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Mark Moore is the Vice President and General Manager of Gulf Islands Waterpark in Gulfport, Mississippi. With nearly 30 years of experience in the water park industry, Mark started his career as a lifeguard and has since played a pivotal role in developing operational efficiencies and guest experience strategies. Gulf Islands Water Park, which opened just weeks before Hurricane Katrina in 2005, has grown into a regional attraction, drawing visitors from across the Gulf Coast. In this interview, Mark talks about cabanas as daytime hotels, balancing demand with dynamic pricing, and free soft drinks.

Cabanas as Daytime Hotels

“I said to a friend who operates a park with over 100 cabanas, ‘So you’re a daytime hotel,’ and he kind of cocked his head at me and said, ‘I never thought about it that way.’”

Mark shared an insightful perspective on the role cabanas play in the water park experience. He compared them to hotel rooms, emphasizing how guests use them as a home base for relaxation, much like a hotel stay. The average length of a hotel stay, when excluding sleeping hours, is similar to the average duration of a visit to a water park—around four to five hours. With this in mind, Gulf Islands Water Park has considered adding amenities typically found in hotels, such as towels, cushioned seating, and concierge-style service, to elevate the cabana experience. Recognizing cabanas as more than just an upcharge but rather a premium hospitality experience has allowed them to enhance guest satisfaction and increase demand for these spaces.

Balancing Demand with Dynamic Pricing

“It took about two years to convince ownership, but once we did, we saw our weekday attendance grow by 8 to 10%, while peak weekend crowds eased up by about 2 to 3%.”

Mark discussed the journey of implementing dynamic pricing at Gulf Islands Water Park, a process inspired by his experience in hotel management. The idea was initially met with hesitation, but after demonstrating how businesses across various industries use demand-based pricing to influence consumer behavior, ownership came on board. The result has been a more evenly distributed attendance pattern, reducing strain on peak days while incentivizing visits on traditionally slower weekdays. The messaging around dynamic pricing has been carefully framed to highlight guest value—focusing on the savings of visiting during less crowded periods rather than the higher cost of peak days. Over time, guests have embraced the model, with many now purchasing tickets in advance to secure the best possible rate.

Free Soft Drinks

“We had done everything we could to speed up our food service, but then we realized the biggest bottleneck was people deciding on drinks. Offering free soft drinks eliminated that completely.”

Inspired by Holiday World’s long-standing free soft drink program, Gulf Islands Water Park introduced complimentary fountain drinks as a way to improve efficiency and enhance guest experience. The results were immediate—food and beverage revenue increased by 20% in the first year, and the overall guest experience improved as wait times at food stands significantly decreased. Instead of bottlenecks forming as guests debated drink choices, they now receive their food quickly and grab a drink at self-serve stations. While there were initial operational challenges, such as managing cup waste, the overall benefits far outweighed the drawbacks. The move has been a major marketing win, with guests frequently citing free drinks as a key perk of visiting the park.

Gulf Islands Water Park continues to evolve by embracing innovative operational strategies and guest-centric enhancements. To learn more about the park, visit gulfislandswaterpark.com. Mark Moore can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 228-297-6972.

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