Page 18 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2016

COASTNOTES
JOHN
FERRUCCI wins Hancock County Tourism award
story by Kelsey Sunderman
photos courtesy of Silver Slipper Casino Hotel
John Ferrucci, general manager of the Silver Slipper Casino Hotel, received the Patt Cuculli Tourism Industry Award
from the Hancock County Tourism Development Bureau. As general manager of the Silver Slipper, Ferrucci has continuously made an effort to support the community.
“If it’s benefitting our community, the Silver Slipper
is going to be there. Whether
it’s a church fair, a charity event or a civic meeting, I just feel compelled to be a part of it,” said Ferrucci, “I want to support the community and in return, the community supports the Silver Slipper.”
“John Ferrucci was the obvious choice for this prestigious award,” said Nikki Moon, chairman of the Hancock County Tourism Development Bureau. “He gives of his time, talent and resources to grow
the economic benefits to the community through the tourism industry.”
Ferrucci’s involvement in
the tourism industry has heavily impacted Hancock County’s success by attracting more visitors to the area and ultimately fueling the tourism bureau’s marketing budget.
The Silver Slipper opened
its doors in Bay St. Louis in November 2006, making it the
first land-based casino to be fully constructed following the changes to coastal gaming laws. The Casino and its counterpart 120-room, nine-suite hotel have boosted tourism by offering visitors gaming, entertainment and dining options. The Silver Slipper food service was named one of the 50 Best Buffets in the Country and the Best Buffet in Mississippi by Yahoo Travel, which can be largely attributed to Ferrucci’s background in the food and beverage industry, as well as its exceptional staff.
According to Ferrucci, employees are the most important key to a casino’s success. “Our employees are courteous and well-trained and many are actively involved in the community,” he said. “They have a natural inclination to help and we reinforce that with recognition and support. If
you have to work for a living, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Ferrucci served on the Hancock County Tourism Development board for six years and continues to participate in the area as a seven-year member of the Hancock Chamber after having served as vice president. In 2012, the Hancock Chamber named Ferrucci Citizen of the Year.
18 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • October 2016
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