Manchester's New Tourism Group Picks Its First Executive Director, Formerly Of Intown Concord

MANCHESTER, NH — Visit Manchester, NH, a newly formed destination marketing organization focused on promoting Manchester, has named Jessica Martin as its inaugural executive director.

The organization said it will promote Manchester as a place to visit, experience, eat, shop, stay and enjoy. As the city's new destination marketing organization, Visit Manchester will work to attract visitors, support local businesses and strengthen downtown through partnerships with businesses and community groups.

Under Martin's leadership, the organization said it will focus on building awareness of the city, encouraging people to discover what is already in Manchester and creating opportunities for visitors to experience the city year-round. Visit Manchester said its work will include strategic marketing, tourism promotion, public relations and signature events aimed at supporting local economic activity while helping tell Manchester's story.

“There are so many great things happening in Manchester that people simply don’t know about,” Martin said. “There are hidden gems all over this city. Why should they be hidden? We want to tell those stories and help people discover what makes Manchester unique.”

Martin grew up in a small town in Maine and moved to Manchester after earning her bachelor's degree in business from Southern New Hampshire University. She has been a Manchester resident for more than a decade and previously became executive director of Intown Concord in 2020.

“As executive director, Jessica brings a deep understanding of what it takes to build strong community partnerships, support local businesses, and bring people together around a shared vision,” Joseph Wichert, the chairman of Visit Manchester, said. “Her proven track record of more than a decade of experience working with businesses, community organizations, and downtown districts will be a tremendous asset as we build Visit Manchester and create new opportunities for our community.”

Visit Manchester will officially introduce the organization at its launch party, presented by Brady Sullivan Properties, at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 30 at the REX Theatre. Tickets can be purchased through the Palace Theatre website, according to the announcement.