In March 2005, five months before Hurricane Katrina stuck the Gulf Coast, Bill Hardman, president and CEO of the Atlanta-based Southeast Tourism Society, brought a group down to Biloxi, stayed at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, and loved it.
“Two years ago, it was our members’ first experience at the Beau Rivage and they were very impressed with the facilities and the entire area in and around Biloxi,” he says.
Months later, after the storm hit and planners were forced to go elsewhere, Hardman was doing the opposite. Passionate about the Gulf Coast, he decided to reroute this year’s meeting back to Biloxi and stay at the beautifully refurbished Beau Rivage in an effort to support the area and help with the recovery effort, an effort that amazed his group.
“One of the benefits we had was that our members were able to see the area prior to the storm and then after,” Hardman says. “Many of our members did not know what to expect. [When we got there] the impression was, ‘Wow, look how much progress has been made,’ but we were still overwhelmed by how much more had to be done.”
In an effort to lend a hand, Hardman’s group decided to actively participate in the city’s recovery effort. Several attendees volunteered to arrive in Biloxi a few days prior to the meeting to help with the refurbishment of the Beauvoir House and the Jefferson Davis Library, two historical treasures severely damaged by the storm, by relocating books, cutting grass and helping pick up debris.
“Everyone was anxious to be a part of the recovery,” he says. “I was a little taken aback. Just in that short of time, our members became deeply involved and deeply emotional about being a part of the process. They said, ‘We feel like we are a part of this community by helping out.’ We had record-breaking attendance for a spring meeting.”
Even though the city is still rebuilding, Hardman says that Biloxi remains a prime meetings destination, complete with well-appointed venues, myriad activity offerings, world-class golf, and spicy culinary options.
“You are certainly going to be pleased with the facilities, but you will also be a part of something much, much bigger,” he says, regarding the chance for groups to get involved with the city’s rebuilding effort. “I think it is a wonderful opportunity to take your meeting down to that area of the Southeast, and in the process of doing so, be a part of the recovery but also recognize that the facilities, for example the Beau Rivage, are outstanding and the employees are eager to serve, and are so appreciative for you to be in Biloxi.”
