May 2, 2011- Grady Champion Performance Kicks off National Travel and Tourism Week in Jackson!

Jackson, Mississippi  — (May 2, 2011) Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr. and The Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau, invite the public to RALLY FOR TOURISM as we celebrate US Travel Rally Day in the John Halbert Gardens at City Hall on Tuesday, May 10^th  at 11 am. May 7 through May 15 marks National Travel and Tourism Week in the City with Soul. In support of tourism and its impact on Jackson, the JCVB is asking participants to wear RED on Tuesday to the event.

Other sponsors include, Senator John Horhn, Country Fisherman, Deuce McAllister and Grady Champion. Lunch will be provided by Country Fisherman and Grady Champion will be performing on the lawn of City Hall.

“Our tourism product here in the capital city continues to grow each year, and visitors are responding to the industries’ many enhancements,” said Wanda Collier-Wilson, President and CEO of the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Our tourism business is part of a healthy $1.6 trillion industry, which alleviates tax burdens for citizens, provides a better quality of life and creates jobs for Jacksonians.”

National Travel and Tourism Week is a time to educate the community about the travel and tourism industry and the impact both have on Jackson and the entire state of Mississippi. Public events planned to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week include:

• Monday, May 9-Friday May, 13

National Travel & Tourism Week Attractions Membership Celebration

For more info contact: Rosemary Jalink

    rjalink@jacksonzoo.org

• Monday, May 9 at 10:30 a.m.-12 Noon

National Train Day Celebration

Union Station

300 West Capitol Street, Jackson

For more info contact: LaGina Fisher

601-960-1891 or lfisher@visitjackson.com

• Monday, May 10 at 3 p.m.

MS Development Authority National Travel& Tourism Week Press Conference

Mississippi/Toyota Getaway Sweepstakes Presentation

Mississippi State Capitol, Jackson

For more info contact: Sandy Bynum

601-359-3297 or sbynum@mississippi.org

• Tuesday, May 10 at 11:00 a.m.

US Travel Rally Day – Wear Red

Jackson City Hall-Josh Halbert Gardens

219 South President Street, Jackson

     (Lunch provided by The Country Fisherman)

• Tuesday, May 10 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“What’s Going on in Jackson”

Vicksburg Welcome Center

For more information, contact: Mary Current

601-960-1891 or mcurrent@visitjackson.com

For more information about these events, please contact LaGina Fisher, JCVB special projects manager, at 601-960-1891 or for media events/press conferences, contact Marika Cackett, communications and public relations manager, at 901-351-6020.

The mission of the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau is to promote Jackson as a premier vacation and meeting destination and to promote events, attractions, and exhibits that contribute to the quality of life for Mississippians.

The JCVB website (www.visitjackson.com) provides a complete tour of the city, with detail information on attractions, lodging, Bureau services and restaurants, as well as a detailed Calendar of Events.