Welcome Centers

As the first points of contact with more than 6 million visitors each year, our eight Alabama Welcome Centers greet travelers with true hospitality. 

The mission of Alabama Welcome Centers is to achieve a positive impression of Alabama by assisting and informing the traveling public in a knowledgeable and courteous manner in order to enhance and extend their visit and increase the economic benefit to Alabama. Here are just a few of the free services our welcome centers provide:

  • Brochure distribution
  • On-site promotional opportunities for your area, attraction, accommodation or event
  • Room reservation service for travelers
  • Team members who will tour your attraction or destination to gain firsthand knowledge to pass on to visitors

For details on any Alabama Welcome Center, mouse over or click a number on the map below. Information includes email addresses as well as physical addresses and phone numbers.

Welcome Center Team Leaders and Contact Information

Trisa Collier, Welcome Center Administrator Trisa.Collier@tourism.alabama.gov

Ardmore Welcome Center Temporary location: 108 Cloverleaf Drive, Athens AL 35611
Open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (until further notice)
Jessica Jackson Ardmore.center@tourism.alabama.gov

Baldwin Welcome Center
Ursel Forbes, Baldwin.center@tourism.alabama.gov

Cleburne Welcome Center
Patrick Greenia, Cleburne.center@tourism.alabama.gov

DeKalb Welcome Center
Sosthenes Sealy, Dekalb.center@tourism.alabama.gov

Grand Bay Welcome Center
Contact: Emily White, Grandbay.center@tourism.alabama.gov

Houston Welcome Center
Deborah Tillis, Houston.center@tourism.alabama.gov

Lanett Welcome Center
Laura Smith, Lanett.center@tourism.alabama.gov

Sumter Welcome Center
Gerlena Hale, Sumter.center@tourism.alabama.gov

Welcome Center Map
  1. Ardmore Welcome Center
    Ardmore Welcome Center

    Limestone County • I-65 S. of TN line
    28232 Upper Elkton Road
    Elkmont, AL 35620
    Phone: (256) 423-3891
    Fax: (256) 423-3890
    Email: Ardmore.Center@Tourism.Alabama.gov

  2. DeKalb Welcome Center
    DeKalb Welcome Center

    DeKalb County • I-59 W. of GA line
    P.O. Box 152
    Valley Head, AL 35989
    Phone: (256) 635-6522
    Fax: (256) 635-6526
    Email: dekalb.center@tourism.alabama.gov

  3. Cleburne Welcome Center
    Cleburne Welcome Center

    Cleburne County • I-20 W. of GA line
    P.O. Box 85
    Heflin, AL 36264
    Phone: (256) 748-4303
    Fax: (256) 748-2031
    Email: cleburne.center@tourism.alabama.gov

  4. Lanett Welcome Center
    Lanett Welcome Center

    Chambers County • I-85 W. of GA line
    P.O. Box 23
    Valley, AL 36854
    Phone: (334) 576-2116
    Fax: (334) 576-8574
    Email: lanett.center@tourism.alabama.gov

  5. Houston Welcome Center
    Houston Welcome Center

    Houston County • U.S. 231 N. of FL line
    15121 S. U.S. Hwy. 231
    Slocomb, AL 36375
    Phone: (334) 677-5042
    Fax: (334) 677-7332
    Email: houston.center@tourism.alabama.gov

  6. Baldwin Welcome Center
    Baldwin Welcome Center

    Baldwin County • I-10 W. of FL line
    P.O. Box 2000
    Robertsdale, AL 36567
    Phone: (251) 946-3375
    Fax: (251) 946-3150
    Email: baldwin.center@tourism.alabama.gov

  7. Grand Bay Welcome Center
    Grand Bay Welcome Center

    Mobile County • I-10 E. of MS line
    P.O. Drawer 626
    Grand Bay, AL 36541
    Phone: (251) 865-4741
    Fax: (251) 865-4499
    Email: grandbay.center@tourism.alabama.gov

  8. Sumter Welcome Center
    Sumter Welcome Center

    Sumter County • I-20/59 E. of MS line
    P.O. Box 216
    Cuba, AL 36907
    Phone: (205) 392-5443
    Fax: (205) 392-9102
    Email: sumter.center@tourism.alabama.gov

Welcome Center Resources

2021 and 2022 Welcome Center Retreat dates and locations set

The Alabama Tourism Department proudly announces the Alabama Welcome Center Retreat Dates and Locations for 2021 and 2022.

Selma will host Oct. 24-26, 2021, and Daphne/Fairhope/Eastern Shores will host Oct. 23-25, 2022.

The Alabama Welcome Center Retreat allows the Alabama tourism industry the opportunity to showcase our communities to the devoted staff of the Alabama Welcome Centers. Each Center closes so that all employees can participate in these educational retreats.

The Tourism Partner Showcase gives the industry the venue to share what we have to offer Welcome Center visitors – thousands of travelers stopping for in-state travel advice. The retreat will give them the knowledge needed to entice their visitors to stop, see and stay a little longer in Sweet Home Alabama!

You are invited to participate, and we’ll see you there!

Please contact Patti Culp for more information or to register. patticulp.atc@gmail.com

Brochure distribution guidelines & procedures

Every brochure is approved by the ATD Brochure Committee and must adhere to our brochure guidelines and procedures.

Learn More

What Alabama Welcome Centers can do for you

Do you include Alabama’s Welcome Centers in your marketing strategy? You should. Take advantage of opportunities for brochure distribution, special promotions and lodging reservations available at no cost to you or your guests.

Learn more

Welcome Center News

Welcome Centers host tourism partners during month of May 2022

        The Alabama Tourism Department-Welcome Center Program will be welcoming guests throughout the state to increase the awareness of the economic, social and cultural impact that tourism has on the local, regional and state-wide communities. We invite our tourism partners to participate at each Center from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. (central standard time) by bringing special promotions, […]

2021 and 2022 Welcome Center Retreat dates and locations set

The Alabama Tourism Department proudly announces the Alabama Welcome Center Retreat Dates and Locations for 2021 and 2022. Selma will host Oct. 24-26, 2021, and Daphne/Fairhope/Eastern Shores will host Oct. 23-25, 2022. The Alabama Welcome Center Retreat allows the Alabama tourism industry the opportunity to showcase our communities to the devoted staff of the Alabama […]

Tourism Tuesdays Jan. 14, 2020

Attendance figures due Friday from state attractions and events Alabama Music Hall of Fame announces 2020 inductees ‘Just Mercy’ is the first movie of 2020 to get an A+ CinemaScore Three Alabama golf courses listed in top 30 of America’s best Tour company offering 11-day civil rights tour Auburn/Opelika spa named Marriott’s best; Alabama spas rank […]