Myrtle Beach area News

Myrtle Beach Area Chamber to Celebrate 70th Anniversary

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 70th anniversary 5:30-9 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort at Grande Dunes. The 70th anniversary celebration will be a stellar event to recognize an organization that has promoted, protected and improved business in the Myrtle Beach area since 1938. The event is open to members only.

Formed in 1938, the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce was a catalyst for promoting tourism. The organization disbanded in 1941 due to World War II but was restructured and rechartered in 1947. The chamber was strictly a volunteer organization until 1948, when it hired its first executive secretary, Mark Garner. In its early years, the chamber was located at 824 N. Kings Hwy.

“The success of the chamber is obvious,” said Buz Plyler, owner, Gay Dolphin (member since 1947). “We’ve seen enormous growth of the tourism business through the years. When we opened in 1946, a few hundred people visited Myrtle Beach. The first big weekend was the Fourth of July holiday, and the shoulder seasons were nonexistent. The chamber has done a nice job of projecting a positive image of the Myrtle Beach area through the Internet, print and TV, using every available avenue. The Internet has made such an impact on people’s lives, and the chamber has introduced visitors from half-way around the world to our destination. This year we’ve had more visitors than ever from Canada, Europe (East and West) and Asia, as well as Washington state, Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Indiana.”

In 1957 the chamber changed its name to the Greater Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, serving the Grand Strand from North Myrtle Beach to historic Georgetown. In 1960 the organization moved to 1301 N. Kings Hwy.

“Ripley’s has been a chamber member since the opening of our Believe It or Not! Museum in 1976,” said Peter MacIntyre, general manager, Ripley’s Attractions, Myrtle Beach. “Ripley’s now operates five Myrtle Beach attractions, and the chamber has been an instrumental force in our growth and that of the Grand Strand.”

In 1979 the organization changed its name to the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau was formed as part of the chamber. In 1994 the MBACC moved to its present location at 1200 N. Oak St.

“The chamber has long been a strong and consistent advocate for all business in the area,” said Jimmy Yahnis, owner, Yahnis Coastal Inc. (member since 1989). “It has been particularly effective in its marketing, political support and education. As the Grand Strand has evolved, the chamber has evolved effectively for its members.”

Through the years, a number of smaller welcome centers opened but then closed including Georgetown, North Myrtle Beach, U.S. 501 and Aynor. Currently, welcome centers are located in Murrells Inlet and at the Myrtle Beach International Airport.

The Myrtle Beach area now boasts roughly 89,000 accommodation units and 1,700 restaurants. The number of visitors has grown to 14 million (2006 estimate), generating a local economic impact of approximately $5.8 billion. The MBACC’s membership, like the area’s tourism, has grown, with more than 2,400 members.

For the past seven decades, the MBACC’s mission has expanded from simply being an organization that promotes the Myrtle Beach area as a travel destination. The chamber has promoted, protected and improved business. The organization provides community leadership to advance economic development and involves itself in the governmental and political arena to improve quality of life and to encourage unity in the region.

Yet, promoting America’s Beach Playground® has been a primary goal. As testimony to the MBACC’s marketing and publicity efforts, the area has earned a number of prestigious honors including:

1) Weather.com: Top 10 Family-Friendly Destinations (2008)
2) Ask.com: Top Family Destinations (2008)
3) Yahoo!: Top 10 Places for Families to Visit in the U.S. (2008)
4) “Golf Digest”: Overall Value for Money Destination (2008)
5) TripAdvisor.com: Top Family Resort (2008)
6) “Wired”: Top 10 Wireless Destination (2007)
7) Travel Channel: America’s Best Beaches—Best Beaches for Families (2007)
8) Yahoo! Travel: World’s Best Beach (2007)
9) “Southern Living”: Favorite Beach Towns and Favorite Family Vacations (2007)
10) “Golf Digest”: Top 100 Public Golf Courses in America (2007)
11) “Forbes”: 100 Best Small Places for Business and Careers (2007)
12) “Where to Retire”: 100 Best Retirement Towns in America (2007)
13) “Southern Accents”: Top 10 winner in the categories Favorite Southern City for a Weekend Getaway, Favorite Golf/Spa Destination and Favorite Beach Destination (2006)
14) AAA: Top Five Most Popular Drive Destinations (2006)
15) “Golf Digest”: Number One Golf-Home Community (2006)
16) “Meetings South”: Best of the South (2006)
17) “USA Today”: 10 Great Places to Go Coastal With Your Kids (2005)
18) EscapeHomes.com: Most Desirable Second Home Markets (2005)
19) GroupTravelPlanet.com: Top Group Vacation Destinations With Special Hotel Rates (2005)
20) “Sports Illustrated”: Sportstown USA (2004)
21) “Restaurant Business”: Best City for Growth Potential (2004)
22) The “Today” Show and Travel Channel: Featured repeatedly for the past several years