The New Mexico Tourism Commission has scheduled its next meeting this Friday (September 19, 2008), 10 a.m., at the brand new, state-of-the art Manuelito Visitor Information Center, 16.7 miles west of Gallup on Interstate-40.

The purpose of the Tourism Commission meeting is to update commissioners on Tourism Department activities, and to gather tourism industry ideas on how both the commission and the department might enhance the state’s tourism effort.

The newly-constructed 9,500-square-foot visitor center nearly doubles the size of the previous center, and includes a media area, complete with a theater and wireless Internet, and new information kiosks.

“This new center is one of our busiest,” State Tourism Secretary Michael Cerletti said. “Its 55,089 visitors during the month of August 2008 were the most the Gallup center had ever experienced in August in its history. We thank the efforts of the New Mexico Department of Transportation in helping make this new center a reality.”

The Governor-appointed Tourism Commission includes Chairman Al Lucero (Santa Fe), Deidre A. Lujan (Albuquerque), Ted Garcia (Albuquerque), Chris Stagg (Taos Ski Valley), Randy Randall (Santa Fe), Selena Chino (Mescalero), and Bill Hirschfeld (Ruidoso).

The meeting agenda includes presentations by Tourism Commission members, Secretary Michael Cerletti, and Evan Williams, senior planner with the Gallup Tourism Coalition. The commission will also take questions and comments from attendees.

The New Mexico Tourism Department supports the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and encourages individuals with disabilities to attend and participate in this meeting.