities across our region use them as a slogan to attract visitors. But in Natchez, they are much more than a catchphrase – for us they are the real deal. In a city blessed with countless assets, genuine Southern hospitality remains one of our greatest. For generations, visitors from around the world have chosen Natchez because of our history, beauty, and charm. But I believe what keeps them coming back is the warm welcome they receive. That is a tradition we should never take for granted.
This Tuesday, August 11, at 3:00 in the Natchez City Council Chambers, 115 S. Pearl Street, we will hold a meeting unlike any we have had in many years. I am inviting our hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, short-term rentals, and other tourism partners to join us for a conversation about how we can work together to make tourism in Natchez more profitable for everyone.
Tourism has long been one of the driving forces of our local economy. It supports our restaurants, shops, museums, historic attractions, entertainment venues, and countless small businesses. Simply said, when we put “heads on beds,” our entire city benefits.
Today, our lodging community is more diverse than ever. Our hotels continue investing millions in renovations. Our historic bed-and-breakfasts offer experiences found nowhere else, while our growing short-term rentals have become an important part of our tourism economy, providing additional accommodations during major events and bringing new life to properties that once stood vacant.
Rather than seeing these lodging options as competitors, I believe we should see them as partners with one shared mission: bringing more visitors to Natchez.
The timing for this conversation could not be better. As we prepare for our busy fall tourism season, we also know late summer has traditionally been slower for many businesses. Working together on promotions, special packages, weekend experiences, and coordinated marketing could make a meaningful difference.
I truly believe one rising tide lifts all ships.
An important part of Tuesday’s meeting will be the participation of Visit Natchez and our new Executive Director, Lance Harris. Lance brings valuable experience as a former commissioner and board president of Visit Natchez, and I am excited about the leadership he will provide.
Today’s tourism landscape has changed dramatically. Not only are our hotels and B&Bs important stakeholders, but with the growth of short-term rentals, we have an opportunity for collaboration like never before. Perhaps this meeting will begin a renewed spirit of teamwork, possibly even a new “Natchez Lodging Association”.
The opportunities before us have never been greater.
Downtown continues to welcome new businesses, and our vision of becoming a regional retail destination is coming into focus. The redevelopment of Trace Town Shopping Center will soon bring the state’s largest TJ Maxx, along with other great retailers. A new development adjacent to Walmart is in the works. The restoration of the historic Eola Hotel is moving closer to reality, and American Cruise Lines will soon construct a new multimillion-dollar dock to welcome even more cruise visitors to Natchez. Our recently renovated Convention Center now offers more for meetings and conferences, walkable to some of the South’s best restaurants, shopping, music, and historic attractions.
Meanwhile, United Airlines has connected Natchez to Houston and destinations around the world, making our city more accessible than ever before.
We are also investing in the visitor experience itself. Our $24.5 million BUILD Grant will transform not only the historic Forks of the Road corridor but also key portions of downtown, improving accessibility, connectivity, and the overall visitor experience while helping us tell the complete story of Natchez.
The latest numbers confirm we are moving in the right direction. According to data from Visit Mississippi, visitors spent $129 million in Natchez in 2024, generating a total economic impact of $193.9 million. Tourism supported 1,374 local jobs, provided $48.2 million in wages, and generated more than $10.3 million in state and local tax revenues. Those numbers remind us that tourism is far more than an industry – it is one of the pillars of our local economy.
Still, we cannot afford to become complacent. I am convinced there are countless people within just a couple hours’ drive who have never even been to Natchez. Reaching them will require creativity, partnership, and a shared commitment to promoting our community.
Imagine what we could accomplish if our hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and short-term rentals worked together to develop seasonal promotions, weekend getaway packages, and coordinated marketing campaigns that encourage visitors to stay longer, explore more, and return again and again. That means more opportunity, more customers for our local businesses, and more JOBS!
I hope our lodging partners, tourism leaders, business owners, and interested citizens will join us Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Together, we can put out our best welcome mat and build an even brighter future for our city!
The conversation begins Tuesday. Because Natchez Deserves More.
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