For this episode of Heart Of Hospitality—recorded on location at the Mississippi Governor’s Conference on Tourism—we’re chatting with Shannon Gray. Shannon possesses a curious mind and has a passion for understanding what makes people tick—especially when it comes to travel.

Before diving into tourism research, Shannon worked with big brands like Kraft, General Mills, T-Mobile, and Verizon, learning to turn data into actionable insights. But it was in destination marketing that she found her sweet spot—figuring out what inspires people to visit, stay, and return. When she’s not digging into data, she’s probably planning her next trip, because, let’s be honest—travel is the best kind of research.

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.