Southern hospitality meets advanced meeting technology at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino. The Gulf Coast’s legendary resort reopened in Biloxi, Mississippi, in August 2006 after a yearlong $550-million renovation gave new life to the AAA four-diamond property.

Arriving groups pass beneath a canopy of majestic oaks recalling the approach to a stately Mississippi mansion. Exuberant flower beds, changed four times a year, celebrate the start of each new season and contribute to the grand sense of arrival, which culminates in a soaring arboretum lobby.

Meeting facilities occupy the whole of the second floor, making them easily accessible yet apart from the buzz of resort activity. Magnolia Ballroom, the granddaddy of them all, holds groups of up to 1,800 in its largest configuration and divides into eight spaces for smaller gatherings.

The Camellia and Azalea Ballrooms split into rooms ranging from 1,000 to 7,200 square feet, some with terraces overlooking the pool area. Small executive groups of up to 12 gather beside the fireplace in the handsomely appointed Oaks Boardroom. For alfresco affairs, an outdoor events pavilion overlooks the gulf and marina deck.

Behind the scenes, a full-service business center lends secretarial support to meeting participants, while the dedicated catering staff and banquet kitchen work their magic for group lunches and gala dinners. Thirteen restaurants and bars, including Jia for modern Asian cuisine, BR Prime for steaks and seafood, and Olives for Mediterranean fare by superstar chef Todd English, present an array of choices for independent dining.

Regal decor and over-the-top comfort distinguish the 1,740 rooms and suites. All feature cherrywood furniture, original artwork, and views of the gulf or Back Bay waters. The beds feature pillowtop mattresses and triple sheeting, while the marble baths furnish soaking tubs and separate showers. Flat-screen TVs, data ports, multiple phone lines, and electronic safes round out the list of top-drawer amenities.

By day, participants can spend leisure time in the pool’s seaside cabanas, shop at the promenade’s dozen designer boutiques, and indulge in body and beauty treatments at the Spa and Salon, a peaceful sanctuary with a relaxation lounge, mediation area, and staff of 70 highly trained professionals.

Golf at the Tom Fazio–designed Fallen Oak Golf Course, gaming at the 85,000-square-foot casino, and blockbuster entertainment at the Beau Rivage Theatre—a 1,550-seat venue with a milliondollar sound and lighting system—ensure memories guaranteed to linger long after the meeting adjourns.