In July—roughly two months ahead of schedule—the expanded Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center will open, in time to host the Annual Meeting of the National Governors Association (an “official” opening is expected in the Fall). The expansion houses a 127,100-square-foot Exhibit floor capacity and seven private meeting rooms—when fully opened the entire complex will offer 350,000 square feet meeting & event space. The Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center is located in Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau includes Gulfport as well other Mississippi Beach communities and 26 miles of pristine shoreline, 11 casinos, 12,000+ hotel rooms, five additional hotels to be online by year’s end, 20 Golf Courses, world-famous fresh & saltwater fishing and a shuttle bus system, including new “Trolleys” that ferry convention, meeting & trade show attendees from the convention complex to the multitude of attractions this fun and affordable destination offers. Richard Forester, Executive Director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, met with the Facilitiesonline on a press-trip to New York. “We’ve have a new discount program for meeting planners for all city-wide bookings,” said Forester. “The Gulf Coast is back, we’re blowin & growin.”