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.