LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A new Director of Tourism for the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism was named at the Arkansas State Capitol today.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that Dalaney Thomas will serve in the position. Gov. Sanders shared that Thomas has spent almost an entire decade working with Arkansas Tourism "from the outside."
“[Thomas] has spent nearly a decade working with Arkansas Tourism from the outside, brainstorming new ideas to get the word out about our state. She’s spearheaded nationwide marketing campaigns and has the creative chops we’ll need to compete with other states,” said Gov. Sanders.
The governor expressed her excitement, saying that Thomas will help take Arkansas to the next level and that the administration will be "making sweeping reforms to make our outdoor spaces even better.”
Thomas previously served as Account Manager for Arkansas Tourism and Oaklawn for almost nine years at Arkansas-based ad agency CJRW.
During her time in this role, she managed the creation and implementation of innovative creative campaigns, paid media strategies, nationwide public relations endeavors, social media content strategies, partnerships, and cooperative initiatives.
Thomas expressed her excitement to take on the role and said that she's both "honored and humbled" to serve as the new Director of Tourism."
“I love Arkansas and am honored and humbled to serve as Director of Tourism. Travelers are seeking authentic experiences and we have that in abundance in Arkansas. Tourism is Arkansas’ second-largest industry and I look forward to helping grow that economy by encouraging continuous product development and through expanding our reach into new markets, thereby introducing more people to our wonderful Natural State," Thomas said.