Two Decades in the Making: Madison County’s Conference Center is a Go
RIDGELAND, MS. (September 8, 2026) — Today, Madison County gave final approval to move forward with the Madison County Conference Center, a historic milestone more than two decades in the making for county residents and leaders. The conference center will be paired with a privately financed 250-room Dolce by Wyndham hotel at Prado Vista. Together, the two will create a full-service destination to drive overnight stays, restaurant spending, retail activity, tourism, and new economic opportunity throughout Madison County.
The 50,000-square-foot Madison County Conference Center will be the first dedicated conference center of its kind in the county and will accommodate up to 1,800 attendees. Designed for major conferences, corporate meetings, school banquets, trade shows, and regional events, the facility finally gives Madison County and the region the capacity to host large-scale gatherings that previously had to go elsewhere.
A defining feature of the public-private structure is a commitment to direct approximately $18.9 million, essentially 100 percent of the project’s tourism rebate proceeds, back to Madison County to accelerate repayment of conference-center construction debt, rather than allowing those proceeds to be retained as a developer incentive. County and City leaders point to this structure as a model for protecting public interest while strengthening the project’s long-term financial foundation. The combined investment totals approximately $120 million, with the conference center financed through an urban- renewal bond structure and the Dolce hotel financed privately by PraCon.
The adjoining hotel will carry the Dolce by Wyndham flag, bringing Wyndham’s upper-upscale, design-driven meetings and resort brand to Ridgeland. Dolce’s global portfolio includes destination properties in premier markets such as Versailles, France, and Miami Beach, Florida. The Ridgeland property will be the first Dolce hotel in Mississippi, introducing a new level of full-service conference hospitality to the state with elevated amenities and multiple dining venues supporting the conference center and the broader Prado Vista development, which is currently home to Topgolf.
County and City officials expect this project to set the standard for what’s possible in Madison County – bringing more jobs, more visitors, and more investment that benefits our residents for years to come.
“The Conference Center is a strategic, forward-looking project built with Madison County’s residents and businesses at the center. The Board of Supervisors are proud to see this vision become a reality. The public-private structure shows what strong partnerships can accomplish across Madison County. The Madison County Board of Supervisors will continue to explore opportunities to strengthen the county’s future.” – Gerald Steen, President, Madison County Board of Supervisors
“Ridgeland is proud to be the home of the Madison County Conference Center. This project gives our city and county something we have needed for many years. It is meaningful to see this long-discussed vision become a reality and we look forward to welcoming the many people who will come for future meetings and events”.— Gene McGee, Mayor, City of Ridgeland
“This conference center changes the landscape of Madison County. It’s not just a building; it’s a recruitment tool that helps us compete for corporate relocations, conventions and investment we simply couldn’t pursue before. This is exactly the kind of infrastructure that sets Madison County apart.” — Joseph P. Deason, Executive Director, Madison County Economic Development Authority
“Our business members have talked about a Madison County conference center for as long as I can remember. On behalf of the Business League, I want to thank the county, the city of Ridgeland, and all involved for stepping up with a plan that gets it done — and done right. Local restaurants, school districts, retailers, service providers, and more are going to feel the benefit of this project for decades to come.” — Sam Kelly, Chairman, Madison County Business League & Foundation
“This milestone belongs to the people and leaders who believed Madison County could create a conference destination worthy of its growth and its future. I want to thank the State, the Madison County Board of Supervisors, the City of Ridgeland, and our partners across Madison County for the leadership and support that made this project possible. We are honored to carry that their vision forward at Prado Vista and to deliver a conference center and hotel that will serve Madison County for generations.” — Gabriel Prado, CEO & President, PraCon Global Investment Group
“Prado Vista at Ridgeland is an exciting setting for Dolce by Wyndham, a brand built around bringing people together through distinctive destinations, thoughtful design and exceptional meetings experiences. We believe this hotel has the potential to become a signature hospitality destination for Mississippi and the broader region, pairing the strength of Dolce with a conference center designed to welcome major events and memorable gatherings.” — Geoff Ballotti, President & CEO, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
