Coastal Mississippi

What Coastal Mississippi does

Coastal Mississippi is a regional destination marketing organization (DMO) chartered to promote the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a tourism and convention destination. The organization operates across a 62-mile scenic shoreline spanning three counties (Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson) and 26 coastal communities including Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, Diamondhead, D'Iberville, Gautier, Gulfport, Long Beach, Moss Point, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, and Pass Christian. Founded in 2016 and led by CEO Judy Young, the organization is headquartered in Biloxi and runs with a small team in the 11-50 employee range. Note: the short_description characterizes the entity as a "non-profit corporation," while firmographic data lists company_type as "for_profit"; the data is internally inconsistent on this point.

The core product is the Coastal Mississippi website (coastalmississippi.com), a digital destination platform that functions as the primary consumer-facing interface for trip planning, event discovery, and travel guide distribution. Supporting sub-brands include the Coast Insider email newsletter, an Attractions Pass bundled-ticketing program, a Coastal Deals promotional offers hub, and a comprehensive Travel Guide publication. The platform organizes content vertically around Stay, Play, Eat & Drink, Plan, and Events, with dedicated pages for casinos, sports & outdoors, arts & culture, breweries, and Gulf-to-table seafood. Distribution occurs through this self-serve digital platform, the #PlayCoastal social media campaign, email marketing, and a network of partnerships with event organizers, municipalities (City of Gulfport), state tourism authorities (Visit Mississippi), transportation providers (Amtrak), cultural institutions (Ohr-O'Keefe Museum, Walter Anderson Museum, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center), and recognized restaurants (Siren Social Club, Vestige, White Pillars).

The revenue model is described as tourism-related revenues and partnerships funding regional promotion, event programming, and marketing campaigns. The organization does not publicly disclose revenue figures and does not sell products or services directly to consumers at disclosed prices; core resources (travel guides, newsletter, trip planning tools, Attractions Pass) are provided free or as bundled promotional offers. The go-to-market motion is predominantly event-driven (triathlon championships, Mardi Gras, Fourth of July, America250 commemorations, seasonal festivals) combined with direct-to-consumer destination marketing through the website and Coast Insider newsletter. Customer-facing segments include leisure travelers (families, couples, individuals), sports tourism participants, and culinary tourism visitors; enterprise-facing relationships span event organizers, municipalities, and brand sponsors.

Name

Coastal Mississippi

Legal name

Coastal Mississippi

Website

https://gulfcoast.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Coastal Mississippi is the regional destination marketing organization for the Mississippi Gulf Coast, promoting 62 miles of shoreline across three counties and 26 communities through its coastalmississippi.com platform, event programming, and partnerships with event organizers, municipalities, and tourism businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Destination Marketing

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Beachfront & Coastal Full-Service Hotels (THAGAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD)

Keywords

• Destination marketing
• Tourism promotion
• Regional tourism
• Travel planning
• Visitor services

Headquarters

HQ city

Biloxi

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tourism Marketing and Promotion Services: Regional tourism organization funded through tourism-related revenues and partnerships, promoting the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a travel destination. Revenue supports event programming, marketing campaigns, and regional tourism development across 62 miles of shoreline in three counties.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Coastal Mississippi is a regional destination marketing organization that promotes the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a travel destination spanning 62 miles of shoreline across three counties. It operates a unified digital platform (coastalmississippi.com) that serves as the central hub for trip planning, event discovery, and visitor information, complemented by a print/digital travel guide, an email newsletter (Coast Insider), an Attractions Pass program, and promotional deals for accommodations, dining, and activities.

Product overview

Coastal Mississippi operates as a regional tourism organization offering a unified digital platform that promotes the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a premier travel destination. The core product is the Coastal Mississippi website, which serves as the central hub for trip planning, event discovery, and visitor services. Supporting sub-brands include the Coast Insider newsletter (email marketing), Attractions Pass (bundled ticketing), Coastal Deals (promotional offers), and Travel Guide (comprehensive visitor resources). The portfolio is designed to serve travelers seeking beach vacations, outdoor adventures, culinary experiences, and cultural attractions along 62 miles of shoreline in three Mississippi Gulf Coast counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coastal Mississippi Destination Website The official tourism destination website for Coastal Mississippi, serving as the primary digital platform for visitor information, trip planning, event discovery, and booking accommodations across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
• Coast Insider Newsletter Email newsletter service providing subscribers with insider access to festivals, events, special deals, and hidden gems for planning Coastal Mississippi getaways.
• Attractions Pass Bundled pass program offering discounted access to multiple Coastal Mississippi attractions and experiences.
• Coastal Deals Special offers and promotional deals for accommodations, dining, activities, and experiences across Coastal Mississippi communities.
• Travel Guide Comprehensive visitor guide and trip planning resource covering attractions, accommodations, dining, and activities across Coastal Mississippi.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,200 athletes from 28 countries and 45 states attended inaugural CLASH Endurance event
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Boom Boom CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Collaborative partnership for Fourth of July fireworks show celebrating America's 250th anniversary, featuring patriotic music and Gulf Coast views. The Boom Boom Committee organizes the major Independence Day celebration.
• Ohr-O'Keefe MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Museum receiving America250 Grant funding for enhancements as part of the America250 commemoration celebration, showcasing Coastal Mississippi's role in American history.
• Walter Anderson MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Museum receiving America250 Grant funding for enhancements as part of the America250 commemoration, with museum exhibits featured in the regional celebration lineup.
• Lynn Meadows Discovery CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Collaborative art initiatives as part of America250 celebrations, with collaborative art programs supported by Legacy America250 Grant funding.
• CLASH EndurancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 March 2026CLASH Endurance partnered with Coastal Mississippi to host its inaugural triathlon event in Gulfport from March 29-31, 2026, drawing over 2,200 athletes from 28 countries and 45 states. The event was hosted at Jones Park and Gulfport Marina, positioning Coastal Mississippi as a premier sports tourism destination.
• Mississippi AquariumminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 March 2026Partner for CLASH Endurance triathlon event, supporting the inaugural Coastal Mississippi event weekend with marine-themed activities and hospitality services.
• Gulfport Coca-ColaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 March 2026Beverage partner supporting the CLASH Endurance inaugural event in Gulfport through sponsorship and product provision.
• Mitchell DistributingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 March 2026Distribution partner for CLASH Endurance event weekend, supporting logistics and product distribution for the triathlon event.
• USA TriathloncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Coastal Mississippi hosted the 2026 USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Championships & Age Group Event Weekend in Gulfport from March 27-29, 2026, featuring athletic competitions along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
• Visit MississippicoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 February 2026State tourism partner collaborating with Coastal Mississippi on the 2026 USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Championships event weekend in Gulfport.
• City of GulfportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026City of Gulfport partnered with Coastal Mississippi to host the 2026 USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Championships, providing venue access and municipal support for the major sporting event.
• AmtrakminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 October 2025Amtrak expanding Mardi Gras service along the Gulf Coast due to surging ridership, bringing rail travelers to Coastal Mississippi destinations during peak travel periods.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Visit Panama City Beach: Florida Panhandle Gulf Coast DMO with comparable beachfront tourism focus, spring/summer seasonality, and event-led GTM. Operates in the same Gulf Coast competitive set as Coastal Mississippi.
• Visit Galveston: Texas Gulf Coast island destination DMO with comparable beach, culinary, and event programming mix. Competes for the same drive-market leisure visitor along the Gulf Coast.
• Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism: Regional DMO covering Alabama's Gulf Coast shoreline. Directly comparable in product offering (beachfront tourism, sports events, culinary programming) and target visitor (regional drive-market leisure travelers), competing for the same Gulf Coast trip-planning consideration set.

Broad incumbents

• Brand USA: National destination marketing organization for the United States. Comparable mission (international and domestic tourism promotion) but operates at a national scale, leveraging DMOs like Coastal Mississippi as on-the-ground partners.
• Visit Florida: State-level tourism marketing organization for Florida with a substantially larger budget. Comparable DMO mission and channel mix (digital, content, PR, events) and competes with Coastal Mississippi for Gulf Coast visitor share.
• New Orleans & Company: Louisiana's primary DMO with a stronger brand and larger scale. Comparable in culinary tourism emphasis (MICHELIN-rich dining scene) and event programming (Mardi Gras heritage), and competes for cultural and culinary visitors along the Gulf Coast.
• Visit Mississippi: State-level destination marketing organization for Mississippi and a direct GTM partner of Coastal Mississippi. Comparable in mission (regional tourism promotion, event marketing, digital content) but operates at the broader state level with a larger budget and remit.
• Travel South USA: Regional tourism coalition promoting Southern U.S. destinations. Comparable in promoting multi-state Southern tourism, with Coastal Mississippi operating as a regional member within a broader Southern tourism marketing framework.
• Visit Alabama: State-level DMO for Alabama covering coastal and inland tourism. Comparable in mission and structure; the parent organization of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism and competes with Coastal Mississippi for Gulf Coast visitation.

Others

• Destination DC: Private non-profit DMO for Washington, DC. Comparable organizational structure (private non-profit destination marketing entity), comparable channel mix (digital content, events, PR), though operating in an urban rather than coastal setting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SeeCoastalMS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqSZpZ8bRFG9eZ3b4xqS8Jw
• Facebookfacebook.com/CoastalMississippi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coastal-mississippi
• Instagraminstagram.com/coastalmississippi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coastal Mississippi