The Inn at Ole Miss’s loss is Visit Oxford’s gain, as the City’s tourism council announced Nadia Thornton has been hired as the new sales and marketing manager, beginning Jan. 21.

Thornton comes to Visit Oxford after spending the last 11 years at the University’s hotel, where she worked as hotel and conference sales manager and as her current title of assistant director alumni affairs/assistant hotel general manager.

“I am thrilled to be joining the team of Visit Oxford and look forward to promoting the best small town in America,” Thornton said in a statement. “Over the past 11 years, I have worked with Visit Oxford Staff and I look forward to helping bring more visitors to Oxford during our slower times and early week. I am a veteran of the hospitality industry and will bring my knowledge of the Oxford hotel market, as well as the relationships I have built and fostered over the years.”

The sales and marketing manager position replaces Visit Oxford’s deputy director position to focus on mid-week visitation to Oxford through association meetings, conferences and leisure group travel.

Current Visit Oxford executive director Kinney Ferris was the former deputy director before moving up to replace Mary Allyn Hedges, who left Visit Oxford earlier this year.

“We are delighted to bring Nadia’s welcoming personality and hospitality sales knowledge to the Visit Oxford team,” Ferris said in a statement. “We believe her sales experience will provide her with the tolls needed to attract the right visitors at the right time to Oxford.”

Visit Oxford is the marketing arm of the City Of Oxford, and its role is to promote the city for the economic benefit of the community.