The Magnolia State is sweet and toe-tappin’
By Gary Diedrichs
It doesn’t get more soulful or more Southern than the state that’s shaped by the fertile soils of the Mississippi Delta, the saline tang of the Gulf Coast and cultural influences stirred into a rich, complex stew of Native American, African American and European heritages.
Meeting there imparts the authentic flavors this unique melting pot has birthed—the legendary musical traditions of both the blues and rock ‘n’ roll, distinctive culinary practices and pivotal moments in Civil Rights history.
Reasons Why Meeting Planners Love Mississippi
- High value at budget-friendly prices. Award-winning facilities and championship golf courses come at a fraction of major-city and top-tier destination rates. Shoulder and off-season pricing is better still, and when availability is greatest.
- Venues for all occasions. From beachfront convention complexes in Gulfport and Biloxi to culture-plus-charisma in historic hubs and college towns like Oxford, the choices are as enticing as a smooth Southern drawl. You’ll find a setting to suit your group whether it’s urban, secluded or within the sound of lapping waves.
- Distinctive cuisine. Food stories are vibrant and varied, and showcase hearty, comforting dishes made from local ingredients. Think fried catfish—Mississippi is the catfish capital of the world—slathered in “comeback sauce,” shrimp and grits, delta tamales, Mississippi mud pie and caramel cake.
Read More: Essential F&B: Aye, Aye to Marine Veggies!
- Music leads the way. It’s known as the “birthplace of America’s Music,” and your groups will never forget a 32-bar blues experience along the Mississippi Blues Trail. Host them inside a historic juke joint, blues museum or other heritage venue with full-service spaces for meetings and events.
Places to Meet & Stay
Graduate by Hilton Oxford
In the historic college town known as the “cultural mecca of the South,” this upscale boutique property has Mississippi-inspired ballrooms. The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) is nearby.
2,062 sq. ft. of meeting space; 136 guest rooms
Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center
This multipurpose workhorse in Biloxi is the largest beachfront facility in the South. The convention center accommodates up to 5,000 people.
400,000+ sq. ft. of meeting space
Jackson Convention Complex Center
In the state capital this LEED-certified venue stands at the center of all that Jackson offers, including the newly opened Museum of Mississippi History.
330,000 sq. ft. of meeting space
Lake Terrace Convention Center
Set amid tall pines and overlooking a serene lake, this much-lauded Hattiesburg venue offers Southern hospitality in a natural setting.
33,269 sq. ft. of meeting space; an exhibit hall and seven meeting rooms
This article appears in the July/August 2026 issue.
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