City of Rockwall Assumes Visit Rockwall to Boost Tourism Coordination
The City of Rockwall formally transitioned Visit Rockwall, the area’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, from the Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce to municipal management on January 6, 2026. The move brings tourism marketing and event coordination into city operations, a shift that could affect local hospitality partners, budgeting decisions, and how residents participate in economic development priorities.
On January 6, 2026, Visit Rockwall officially became part of the City of Rockwall, ending its placement within the Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce and integrating the bureau into municipal planning and administration. The transition retains Jodi Willard as Tourism Manager; Willard has led Visit Rockwall for the past 2.5 years and brings more than six years of prior experience at the Conroe Convention and Visitors Bureau.
City officials say the change is intended to align tourism marketing, events, and destination development more closely with broader municipal strategic goals. The bureau will continue its core mission of promoting the city, supporting local hospitality partners, and driving tourism-related revenue, while operating within city structures for planning and oversight.
For local businesses and hospitality operators, the shift could mean more direct coordination with city departments responsible for events, public works, and economic development. Officials expect the integration to create opportunities for unified marketing campaigns and streamlined event logistics, although specific operational changes such as staffing, budgeting, or procurement will now follow municipal policies and processes.
Placing Visit Rockwall under city management also changes the institutional framework for accountability and public input. As a municipal entity, the bureau will be subject to city oversight, including budgeting and reporting practices used by other city departments. That shift makes tourism policy and spending a clearer part of municipal governance and subject to review by elected officials and public meeting processes. Decisions about tourism investments and priorities could become topics in council discussions and local civic engagement.
Residents and business owners seeking information or wanting to coordinate events or partnerships can contact Tourism Manager Jodi Willard at jwillard@rockwall.com or (972) 772-6770. The City of Rockwall has stated its commitment to positioning Rockwall as a competitive destination in North Texas while continuing to support the local hospitality sector and to showcase community assets.
As municipal leaders integrate Visit Rockwall into long-term strategic planning, the practical impacts for taxpayers, local hotels, restaurants, and event planners will become clearer through forthcoming budget cycles and city council agendas. Those outcomes will determine how effectively the change translates into increased visitor spending, improved event coordination, and measurable economic development for Rockwall County.
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