Director of Visit Oxford Elected to Regional Tourism Board

Visit Oxford—the tourism office of the City of Oxford—is located at 1013 Jackson Avenue East on the historic Oxford Square. Photo by Talbert Toole.

Oxford now represents a new place in the Southeast Tourism Society as Mary Allyn Hedges, the director of Visit Oxford, has been elected to be a part of the Board of Directors for the Southeast Tourism Society (STS).

“I am thrilled to be elected to the Southeast Tourism Society Board that represents our industry in the southeast,” Hedges said. “STS is a great association that offers programs and educational opportunities to tourism professionals as well as advocating for the travel and tourism industry.”

Mary Allyn Hedges, the director of Visit Oxford, has been elected to be a part of the Board of Directors for the Southeast Tourism Society (STS). Photo courtesy of Visit Oxford.

Hedges said she is honored to be elected as one of two representatives from Mississippi and is excited to be a voice for the city of Oxford and the state.

She has been with Visit Oxford since 2008 where she began as a tourism coordinator. She was named the director of Visit Oxford in 2014.

Hedges also serves on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Tourism Association and the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area Alliance where she is currently serving as president of the board.

Originally founded in 1983, STS promotes travel and tourism throughout 12 different states. The organization focuses on education, advocacy, recognition, and networking for the tourism industry.

Monica Smith, president and CEO of Southeast Tourism Society, said the organization looks for visionaries within the society to become directors.

“The STS Board of Directors are leaders within the travel and tourism industry, who we look to as the visionaries for our organization,” Smith said. “The board’s leadership provides valuable insight as STS continues to grow and support the tourism industry, particularly in regards to promoting travel to our 12 member states.”

Smith said each board member brings a unique skill set or expertise that helps the organization develop programs to enhance professional development within the tourism industry.

In 2017 Visit Oxford was awarded “Tourism Office of the Year” by the Mississippi Tourism Association in their budget category.

Staff Report