
MS State Parks Trailblazing Story
How Mississippi State Parks Gained Data Visibility, Operational Confidence, and New Revenue Opportunities
A rapid six-month transformation that empowered
park teams with data, improved visitors' experiences, and opened new operational possibilities.
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The Challenge
Outgrowing a Reservation System That No Longer Met Operational Needs
After more than a decade using its previous reservation platform, Mississippi State Parks faced several operational limitations:
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Limited access to operational data and reporting
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Difficulty generating custom reports to support decision-making
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System reliability concerns and occasional booking inconsistencies
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Limited tools to support marketing campaigns and promotions
The challenges made it difficult for park leadership to fully understand visitor trends, optimize park occupancy, and confidently manage reservations. ​
Being able to stand up a custom system in
six months was impressive!
Keith Harkins, Chief Administrative Officer - MS State Parks
The Solution
Reimagining How Visitors Discover and Reserve Mississippi's Parks
Mississippi State Parks implemented a modern reservation platform designed to improve both the visitor booking experience and internal park operations. Key capabilities included:
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User-friendly online reservation website
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Advanced reporting and analytics through Power BI integration
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Promotional code functionality for targeted marketing campaigns
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Digital and mobile payment options for visitors
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Event ticketing capabilities for attractions such as waterparks and museums
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Centralized alerts and communication tools for park operators
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Despite a compressed timeline,
the system was successfully configured and deployed in just 6 months.
The Implementation
Six Months from Contract to Launch
The project began in October 2024, with a structured implementation process that included:
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Requirements gathering and system configuration
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Data Migration and testing
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Staff training across park locations
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Camis opened doors to things we didn't even know we needed.
Keith Harkins, Chief Adminstrative Officer - MS State Parks
The Results
Driving Measurable Impact Across Operations and Visitor Experience
Since launching the new reservation system, Mississippi State Parks has seen meaningful improvents in how its teams operate, make decisions, and engage visitors.

Fully Implemented and live
in just six months

Enabled data-driven decisions across all park operations
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Identified underutilized sites and optimized occupancy
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Capabilities to analyze booking trends to support planning and forecasting
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Empowered teams with self-serve reporting capabilities

Enabled data-driven decisions across all park operations
-
Identified underutilized sites and optimized occupancy
-
Capabilities to analyze booking trends to support planning and forecasting
-
Empowered teams with self-serve reporting capabilities
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Modernizing Reservations to Improve Visitor Experience and Operational Insight
Mississippi State Parks operates a diverse network of outdoor destinations that serve thousands of visitors each year. To continue delivering exceptional park experiences, the agency recognized the need to modernize its reservation system and improve operational visibility across the park network.
About Mississippi State Parks
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21 State Parks
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Waterpark
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Museum and Education Complex
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System Launched: April 2025
