History and Structure

In 1983, the state legislature established the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau now doing business as Visit Jackson. Senate Bill #3080 authorized the creation of Visit Jackson, identified its purpose, and provided for funding through the levying of a 1% sales tax upon hotels/motels and restaurants. These funds form the foundation on which Visit Jackson promotes Jackson as a tourist, group tour, trade show, and convention/meeting destination. Visit Jackson was awarded accreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) - first in 2012 and renewed in 2021 - and was the first accredited DMO in the state of Mississippi. DMAP is an international accreditation program developed by Washington, DC-based Destinations International which is the world’s largest resource for official destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards.

Visit Jackson’s departments - executive, administrative, marketing, sales and services - work collectively to provide services to visitors, conventions, group tour operators, local hotels, restaurants, shops, special events and attractions, and assist to bring millions of dollars into the local economy annually.

Visit Jackson’s Board of Directors meets every two months, the (4th) Tuesday of the months of January, March, May, July, September and November, at 8:30 AM. Meeting location on 1st floor of Visit Jackson board room (308 E. Pearl Street, Suite 102, Jackson MS 39201). All meetings will facilitate a Zoom® platform attendance option.

The committees comprise a myriad of talents possessed by tourism professionals and stakeholders. The sharing of their knowledge base and collaborations have the propensity to contribute significantly to the enhancement of the strategic direction of Visit Jackson and its mission.