Local

National rankings showcase 5 ways Mississippi Coast leads and lags in key sectors

Stories by Biloxi SunHerald journalists, with AI summarization

The Mississippi Coast stands out in national rankings, showcasing both impressive achievements and notable challenges. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino's spot among the top 10 casinos nationwide highlights the region's vibrant entertainment sector. Coastal breweries like Fly Llama Brewing and others also gain recognition, reflecting a strong, evolving craft beer scene.

However, the Coast falls short in inclusivity, with cities like Biloxi and Gulfport receiving failing scores for LGBTQ+ protections. Tourism thrives with destinations such as the popular Ocean Springs House on Airbnb, but workforce satisfaction lags, as Mississippi ranks in the middle nationally for employee happiness.

Georgia has the unhappiest employees in the country, study says. Why? Read here.

NO. 1: THE SOUTH HAS SOME OF THE UNHAPPIEST EMPLOYEES IN THE US, STUDY SAYS. SEE WHERE MS FALLS

A recent study found the states with the happiest and unhappiest employees, ranking them from 1 to 50; The Peach State came in dead last. See just how happy Mississippians are. | Published April 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mona Moore

David Reese owner of Fly Llama Brewery in Biloxi, MS, will officially open Thursday, Jan. 14, with 14 new brews and 3 hard seltzers. By Alyssa Newton

NO. 2: TWO MS COAST BREWERIES NAMED AMONG THE BEST IN MISSISSIPPI. SEE WHO MADE THE LIST

Hattiesburg’s Southern Prohibition Brewing Co., which opened in 2013, tops this year’s list. | Published May 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Lici Beveridge

A band plays through the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino for the 25th anniversary in March. A new report puts he Beau Rivage as the favorite casino outside of Las Vegas and one of the top 10 in the country. By Courtesy of Beau Rivage

NO. 3: THIS COAST CASINO RANKS IN TOP 10 IN THE NATION, BEST CASINO OUTSIDE OF LAS VEGAS

While the building is iconic, the service and amenities are what social media visitors say impress them. | Published May 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mary Perez

Hundreds turned out for Biloxi Pride at Point Cadet Plaza on Saturday, June 29, 2019. By Alyssa Newton

NO. 4: MS COAST FAILS HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN’S LGBTQ+ INCLUSION INDEX. ADVOCATES CAUTION VISITORS

All four cities received failing grades in metric. A lack of legal protections for LGBTQ+ people an issue, advocates said. | Published June 7, 2024 | Read Full Story by John Buzbee

String lights and a circle of 10 adirondack chairs set the mood for a night of s’mores around a blazing fire pit at the Ocean Springs House.

NO. 5: THIS MS COAST HOME IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SHORT TERM RENTALS ON AIRBNB

See why the local property ranked in the top 5% of the app’s 8 million listings. | Published April 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mona Moore

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.