NATCHEZ &045;&045; For Cynthia Parker Brumfield, perhaps nothing is more valuable than sitting down with fellow tourism professionals to hash out tourism hurdles and a game plan for action.

The chamber’s Tourism Council brings at least 20 people from all facets of the tourism industry together each month.

&uot;It’s valuable because it gives us a chance to communicate our concerns and work to overcome them,&uot; said Brumfield, marketing director at Monmouth.

&uot;We all have different properties, but we have the same goal &045;&045; to get people to Natchez.&uot;

The idea for the Tourism Council came from monthly meeting the Convention and Visitors Bureau has had in the past with those involved in tourism in the private sector, said chamber President and CEO Laura Godfrey.

&uot;That way, everybody in tourism can discuss upcoming (marketing events) to attend and give each other leads,&uot; Godfrey said. &uot;It’s a good marketing tool.&uot;

But council members don’t just sit around a table &045;&045; they take action, Godfrey said. For example, in recent months council members have attended trade shows, bridal shows and the like in such regional centers as Jackson and Baton Rouge.

The council was also a partner in Tourism Week events last week, Godfrey noted.

What the advantage of having such a council when the city already has the marketing staff and tourism-related boards in place?

&uot;It takes an army to do this &045;&045; the city can’t do it alone,&uot; Godfrey said.

&uot;The CVB is busy running the convention center and reception center (not just marketing).&uot;

Not everyone involved in tourism can participate in cooperative trade show efforts 100 percent of the time, Godfrey said. &uot;But they can give us their ideas, and we can represent them,&uot; she said.