NATCHEZ, MS – February 24, 2021 – Effective March 1, industry leader Devin Heath will join Visit Natchez as the new Executive Director. Heath joins the team with more than 28 years of tourism and hospitality experience that includes leadership roles throughout the South.

Most recently, Heath served as General Manager of the Embassy Suites Atlanta Galleria where he managed a 263-room hotel and restaurant, in addition to serving on several industry boards and committees. A graduate of Loyola University in Maryland, Heath has worked with destination marketing organizations and hotels, serving as Vice President of Sales, General Manager and recently as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Cobb Travel & Tourism in Georgia. His strategic approach to leading teams has led to several awards including Director of Sales of the Year, Hotel of the Year and AAA Four Diamond Award.

“There is nowhere in the world like Natchez, Mississippi and it’s truly an honor to join the impeccable team in place at Visit Natchez,” said Heath. “Despite the challenges the tourism industry faced in 2020, I believe our city is well established to bounce back and am eager to help grow tourism and revitalize the local economy. I look forward to meeting and working with local tourism partners as we develop strategies to emerge stronger than ever after the pandemic.”

Visit Natchez completed a nation-wide search for the position following the departure of Jennifer Ogden Combs in the fall of 2020. Director of Sales Lynsey Smith served as the Interim Executive Director. Heath has relocated to Natchez with his wife, Janice, and is looking forward to exploring the ins and outs of the iconic city.

For a hi-res head shot of Devin Heath, please click here.

About Natchez

Natchez, Mississippi, located 80 miles north of Baton Rouge, is quickly becoming a sought-after cultural tourism destination. Attracting over 670,000 visitors annually from around the world, Natchez is known for its culture and history, offering more antebellum structures than any other location in the United States.  It is also the Bed and Breakfast Capital of the South, and “The Biscuit Capital of the World.”   Natchez is one of the oldest continuous settlements on the Mississippi River and its evolution over 300 years has provided an astounding array of ways to discover and enjoy southwest Mississippi. For more information about Natchez, visit www.visitnatchez.org or call 800-647-6724.