FAYETTEVILLE -- The city's Advertising and Promotion Commission will soon have a new executive director.
Commissioners offered the agency's top position to Kym Hughes, former director of tourism and hospitality for the city of Sandy Springs, Ga., on Monday, and Hughes accepted the offer, pending a background check.
At A Glance
Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission
Also on Monday, commissioners:
• Approved a $525,000 marketing plan for 2015
• Agreed to give organizers of the Hogeye Marathon $6,000 for advertising and promoting next year’s event
• Reviewed hotel, motel and restaurant tax collections for the year. The commission’s half of the city’s 2 percent tax on hotel stays and food purchases in Fayetteville restaurants netted $2.52 million through the first 11 months of the year, according to a report given Monday. That’s a $97,000, or 4 percent, increase compared to the same period last year.
Source: Staff Report
"To be able to walk into such a well-established foundation -- it's truly an honor," Hughes said by phone Monday. "I'm very excited to get started."
Hughes will replace Marilyn Heifner, who announced in September she plans to retire Jan. 31, after nearly 22 years promoting Fayetteville.
Heifner said by email following Monday's meeting she planned to talk with Hughes today to determine a start date.
Hughes' starting salary will be $85,000. Commissioners also agreed to give her $5,000 for moving expenses, along with a standard benefit package.
Heifner's annual salary is $88,200.
Hughes was one of more than 55 applicants for Heifner's job. She was one of three finalists the commission interviewed last week.
"All of the applicants that we had come over and visit us were definitely very good prospects," Ching Mong, chairman of the A&P Commission, said at Monday's meeting. "Really what it came down to in my opinion ... is the personality of these candidates and how well they could work with our current staff."
According to Hughes' application materials, she has worked for convention and visitors bureaus for more than 10 years. She has eight years of management experience in Statesboro, Ga., and Sandy Springs, Ga., where she helped launch the city's convention and visitors bureau.
Hughes served as director of sales for the Athens (Ga.) Convention & Visitors Bureau in 2004 and 2005. Athens is where the University of Georgia is located.
Hughes is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a bachelor of arts degree in communications with an emphasis in advertising.
"One of my greatest gifts is moving to a new community and telling the story of its assets with a fresh, new eye and sharing those stories with potential visitors," Hughes said in a Sept. 27 cover letter. "Every destination has something to offer, but far too often the largest asset, which are the people, is overlooked.
"My goal is to bring together the local community, its assets and its organizations to propel tourism and draw business into those entities."
NW News on 12/09/2014