Mississippi
Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg CVB: CVB officials announced that the Dunn House Bed and Breakfast is now open in one of Historic Hattiesburg’s oldest homes; an 84-room Courtyard by Marriott opened in October 2006; and a 128-room La Quinta Inn & Suites has opened after a $1.8 million renovation project. Expected to open in late 2007/early 2008 are a Sleep Inn and Hilton Garden Inn.
The Thad Cochran Center, located on the Southern Mississippi University campus, is now available and offers a grand ballroom seating 950, 10 meeting rooms and a presidential suite.
Jackson
Jackson CVB (800) 354-7695;
Online Listing;
www.visitjackson.com Two Jackson landmarks are being revitalized. The King Edward Hotel and the Standard Life Building are undergoing multimillion-dollar renovations that will add more meeting space, restaurants and retail in downtown Jackson within walking distance of the Capital City Convention Center Complex. Both are expected to be complete when the convention center opens its doors in early 2009. Part of the complex is the Mississippi TelCom Center, which has nearly 22,000 square feet of column-free, flat-floor space.
Hilton Jackson: Recently purchased by Lane Hospitality, the hotel is undergoing a $6 million renovation that will enhance all facets of the property, including the 30,000 square feet of meeting space.
MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST Mississippi Gulf Coast CVB: Plans were made public last year for the Margaritaville Casino Resort that will open in Biloxi in 2010. The project, a joint effort by Jimmy Buffett and Harrah’s Entertainment, will be located adjacent to Harrah’s Grand Casino Biloxi, which has reopened since Hurricane Katrina.
Biloxi
Bacaran Bay Casino Resort: Scheduled to open in 2009, the casino and resort will feature 646 guest rooms and 85,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as a 40-lane bowling alley.
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino: Reopened August 2006 with 1,640 redesigned guest rooms and public areas. The $550 million renovations included three new gourmet restaurants and a 50,000 square-foot convention facility.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino: Opened July 7, 2007 (concert arena opened July 4), with 213 guest rooms.
Isle of Capri Casino Resort: Currently offers gaming, eateries, 741 guest rooms and spa services. Additional meeting space is set to open in 2009.
Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center: Repairs to the facility are complete, and events are being held there weekly. A $68 million expansion of the facility, to be completed by 2009, will add a total of 200,000 square feet of exhibition space.
Gulfport
Island View Casino Resort: Opened in September 2006 with 562 guest rooms and 54,000 square feet of meeting space.
Pine Hills Isle of Capri Casino: 509-room hotel with a gaming floor and convention area is slated for completion by the end of 2008.
Trump Entertainment Resorts: A letter of intent between Trump Entertainment Resorts and Diamondhead Casino Corp. was signed in June 2006 to bring a Trump brand property to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
END: MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST Tunica County
Gold Strike Casino Resort (888) 24K-PLAY;
Online Listing;
www.goldstrike.com Now offers a newly renovated 30,000-square-foot convention center, more than 1,100 rooms connected to the Vegas-styled casino floor, a Chicago Steakhouse, a spa and more.
Myriad Botanical Resort: Myriad Entertainment & Resorts is planning a $1.62 billion resort with two casinos and hotels, a 400,000-square-foot convention and exposition center with hotel, an 18-hole signature-design golf facility, a retail complex, a health club and spa, leisure real estate, and attractions that include a water park, botanical gardens and an observatory. A second development phase could include a major shopping venue and four additional casinos.
Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall: In 2007, the property began a renovation of its 840 guest rooms. The hotel offers 17,000 square feet of meeting space among seven rooms.
Tupelo
BancorpSouth Conference Center: The recently opened BancorpSouth Conference Center offers 10,200 square feet of flexible meeting space that can accommodate 20-900 guests.
