From the gaming glitz of Gulfport and Biloxi to the thriving art scene in Bay St. Louis and the small-town charm of Ocean Springs, the Mississippi Gulf Coast region balances a long-term dedication to post-Hurricane Katrina recovery with a well-deserved reputation as an entertaining, sun-filled destination. It allows groups to meet, have fun and feel good about helping an American treasure get back on its feet.
While recovery has been the mantra of the Gulf Coast area over the last few years, there’s a new buzzword currently on everyone’s lips: 2010. That’s the year when most rebuilding and development efforts come to fruition, from casinos to attractions.
Gulfport/Biloxi
Development continues to surge ahead in the heart of the Gulf Coast area, with all of its surviving casinos open and many in the midst of renovation and expansion.
One eagerly anticipated new project is the Margaritaville Casino and Resort, a Harrah’s property being developed in conjunction with entertainer Jimmy Buffett. Currently under construction on a 46-acre site where two other casinos were located before the storm, the $700 million resort is slated to open by early 2010 with 798 hotel rooms, a spa and meeting facilities.
“The Margaritaville will be the next casino to open,” says Janice Jones, media relations manager for the Mississippi Gulf Coast CVB. “And after that will be the Bayview, which could break ground this year.”
Plans for the Bayview Casino and Resort were approved by the state gaming commission in March and include a 519-room hotel, 70,000 square feet of gaming space, four restaurants, an entertainment venue, and 25,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. If all goes according to plan, the resort could open in 2010.
Four out of seven upcoming casino projects are located in Biloxi, which is no accident, according to Jones.
“At one time, Biloxi wanted 15 to 20 casinos all along the point because casinos are more logical for recovery,” she says. “Although there are some mixed-use developments coming in as well, the casinos are good for everyone because the taxes benefit the whole state.”
A new Holiday Inn is also under construction, and there are plans for an as-yet-unflagged 400-room hotel in the Biloxi area.
All the development means recovery is progressing at a decent rate, according to Jones.
“There’s still more to be done in the private sector, but most of the bridges are open, and we’re working to get the state associations back to the Gulf Coast,” she says. “We just hosted the Travel South Showcase to show how far along we are. People can still come here for gaming, golfing, fishing, shopping, dancing, and eating.”
While associations are the mainstay of meetings business, the area can handle anything from small board retreats to large conferences with several thousand people.
The Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center reopened in January 2007 with 180,000 square feet of function space, and the center will unveil an additional 200,000 square feet in 2009. Discussions are under way to build a convention center hotel adjacent to the facility.
The Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center is the destination’s largest gathering facility, and major meetings hotels include IP Casino Resort Spa and Beau Rivage Casino and Resort.
Golf remains a top draw for the area, with the Gulf Coast offering more than 20 courses. Many courses overlook the water, and the collection includes layouts designed by legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Fazio.
For those who want to get out on the water rather than just look at it, there are numerous options to charter vessels, from deep-sea fishing boats to the Biloxi Schooners, old-style replica sailing ships that give attendees a taste of coastal heritage. The beaches are open as well for folks who just want to relax and watch the world go by.
The Gulfport and Biloxi area also has several ideal spots for off-site events, from a reception at Beauvoir, once the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, to an evening event at the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, a science museum that brings out the kid in every attendee.
In addition to an off-site event, planners can also sign up for group volunteer projects and give something back to the community by taking part in the recovery effort during their stay. Attendees can spend a day swinging a hammer with Habitat for Humanity or take a few hours and do some restoration work for a local attraction.
Bay St. Louis/Hancock County
Just a few miles down the coast is Bay St. Louis, a destination boasting a unique mix of science, art and history.
The destination is home to NASA’s Stennis Space Center and StennisSphere museum, it enjoys a reputation as a thriving art colony, and its Old Town historic district is a favorite stop for groups.
Development has brought recovery to the area, which is 90 percent back up and running, according to Beth Carriere, executive director for the Mississippi West Coast/Hancock County Tourism Development Bureau.
“Our recovery has gone extremely well, considering that the eye of the storm passed directly over us,” she says. “We’ve doubled our inventory of casinos, and several hotels are on the horizon for the next few years.”
The area’s main meeting venue, Hollywood Casino, reopened in 2006, the same year as the grand opening of Bay St. Louis’ newest casino property, the Silver Slipper. The latter property is preparing to break ground this year on a tower hotel, which will offer approximately 300 guest rooms and 10,000 square feet of meeting space. The project is slated to open by 2010.
Golf and meetings mix well here. The Hollywood Casino offers 10,000 square feet of meeting space and an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course on-site, and the Diamondhead Resort has two championship courses adjacent to its meeting facility, so attendees can walk straight out of a day’s session onto the course.
Perhaps the biggest upcoming attraction is the $44 million Infinity at Stennis Space Center, a new science and exploration museum slated to break ground this year next to the visitor welcome center and open in 2010.
“This will be the only museum of its kind located on an interstate highway, Carriere says. “Everything will be high-tech, and the visuals will be phenomenal. It will be a fabulous place for receptions.”
The current museum and discovery center, StennisSphere, will remain open until the new facility is completed.
With corporate meetings, associations and youth events representing its primary group markets, Bay St. Louis has become very creative with spousal and family activities. Artists often come in and lead workshops in basic drawing, photography and printmaking, helping participants to finish their own signed artwork by the end of the day. Shopping tournaments, outdoor events with live music and candlelight dinners along the pier can also be arranged for groups and their families, and there are several speakers available for events, including former astronaut Fred Haise of the famed Apollo 13 mission.
Ocean Springs/Jackson County
On the eastern edge of the Gulf Coast is Ocean Springs, a relaxing, historic town just a stone’s throw from Biloxi.
Home to the Gulf Islands National Seashore, a remote network of barrier islands that constitute a nature lover’s dream, Ocean Springs is perfect for groups interested in a quiet getaway, even just for a day. The various islands have a diverse population of wildlife, and bird watching is plentiful. On Ship Island, visitors can tour Fort Massachusetts, once occupied by Confederate soldiers.
Options for unique off-site venues include the Mary O’Keefe Cultural Center, which offers both conference space and a performing arts theater, and the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, a facility dedicated to the work of three famed regional artists.
In addition to golf, fishing and shopping, the Ocean Springs area also has a number of military memorials that will appeal to several generations of veterans and patriotic visitors, including the G.I. Museum; the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial; the Seaman’s Memorial, honoring the service of Merchant Marines; and the World War II memorial dedicated to the USS Tullibee.
Meeting facilities in Ocean Springs include the Gulf Hills Hotel and Conference Center and Hampton Inn Biloxi/Ocean Springs.
For More Info
Mississippi Gulf Coast CVB 228.896.6699
www.gulfcoast.org
Mississippi West Coast/Hancock County
Tourism Development Bureau 228.463.9222
www.mswestcoast.org
Ocean Springs Chamber
of Commerce 228.875.4424
www.oceanspringschamber.com
