We talk with the Lt. Governor about the prospect of elevating tourism to a cabinet‑level agency, connecting tourism to quality of place, talent attraction and retention, and those essential tourism tax revenues that fund teacher pay, healthcare, and infrastructure. Plus, we chat about a favorite new book by author Melody Golding, Hometown Mississippi.

The Heart Of Hospitality podcast is presented by The Mississippi Tourism Association. MTA is an association comprised of tourism professionals established with a mission to unite all sectors of the tourism industry through advocacy, promotion, and education.

For this episode of Heart Of Hospitality, Dr. Rachael Carter guides us through the process of creating tangible, repeatable results. Using sociology and economics, she has focused her efforts on equipping organizations with the tools to make the most of their futures.

An instructor and tourism specialist with MSU for Government and Community Development, Dr. Carter was recently honored with the 2025 Excellence in Research Award by the Southern Rural Sociological Association, recognizing her work to advance the study of rural development in the South and drive meaningful improvements in rural communities.

The Heart Of Hospitality podcast is presented by The Mississippi Tourism Association. MTA is an association comprised of tourism professionals established with a mission to unite all sectors of the tourism industry through advocacy, promotion, and education.

On today's episode, Berkeley Young talks with us about the importance of creating a smart strategy for your destination. With the Heart Of Hospitality as the focus, he details the powerful nature of connection, how quantitative data turns into results, and the importance of team culture in crafting genuine experiences.

Early on, Berkeley Young was hired as a Director of Sales and quickly promoted to General Manager of a large golf resort managed by Interstate Hotels Corporation. He joined Randall Travel Marketing in 1998 as Vice President and, in November 2004, opened Young Strategies, focusing on strategic planning and research for DMOs.

The Heart Of Hospitality podcast is presented by The Mississippi Tourism Association. MTA is an association comprised of tourism professionals established with a mission to unite all sectors of the tourism industry through advocacy, promotion, and education.

In this episode of Heart Of Hospitality, Danielle Morgan shares her passion and dedication to our visitors as the Mississippi Tourism Association Executive Director. She also details MTA's Heart of Hospitality Workforce Development Training Program and all the benefits it delivers for our state.

Mississippi wouldn't be the incredibly hospitable state it is today without people like Danielle, opportunities like this training program, and associations such as the MTA.

The Heart Of Hospitality podcast is presented by The Mississippi Tourism Association. MTA is an association comprised of tourism professionals established with a mission to unite all sectors of the tourism industry through advocacy, promotion, and education.

On this episode of Heart Of Hospitality, we’re chatting with a true champion of hospitality: Mississippi House Tourism Committee Chair, Representative Greg Haney. Representative Haney discusses translating love of place into smart policy to grow jobs, strengthen communities, and elevate the experience for both visitors and career seekers. He also talks about what makes our state truly unique as a destination, highlighting our strong visitor draws of food, history, culture, and even birdwatching.

The Heart Of Hospitality podcast is presented by The Mississippi Tourism Association. MTA is an association comprised of tourism professionals established with a mission to unite all sectors of the tourism industry through advocacy, promotion, and education.

In this episode of Heart Of Hospitality, we have the pleasure of speaking with Senate Tourism Chair Senator Lydia Chassaniol. Senator Chassaniol is a Mississippi tourism champion who works nonstop to elevate food tourism and local culinary assets as economic drivers.

In terms of the Heart Of Hospitality, Lydia endeavors to continuously improve culinary service standards, restaurant menu storytelling, credential recognition, and oversee the job bank for Front of House and Back of House roles. With her help, the culinary experience in Mississippi drives visitors to our state and keeps them coming back for more and more.

The Heart Of Hospitality podcast is presented by The Mississippi Tourism Association. MTA is an association comprised of tourism professionals established with a mission to unite all sectors of the tourism industry through advocacy, promotion, and education.

For this episode of Heart Of Hospitality—recorded on location at the Mississippi Governor’s Conference on Tourism—we’re chatting with Shannon Gray. Shannon possesses a curious mind and has a passion for understanding what makes people tick—especially when it comes to travel.

Before diving into tourism research, Shannon worked with big brands like Kraft, General Mills, T-Mobile, and Verizon, learning to turn data into actionable insights. But it was in destination marketing that she found her sweet spot—figuring out what inspires people to visit, stay, and return. When she’s not digging into data, she’s probably planning her next trip, because, let’s be honest—travel is the best kind of research.

The Heart Of Hospitality podcast is presented by The Mississippi Tourism Association. MTA is an association comprised of tourism professionals established with a mission to unite all sectors of the tourism industry through advocacy, promotion, and education.

For this episode of Heart Of Hospitality, we’re chatting with Phil Eich, creative storyteller and question asker of the first order. Mr. Eich is the founder of Storyville, an agency dedicated to sharing untold-yet-memorable tales of people and places across the country—cultivating lots of community pride in the process. Listen in, and find out about Mississippi's special edge on the competition when it comes to our stories.

Through interviews, photography, videography, and podcasting, Phil’s approach shines a light on the greatest strength of the hospitality state: our people.

The Heart Of Hospitality podcast is presented by The Mississippi Tourism Association. MTA is an association comprised of tourism professionals established with a mission to unite all sectors of the tourism industry through advocacy, promotion, and education.