By Zeb Hargett

With the holiday season upon us, I decided to visit the folks at Beau Rivage & Casino in Biloxi to see what they have in store to get us into the spirit. Turns out, there are a lot! The resort is celebrating its 25th anniversary and has dressed up for the holidays. The fun is on full display.

From our perch in Mobile, I remember distinctly what a big deal the opening of Beau Rivage was. Cirque du Soleil, the popular long-running Las Vegas show, was scheduled for the grand opening.  It was March 15, 1999, and my mother was so excited that she booked rooms for the entire family and purchased tickets to see the show. It didn’t seem real at the time; a Las Vegas-style resort with national and international entertainment just an hour from home. We had a wonderful time and created a lasting memory. 

Fast-forward  25 years and Beau Rivage has turned what was traditionally a slow season for the tourism industry into a wonderful family-friendly experience. As a full-service resort, Beau Rivage decks the halls for Christmas right before Thanksgiving. The Broadway show, Elf the Musical, will stage  24 performances from Dec. 12-Dec. 28, and many“dressed-up” family photos will be taken in the lobby with the festive holiday backdrop. Click here for a full listing of Holiday Events at the Beau.

I visited with Brandon Dardeau, President & Chief Operating Officer, and Mary Cracchiolo, Communications Director, regarding the impact Beau Rivage has had in its 25-year history. Remarkably, Brandon and Mary were in the same ‘New Hire’ orientation class in July 2001, so they have a lot of history to share. Mary has a long, distinguished career in tourism and is a champion of all things Mississippi. 

Brandon grew up in Pine Prairie in Central Louisiana. He attended Louisiana Monroe University on a golf scholarship but always knew he would leave home to launch his career. As it turned out, Brandon went with his golf coach to Las Vegas, and the rest, as they say, is history. “It started as an adventure, and I never left.”

His first job as an on-call call center representative was at MGM Grand where he basically took reservations. After two years, he had an opportunity to move closer to home, “Where it still rains,” he said. He joined Beau Rivage in the slot department shortly after its opening. From there he quickly rose through the ranks working 13 different jobs including Slot Service Attendant, Supervisor, Assistant Manager, and Casino Host. 

He spent 4 years in Tunica, Mississippi, first as VP of Marketing and later as General Manager of MGM’s Gold Strike Casino Resort, while maintaining oversight at Beau Rivage. Living in Tunica, he traveled back and forth before becoming VP of Marketing at Beau Rivage. He tells me the property didn’t hit its stride until it was about 15 years old.

“We were the first major resort to be built on the Gulf Coast, and it took a minute to figure out a strategy to learn how to operate and attract a steady clientele.”  At $750 million, Beau Rivage was the largest investment in the state’s history, with a full-service destination resort and 1740 rooms to fill. Talk about betting on the come!

While Brandon has always enjoyed the marketing side of the business, his real passion is determining what strategies will grow the business. Through the years, he says they’ve found successful ways to build their brand and attract guests. More than 70% of their business comes from more than 300 miles outside of Biloxi. 

He also says that they have learned to be resilient to oil spills, pandemics, and the constant threat of hurricanes. “When the pandemic closed all the MGM properties, we were the only property that knew how to close and reopen because we’ve had to do it so many times. We were the model that our sister properties leaned on to reopen because we understood the process.”

He credits the culture and resilience of the people who live along the Gulf Coast.“People come to our property and learn about Southern hospitality because we live it.” He says guests will come and stay for 3 or 4 days and go out to explore the area, play golf, shop, and dine. The economic impact is felt throughout the region. “It’s not just about the gaming revenue and tax benefits.”

As Brandon and his team worked to put Beau Rivage on solid footing (the property is actually built on a series of barges in the water), they implemented several strategies that have proven to be fruitful. “With assistance from gaming executive Ryan Ross, we launched a scheduled charter air program. This evolved into MGMAir, and we now partner with Sun Country Airlines and currently bring in visitors from 90 cities around the country to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This represents about 25% of the air traffic at the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, more than any other carrier, including Delta.”

While overcoming adversity is one of the deep-rooted qualities of Beau Rivage and anyone living on the Gulf Coast, its economic impact and community endeavors make it all worthwhile. Many local businesses have grown side by side with the resort. It is reported that since opening, Beau Rivage has contributed $1.9 billion in leases and taxes in its 25-year history, and $3.1 billion in construction projects, salary, and wages.

Bobby Mahoney, a family restaurant partner at nearby Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, said, “I tell people we were a tourist town without any tourists until the casinos showed up. When the Beau opened, we were the envy of almost every destination in the U.S. Our business tripled, and we were really happy that they brought the tourists back to Biloxi.” 

Beau Rivage is heavily involved in community projects throughout the area. Their “Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet” philosophy is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion by investing in the community and creating a more sustainable future. Volunteering and contributing to worthwhile organizations are an important part of the corporate culture.

After talking with Mary, I learned she has never met a cause she didn’t embrace.  She tells me they have recently implemented a program in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy, where more than 1,000 lbs. of oyster shells are recycled by Beau Rivage each week, primarily from the resort’s new Gulf seafood restaurant Coraline’s. 

“Thirteen of MGM’s Las Vegas restaurants help launch The Mississippi Nature Conservancy’s Save Our Shells program by collecting, recycling, and transporting more than 22,000 lbs. of oyster shells to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, to help regenerate oyster beds along the Mississippi Sound.  That’s commitment!

Brandon is proud that so many employees throughout their careers at Beau Rivage have grown and been promoted. “I like to think that I’m pretty good at identifying talent, and it’s rewarding to see them rise through the ranks.” Many executives and staff have been with the company for its entire 25-year existence. “People are family here,” he says.

Today’s Beau Rivage is a unique destination, drawing much more interest than just the casino. “We are a full-service resort. We have golf groups coming regularly to play our Tom Fazio championship course, Fallen Oak. Then many take advantage of the excellent fishing here. We have preferred charter captains we work with, and there is no other place in the country where you can ‘Golf, Gamble, and Fish.”

For holiday entertainment, they bring in Broadway shows like Elf, and keep prices affordable for families. Each summer, they bring in a family-friendly production show. “We focus on different types of entertainment, so there’s something for everyone.” One of Mary’s passions, Cruisin’ the Coast, is an 8-day classic car show held each October. Considered “America’s largest block party,” USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards has selected Cruisin’ the Coast as the number 1 car show in the country for the last five years.

Brandon tells me that until recently, one thing missing at the Beau was an upscale Gulf seafood restaurant. He very proudly says he was determined to change that. “People come to the Gulf Coast and expect to enjoy fine, fresh Gulf seafood. We created Coraline’s with beautiful views of dolphins swimming, sunsets, and the best seafood dishes you ever put in your mouth.” Coraline’s opened in June of this year. Mission accomplished.

Beau Rivage has so much to offer. People are taken by the warm personalities of the locals, the area’s rich history, and the unique attractions, shops, and art that dot the landscape. Brandon tells me after 25 years, they have become a national destination for gaming, live entertainment, golf, shopping, pampering, and great dining experiences. “We are the only casino resort with a waterfront view.”

Thanks, Mary, and Brandon. Congratulations on 25 years and wishing you 25 more. It just gets better and better! 

Make plans to visit Beau Rivage to capture the holiday spirit, and stay tuned for more opportunities to have fun!