The culture-rich city of Selma will play host to tourism industry professionals across the state for next week’s Alabama Tourism Department’s Welcome Center Retreat.
The annual retreat serves as an educational experience for front-line visitor center employees who work at the eight state-owned welcome centers. Welcome center staff are exposed to Alabama’s tourism destinations and provides them with the knowledge to encourage visitors to experience what the Yellowhammer State has to offer.
Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce executive director Sheryl Smedley looks forward to her community hosting the retreat.
“Securing this retreat is a major win for Selma and Dallas County,” said Smedley. “We will be hosting more than 50 tourism professionals who staff our state’s eight Welcome Centers. They assist more than six-million visitors on an annual basis, and these men and women are often the first face encountered by travelers to Alabama. Now they will be able to greet visitors with more first-hand, experiential knowledge of our incredible community.”
The Black Belt’s Queen City will provide educational programs, a tourism trade show and guided tours of historic sites as well as Selma’s downtown art scene. The first night will see welcome center staff enjoy a Flavors of Selma and Beyond welcoming dinner held at Gallery 905 Art Studio.
Alabama Tourism Department director Lee Sentell said industry professionals are excited to witness the historic sites Selma has to offer.
“We have been looking forward to Selma hosting our welcome center staffs,” noted Sentell. “With all of the new developments and the restored hotel reopened, the story of historic Selma is more important for tourists than ever.”
Selma’s civil rights history will be on display as the retreat features guided tours of Brown Chapel AME Church, The Jackson Home, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Edmund Pettus Bridge, National Voting Rights Museum and the Selma to Montgomery Interpretive Trail Center.
Additional sites include the Bridge Tender’s House, Live Oak Cemetery, Orrville Farmers Market and Charlie Lucas’ Tin Man Studio.
Mayor James Perkins expressed his appreciation to the tourism community for bringing the annual retreat to his city.
“The City of Selma is excited to host the Alabama Welcome Center Retreat,” said Perkins. “This retreat will provide new and innovative ways to attract tourists to our beloved city. We are grateful for this great opportunity.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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