TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports (TTS) is pleased to announce the addition of Jennifer Wilson as the new Manager of Tourism Development beginning September 2nd. In her new role, Mrs. Wilson will be promoting the Tuscaloosa area as a premiere travel destination and managing relationships with tourism-related constituencies in the Tuscaloosa market. As a life-long resident of Tuscaloosa, Mrs. Wilson spent a large portion of her career promoting the City’s top tourism destinations.
“Wilson’s 12 years of experience in the tourism industry within our market is exactly what we were looking for in a candidate,” said Gina Simpson, TTS CEO. “Her previous work at both the Tuscaloosa and Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureaus ties directly into her responsibilities and allows her to hit the ground running. I am excited to see how Tuscaloosa’s tourism industry changes and grows under her guidance.”
As Tourism Development Manager, Mrs. Wilson will be stepping into a newly created position for TTS. The new role places an emphasis on community development with the goal of enhancing the area’s tourism assets. In the past, TTS placed large efforts on marketing. However, research reveals successful downtowns and visitor destinations are built on product not marketing. The new role is a fundamental piece in TTS’s strategy to further develop the City of Tuscaloosa into a premier location for residents and visitors alike.
Mrs. Wilson began her career in Tourism at Mercedes Benz US International as the Plant Tour Guide and Museum Guide. Wilson furthered her career in tourism at the Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau as the Director of Sales, marketing Tuscaloosa as a tourism, convention and sports event destination. Additionally, she worked for the Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau as the National Sales Manager and the Westervelt Warner Museum of American Art and Lodge as the Director of Sales. Throughout her career, Wilson’s work directly related back to Tuscaloosa and the opportunities it provides for incoming tourism.
More recently, Mrs. Wilson has been working with her husband in their business, Green Acres Landscaping Service. She has been active in the community and served as the Chair of the Women in Business Council in 2011. She studied Communication at The University of Alabama and is married to Josh Wilson; they have a 9-year-old son, Fisher.
