Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Announces Key Roles in Areas of Rural Tourism and Outreach

NASHVILLE, TN – July 24, 2019 – TDTD is adding two key roles in the areas of rural tourism and outreach; it was announced today by TDTD Commissioner Mark Ezell.

In response to Governor Lee’s first executive order to better serve rural Tennessee, TDTD announced earlier this year it would create an Office of Rural Tourism. In keeping with that order, Melanie Beauchamp has been elevated to Assistant Commissioner of Rural Tourism and Outreach, while Dennis Tumlin will join the team as Key Customer Officer. Both will be based in Nashville, reporting to Commissioner Ezell.

“These new roles are critical as we look to better serve partners and increase tourism growth throughout Tennessee and in particular, in our distressed and at-risk counties,” said Commissioner Ezell. “The combined knowledge and passion for tourism Melanie and Dennis bring to our state’s second biggest industry is a tremendous asset, and will enable us to transform the level of customer service and collaboration we can deliver statewide.”

As Assistant Commissioner of Rural Tourism and Outreach, Beauchamp will continue to oversee strategy development and implementation of tourism products with an enhanced focus on distressed and at-risk communities throughout Tennessee. She is charged with advancing economic impact through tourism-based initiatives including marketing grants, education and outreach. Beauchamp joined TDTD in 2012, and has served as Director of Outreach and Engagement since 2015 with the goal of increasing tourism for all 95 counties.

Additionally, Tumlin brings a deep understanding of tourism to his new role as Key Customer Officer, where he will be responsible for creating customer-centric strategies to increase partner connectivity and grow tourism among the state’s largest destinations and attractions. Since 2013, Tumlin served as the Executive Director of Economic and Community Development for Rhea County and was responsible for industry recruitment, workforce development and tourism. His background includes extensive customer service and sales experience having worked as a senior executive serving top national accounts at The Coca-Cola Company, Inc. for over 15 years.

The new roles come at a time of unprecedented growth in tourism for Tennessee. Last year, the state announced Tennessee tourism’s direct domestic and international travel expenditures reached an all-time record high of $20.7 billion in 2017, up 6.3 percent over the prior year, according to U.S. Travel.

The state anticipates another record-breaking year when 2018 economic impact numbers are released in August.

About the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
The mission of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is to motivate travel to and within Tennessee by inspiring enjoyment, creating memories, producing a desire to return, and establishing key long-term relationships that result in visitors becoming residents. The promise of Tennessee—the birthplace of the blues, bluegrass, country, gospel, soul, rockabilly, and rock ‘n’ roll—is to be the global music destination of choice. To deliver an unparalleled experience of beauty, history, and family adventure, infused with music that creates a vacation that is the “Soundtrack of America. Made in Tennessee.”

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