by Associated Press Published: May 9,2013
Tags: athlete, athletics, budget, city government, community development, construction, economic development, governor, hospitality, hotel, law, legislation, restaurant, sports, tax, tax increase, tourism, tourist, tournament, vacation, visitor
PASCAGOULA — Gov. Phil Bryant has signed legislation allowing Pascagoula residents to vote on a proposed 2 percent prepared food tax, says city recreation commission chairman Mike McElhaney. The tax would fund recreation projects outlined in the city’s recreation master plan, which the board adopted in October. Senate Bill 2921 was signed into law April [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: May 5,2013
Tags: auction, bankrupt, bankruptcy, convention, hospitality, hotel, lodging, meeting, sale, sell
JACKSON — A May 22 online auction will determine the future of a downtown Jackson landmark. Auctioneer Benny Taylor tells the Mississippi Business Journal (http://bit.ly/113wahW) that several prospective bidders toured the eight-story Edison Walthall Hotel this past week. The hotel has been closed since early 2010 after burst water pipes extensively damaged the lower floors. [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: May 2,2013
Tags: acquire, acquisitioon, buy, casino, convention, entertasinment, gamble, gambler, gambling, gaming, hospitality, hotel, lodging, meeting, nightlife, restaurant, sale, sell, tourism, tourist, visitor
VICKSBURG — The sale of Ameristar Casino will mark the second gambling house buyout in Vicksburg in less than a year. The stockholders of Las Vegas-based Ameristar Casinos Inc. last week approved the company’s planned acquisition by Pinnacle Entertainment. The all-cash transaction is estimated to be valued at $869 million. No change to Ameristar’s brand [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: April 19,2013
Tags: anniversary, bed and breakfast, celebration, city, city government, consultant, history, hospitality, hotel, inn, motel, municipal, municipality, restaurant, rtetail, shop, tourism, tourist, vacation, visitor
NATCHEZ — Tourism consultants will evaluate Natchez in coming months as the city gears up for 300th anniversary celebrations in 2016. Leaders hope the anniversary will boost the city’s tourism industry over a yearlong period, in part by creating new festivals or extending existing ones, reports The Natchez Democrat. Consultant Berkeley Young will examine the [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: April 9,2013
Tags: casino, center, college, community college, education, gamble, gambling, gaming, higher education, hospitality, opening, resort, ribbon-cutting ceremony, tourism, tourist, training, workforce development
GULFPORT — After a decade of planning, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College officials will cut the ribbon Friday on the nearly 51,000-square-foot Hospitality and Resort Management Center. MGCCC president Mary Graham tells The Sun Herald the state-of-the-art facility will provide a hands-on learning environment for students. The community college plans to work with Coast hospitality [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: April 8,2013
Tags: banquet, casino, convention, entertainment, gamble, gambler, gambling, gaming, hospitality, meeting, night life, restaurant, revenue, tourism, tourist, vacation, visitor
NATCHEZ — Three months after Natchez’s second casino began play, gaming revenue is up in the city, but insiders warn it’s too early to bet on the increase holding or folding. Natchez gaming revenues for December, January and February increased over the same months last year. The Natchez Democrat reports figures from the Natchez City [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: April 3,2013
Tags: beach, casino, convention, entertainment, fish, fishing, gaming, highway, hospitality, infrastructure, lodging, meeting, nightlife, outdoors, restaurant, sand, Sun, swim, swimmer, swmimming, tourism, tourist, transportation, travel, vacation, visitor
BILOXI — City officials want to complete the long-awaited loop around East Biloxi that would link the casinos and the beach with Back Bay. The Sun Herald reports the City Council voted to support an initiative to connect Back Bay Boulevard with U.S. Highway 90. David Nichols, the city’s chief administrative officer, says he’s looking [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: March 29,2013
Tags: death, entertainment, food, hospitality, music, nightclub, obituary, restaurant, tourism, tourist, visitor
JACKSON — Hal White, a partner with his brother Malcolm in the popular downtown Jackson eatery and blues club Hal & Mal’s, has died. He was 64. Malcolm White announced his brother’s death yesterday on his Facebook page. Hal White had been in intensive care at St. Dominic Hospital since suffering an aneurysm in his [...] [...]

Since it first opened in the fall of 1996, the Old Capitol Inn in Jackson has prided itself as Jackson’s only designer boutique hotel. From weddings to legislative breakfasts to Gov. Phil Bryant’s election night victory party in 2011, the 24-room Old Capitol Inn stands ready for any intimate occasion. The charming facility has five [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: February 11,2013
Tags: budget, city government, convention, funding, hospitality, hotel, lodging, meeting, motel, municipal, municipality, Museum, music, restaurant, tax, tourism, tourist, vacation, visitor
TUPELO — Tourism tax receipts in Tupelo hit at least $300,000 benchmark in three of the first four months in the current fiscal year, the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau says. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports tax revenue rose almost 4 percent for the fiscal year. November’s revenue was $311,809 — a record for [...] [...]