12 Incredible Customer Service ICE Awards applaud outstanding customer service.

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1 Grand strander Issue 670 April 2009 The Official Newsletter of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Five Chamber MBACC awarded top accreditation by U.S. Chamber of Commerce The United States Chamber of Commerce has awarded the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce its five-star accreditation for sound policies, effective organizational procedures and positive impact on the community. Most recently, 17 chambers were accredited, with only six receiving the prestigious fivestar ranking. Local chambers are accredited three stars, four stars or five stars. As board chairman, I m just as proud as I can be that the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber was not only accredited on the first attempt but also received top honors, said Brant Branham. The application process took four months, and the submittal was so comprehensive that it required multiple binders to contain it. I commend the staff for all their hard work, not just for the application but each and every day, which earned them this distinction. Of the 6,936 chambers in the United States, 260 (less than 4 percent) of those are accredited. Of those accredited, only 49 (19 percent) have earned the fivestar ranking. In South Carolina, 10 state and local chambers are accredited, with four of those earning five stars. The determination is made by the accrediting board, a committee of U.S. Chamber board members. Five Stars, See Page 5 What s inside 6 Know Your Community Gangs, crime prevention... do you know your community? Special Section Visitation Outlook Research findings from travel planning study. No MBACC dues hike for FY During these tough economic times, everyone is looking for a way to save a buck or two. It s all about pinching a penny and stretching a dollar. With this in mind, your Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is always looking for ways to help our members and local businesses through these tough economic times. Even during this challenging recession, MBACC board of directors is confident that the chamber has built a strong foundation that allows the organization to continue providing cost-effective programs and services. And with this commitment, the board has declared that MBACC membership dues remain at the current level for the upcoming fiscal year The current level of membership dues allows us to accomplish our goals without diminishing member benefits and quality performance in any way, noted Brant Branham, chairman of the MBACC board of directors. During these tough economic times, I am pleased to see the spirited can-do attitude of the chamber s members and staff remains strong. For more than 70 years, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has been at the heart of the Grand Strand s economic development. The chamber has record membership, major legislative accomplishments, and an outstanding level of service to the business community. The chamber s history of accomplishments is due to the interest and participation of its members, Branham said. No Dues Hike, See Page Incredible Customer Service ICE Awards applaud outstanding customer service. 14 Business Bulletin Read about new hires, accomplishments and more.

2 2 Board of Directors Chairman of the Board Brant Branham E. F. Hucks & Associates, Inc. Immediate Past Chairman Steve Chapman Island Vista Advertising/Publicity Committee Chair Ross Martin Coral Beach Resort Vice Chairs Woody Crosby Jordan Properties Phil Vassar Captain s Quarters Resort and Hotel Blue Business Ethics & Standards Committee Chair Frans Mustert Oceana Resorts Vice Chairs Debbie Harwell Adobe Palm Communications Phil Vassar Captain s Quarters Resort and Hotel Blue Convention Bureau Committee Chair Bob Barenberg Kingston Plantation Vice Chair Charlie Bradshaw Alabama Theatre Finance Review Committee Chair/Treasurer Myers Rollins Waccamaw Regional Transportation Authority Vice Chair David DuRant Prestwick Country Club Fulfillment Committee Chair Chris Shroff Shroff Properties Vice Chairs Jason Anderson Anderson Properties Nate Anderson Divine Dining Group Frans Mustert Oceana Resorts Legislative Policy Council Chair Franklin Daniels Nexsen Pruet, LLC Vice Chair Buzz Freeman Conway National Bank Membership Committee Chair Tony Cox Burroughs & Chapin Co., Inc. Vice Chairs Debbie Harwell Adobe Palm Communications Berkley White Classic Homes North Strand Council Chair Rick Elliott Elliott Realty Small Business Council Chair Steve Kahn FSA-Full Steam Ahead, Inc. Vice Chair Wayne Morris The Printing Port South Strand Council Chair Elaine Carter Wendy s/palmetto Restaurant Group Technology-Based Marketing Committee Chair Ryan Swaim Dunes Realty Vacation Rentals Vice Chair Will McIntosh Intellistrand Young Professionals Council Chair Sara Boling CENTURY 21 Boling & Associates, Inc. Grand strander What s Online Chamber Events 4 1/2 Questions 4 1/2 Questions asks, Why become an ambassador? This month we checked in with Rita Gray with the Cooper House Event Center. Read the Grand Strander Online and find out why Gray enjoys being an ambassador. member anniversaries What s the secret to long-term success in the business community? Establishing lasting and personal relationships with other professionals through membership in the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. During April, 138 members will be celebrating their chamber anniversaries. Read the Grand Strander Online and discover which businesses have been chamber members for 29 years. Brochure racks and Business Card Displays Thousands of chamber members and visitors stop by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Oak Street and South Strand Welcome Centers looking for information on products and services offered in the area. Market your business through the brochure racks and business card displays located in the Welcome Centers. It s a free benefit of chamber membership. Due to limited storage space and brochure rack size, members are encouraged to submit brochures that are 4 in width and 9 in height. By displaying literature at this recommended size, your chamber will be able to distribute more member brochures and better meet our visitors vacation planning needs. Ribbon cuttings All Year Landscaping, along with two other businesses, recently celebrated ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Check out the photos in the Grand Strander Online. Grand Strand Living hot off the press The chamber s updated Grand Strand Living is a 112-page guide that contains information on real estate, health care, arts and culture, local government, education and much more. A benefit of your chamber membership includes two listings in Grand Strand Living, an alphabetical listing in the Membership Directory, and a category/service listing Search For quick access to all of the great features mentioned below, just go to and click on Grand Strander at the top of the page. Education Programs Grand Strander Online Marketing Strategies Member Resources Government Relations in the Business Guide. Published both in print (35,000 copies) and online at GrandStrandLiving.com, the guide is not only an indispensable resource for anyone planning to relocate, but Grand Strand Living is often requested by local residents who are looking for a trusted chamber member for products and services. Order your copy at /member/ member_guide_request.html. Test Your knowledge Test your knowledge of chamber benefits and win a free membership list ($100 value). Read this issue of the Grand Strander, discover the answer to the question below (either in this hard copy or the online newsletter) and then go to and enter your response. While the rules state one entry per person, it is unlimited entries per business. So pass the newsletter on to your employees. Test your knowledge... This April 20 event spotlights food, food and more food. Name the event. Go to and enter by April 30 to win a free membership list ($100 value) Winner will be notified May 5. Congratulations to February s winner, Brian Stefan with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, who won two free tickets to the ICE Awards.

3 Grand strander Discover more networking events at April-May Events April 28 3 p.m. CHamber Access Your All Access Pass to the Chamber MBACC Boardroom, 1200 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach Are you a new member of the chamber? Are you new at your company? Or perhaps you are a longstanding member that needs an update on all your benefits. Then make plans to attend the next Chamber Access at your Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. It s a great way to break the ice within the first year of your chamber membership. You ll learn first-hand the benefits that your chamber membership brings at every stage of your business growth. Learn how to take advantage of your membership through Chamber Access Your All Access Pass to the Chamber. Free, value-added benefit of chamber membership Register at ChamberAcademy.com Registration Deadline: April 27 Questions? Call (843) April 29 5:30-7:30 p.m. Business AFter Hours Myrtle Beach Pelicans BB&T Coastal Field, st Ave. N., Myrtle Beach Take me out to the ball game! Grab your mitt and head to BB&T Coastal Field for an evening of baseball, beverages, game food, and of course, plenty of networking. Sit under the palm trees with your feet up in lounge chairs in the Pelicans Beach section. Along with enjoying Business After Hours from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., watch the Myrtle Beach Pelicans take on the Lynchburg Hillcats starting at 7:05 p.m. It s also Star Trek night at the game featuring a costume contest the best dressed prizes are movie passes to see the new Star Trek movie this summer. May 14 7:30-9 a.m. Business Before Hours Business Before Hours at Cinzia The Spa at North Beach Plantation 719 N. Beach Blvd., North Myrtle Beach Enjoy a cup of coffee as you network with fellow chamber members during Business Before Hours. It s a great way to rise and help your business shine. Free, value-added benefit of chamber membership Register at Registration Deadline: May 12 Questions? Call (843) May 28 4:15-7 p.m. Business After Hours Premier Resorts@Barefoot Resort 2200 Premier Resorts Blvd., North Myrtle Beach Overlooking the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway, Premier Resorts@ Barefoot Resort is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a relaxing Business After Hours. As always, there will be plenty of networking, refreshments and door prizes. Free, value-added benefit of chamber membership Register at Registration Deadline: May 24 Questions? Call (843) Free, value-added benefit of chamber membership Register at Registration Deadline: April 27 Questions? Call (843)

4 Grand strander PR Hotspot Myrtle Beach area receives accolades by Kimberly Miles, public relations manager The new year starts and the accolades keep pouring in. Congratulations on the following Myrtle Beach area accolades in January and February. THE GREAT TOWNS OF AMERICA (2009) In 2009, authors David and Joan Vokac included Myrtle Beach in their book that highlights the top 100 Great Towns of America. In fact, Myrtle Beach is the only locale in the state of South Carolina to be included in the book. TRIPADVISOR.COM 2009 Top Aquariums (2009) TripAdvisor.com travel enthusiasts named Ripley s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach to the site s Top Aquariums list, ranking the aquarium in the top five. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOLF COURSE OWNERS Grande Dunes Resort Club 2009 National Golf Course of the Year Presented annually by the National Golf Course Owners Association, Grande Dunes Resort Club is the second Myrtle Beach area course to receive the national honor. SOUTHERN LIVING Favorite Beach (2009) Favorite Family Destination (2009) Favorite Weekend Getaway (2009) The Myrtle Beach area was again named a Favorite Beach and a Favorite Destination for Family Vacations in the January 2009 issue of Southern Living. The Grand Strand has topped the magazine s best beaches list every year since 1995, when the Readers Choice Awards were first instituted. TRAVEL + LEISURE 2009 Top 500 World s Best Hotels Travel and Leisure editors named the Myrtle Beach Marriot Resort and Spa at Grande Dunes to their 2009 rankings of the Top 500 World s Best Hotels. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RV PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS (ARVC) National RV Park of the Year: Oceanlakes Family Campground ( ) AOL.COM Top Five Domestic Travel Destinations in the United States D.K. SHIFFLET & ASSOCIATES Top 10 Value City for Couples GOLF TIPS Close to Home: Top Destinations You can Visit by Car TRAVELOCITY Top Eight Value Destinations for Spring Break COURIER-POST 8 Great Escapes for Under $1,500 Year-to-Date Ad Value for Myrtle Beach Travel News $6,341,819 What would you like to learn or see in a future PR Hotspot? Want to be involved in this area s PR efforts? Have a PR related question? You can reach Kimberly Miles at (843) or Kimberly.Miles@ VisitMyrtleBeach.com. Favorite Quote On this afternoon, pristine beaches glisten in the sun, a fisherman snoozes behind his rod stuck in the sand, and youngsters work on their moated castle. It is a Norman Rockwell portrayal of The American Summer Vacation, long ago when life moved at a gentler pace. And yet this too is part of the fabulous Grand Strand. - Pam Hobbs, Good Times Magazine (Canada) article The Beach That Goes On and On: South Carolinas Myrtle Beach is a perfect nesting ground for Canadian snowbirds January 2009 Print and Online Publicity Values January Newspaper Articles 75 Nondaily Newspaper Articles 9 Consumer Magazine Articles 2 Trade Magazine Articles 241 Web Articles 82,087,026 Total Circulation $2,752,625 Publicity Value February Newspaper Articles 8 Nondaily Newspaper Articles 5 Consumer Magazine Articles 4 Trade Magazine Articles 208 Web Articles 166,311,159 Total Circulation $3,589,194 Publicity Value 4

5 Grand strander Festival Vendor applications online Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications from arts/crafts, food and business vendors for its 58th annual Sun Fun Festival June 5-6 and 4th annual Beach, Boogie & BBQ Festival Sept Both events will take place at Grand Park at Market Common (located on the former Air Force Base). The festivals feature live entertainment, games and rides for the kids. Sun Fun includes celebrity meet and greets, a National Jet Ski Racing Championship and a Sun Fun Beach Run 5K. Beach, Boogie & BBQ boasts the Wheelz at the Beach car show and serves up award-winning barbecue. Last year, more than 35,000 people attended the Sun Fun Festival and more than 45,000 attended the Beach, Boogie & BBQ Festival. Don t miss this great opportunity to get in front of all these potential customers. Applications for food vendors, business vendors and merchandise vendors for both these events can be found at SunFunFestival.com under Business & Vendor Info. Deadline is April 15. Sun Fun Festival sponsorships available Would you like to sponsor an event scheduled during the 58th Annual Sun Fun Festival? Would you like to sponsor the Summer Long Concert Series? If interested in a sponsorship package, Julie Sluss, festivals & special events manager, at Julie.Sluss@VisitMyrtleBeach.com or fax to (843) Five Stars Continued From Cover Accreditation recognizes chambers for their high standards of practice, full accountability to members and steadfast commitment to community, said Thomas Donahue, president and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. We applaud these organizations for advancing these principles of free enterprise. Accreditation is the only national program that recognizes chambers for their effective organizational procedures and community involvement. To receive accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, demonstrating competency in nine core areas: governance, finance, human resources, government affairs, program development, communications, technology, facilities and benchmarking. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world s largest business federation, representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region. February 2009 Top Five States for Relocation Inquiries 1. New York 2. Pennsylvania 3. North Carolina 4. New Jersey 5. Ohio 5 5

6 chamber Academy Grand strander Register for classes at ChamberAcademy.com Classes for the Chamber Academy are held in the boardroom (unless otherwise noted) at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, 1200 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach. Register at ChamberAcademy.com. Payment due at time of registration. No refunds or rescheduling. To learn more, contact Blakely Jenkins, education and small business programs manager, or (843) Discover more educational opportunities by signing up for the Education Updates e-newsletter at, click on Sign up for enews Series Topic Presented by Date/time Cost Sign up by Business Series U.S. Postal Service Rate Change U.S. Postal Service April 7 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free for members and nonmembers 04/06 Description: This presentation will provide you with the most up-to-date information on: May 11, 2009, Price Change for Mailing Services ~ Move Update update on charges for noncompliance and general overview ~ Intelligent Mail Barcodes overview and feedback session ~ Flat-Size Mail Address Standard Changes (effective March 29, 2009). As part of the Intelligent Mail Barcode presentation, feedback will be sought on your preparedness to implement the Intelligent Mail Barcode (Basic or Full Service option) and whether you have access to the various electronic means of submitting postage statements and documentation Series Topic Presented by Date/time Cost Sign up by Business Series Recession Marketing Mona McGraw of NuRelm Inc. April a.m. Free for members $40 for nonmembers Description: This session will discuss effective low-cost marketing strategies that motivate people to buy products and services in a down economy. The class covers general marketing; it does not focus solely on Internet marketing strategies. Learn how to build a comprehensive marketing plan that will help your businesses survive and thrive in the current recession. During this economic downturn, Recession Marketing has been a hit across the Eastern United States Series Topic Presented by Date/time Cost Sign up by Leadership Series Maximize Your Leadership Opportunities Eileen Soisson from The Meeting Institute April a.m. $10 for members $40 for nonmembers Description: This interactive session will define leadership through current day leader examples, the phases of leadership and group activity. Seven winning traits of leaders are being a producer, mentor, innovator, team player, motivator, servant and go-getter. Participants will do a self analysis test to see where they currently rate. Check out this session to see how you can maximize your own leadership opportunities within your organization and/or business. 04/08 04/27 Chamber Academy announces new series Know Your Community by Blakely Jenkins, education and small business programs manager 6 Earlier this year, Officer Sean Fay, Myrtle Beach Police Department Crime Prevention Unit, came and spoke to the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce s Small Business Council on preventing crime in your business. The session was so informative and the feedback so positive, the chamber decided to see if there were other topics that could be presented to our entire membership. Since then the Know Your Community series was born. Through this series, the chamber partnered with the Myrtle Beach Police Department to bring our members topics of interest that would better let them know their community. The first series was held March 19, Homelessness in Myrtle Beach. Before it was even publicized the class began to fill. Topics such as where do the homeless live, where do they get their money and how you can help were covered in this two-hour session. Other issues the series will cover are Gangs in Myrtle Beach, Crime and Prevention, and How to Protect Yourself. We encourage you to let us know of any topics you would like to see presented. Contact Blakely Jenkins, education and small business programs manager, at Blakely.Jenkins@VisitMyrtleBeach.com with any suggestions. Visit ChamberAcademy.com for dates and listings of upcoming sessions.

7 Grand strander From My Desk Growing air service essential to Grand Strand s future In recent years, we have made increased air service a top priority in both our marketing plan and legislative efforts. We believe growing air service is essential to our future, as the Grand Strand is poised to be a national tourist destination. But the growth of air service is far more than a short-term strategy to boost tourism. The Grand Strand has always been a drive-to market. More than 90 percent of our visitors arrive here by driving their personal vehicle. But 14 percent of travelers say they will not drive any longer than eight hours for a five to seven day vacation. More notable is this finding: 22 percent say they will not drive any longer than six hours for a three to four day getaway. By growing air service into our destination, we can effectively penetrate new markets, ultimately attracting more first-time visitors. Increased air service also provides an opportunity to attract more groups, meetings and conventions. The lack of affordable, convenient air service is our biggest impediment to growing this segment of business. The Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau closely tracks the reasons why groups choose not to visit our destination, and the most common reason, given 62 percent of the time, is inadequate air service. A side benefit of increased air service is increased competition, which can lead to lower fares. By adding more flights and more origin markets, airline routes become increasingly competitive. Airlines respond by cutting fares and increasing promotion. For example, we have consistently observed when startups like Hooters Air or Myrtle Beach Direct Air enter a market, the fares charged by existing carriers fall quickly. Beyond tourists, increased air service will benefit local businesses needing convenient flights to other destinations, or seeking to bring their employees and clients here. Too often, we hear local businesses comment how they choose to use other regional airports due to price or availability. By expanding air service into the Grand Strand, we can greatly increase the number of departures out of our local airport. How do we grow air service into the Myrtle Beach area? First, we must have the necessary infrastructure. We fully support the current expansion plan underway at Myrtle Beach International Airport, a sensible approach that will not require an increase in the fees charged to airlines. While the funding is not finalized, we believe this expansion plan is important and necessary. Marketing air service is equally important. While our marketing budget in 2009 has declined, we continue to dedicate as much as we can afford to promote the destination in markets where we have current or emerging direct air service. We also benefit from our marketing partnership with Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. During the past two years, we have made several joint trips to meet with airlines serving our community, as well as other airlines not currently serving our community. These efforts have paid off in 2009, with a new airline and new routes being added is a challenging year for each of us. Growing air service has never been easy, and it won t get any easier this year. But we recognize this is a high priority for Grand Strand businesses, so it remains a high priority for the chamber. If you have ideas on how we can grow our air service, feel free to contact us. And if you are interested in serving on our Air Service Task Force, a joint team effort between the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, please join us. Together, we can make a difference. Brad Dean President & CEO Airport Arrivals Arrivals 766, , , , ,

8 Grand strander Leadership that stretches beyond the mold LGS now in its 30th year Have you ever been a part of something greater than the individuals involved? Was it meaningful? Did you stay bonded with those sharing your experience even after it ended? While a lot of people will answer yes and recall a birth of a child or another personal event, a growing number of local residents reminiscence about their time spent in Leadership Grand Strand. Leadership Grand Strand is absolutely the best experience for anyone who is interested in learning more about the Grand Strand or becoming more involved as a volunteer, said Debbie Conner, Ph.D., who graduated from Class XXI and is associate vice president of university relations at Coastal Carolina University. The memories and the friendships made during the program are unforgettable. Leadership Grand Strand takes 30 class members through a life-changing experience impacting them on a professional and personal level, said Class XXV graduate Diana Greene, IOM, executive director of Leadership Grand Strand and executive vice president of membership programs & services. LGS graduates walk away with a comprehensive knowledge of the Myrtle Beach area and a whole new group of friends. With an alumni roster of more than 800 individuals, including Georgetown and Horry counties solicitor J. Gregory Hembree (Class XVI), and Mary Jeffcoat, owner of Long Bay Computer Services, previous member of the Myrtle Beach City Council ( ) and a graduate of LGS Class I, this program has proven to be an asset to the community and society. If you look at our impressive list of graduates, you will find most of them have taken on leadership roles in the community or have risen to the top in their careers. Either way, they are having a positive impact within the community, noted Class XXI graduate Shannon Camp, chairwoman of the LGS board of regents, and systems and information analyst with The Jackson Companies. Are you up for the challenge? Leadership Grand Strand is now accepting applications for its 30th class year. Commitment to participating in LGS centers on involvement. Those who choose to apply should realize the significant time commitment involved. Participation involves a mandatory orientation in August, an overnight retreat in September, one full-day (8 hours) session per month from October to May, and 100 hours of community service projects. Applicants must be able to fulfill program attendance requirements in order to graduate. The selection committee seeks diversity in the makeup of the LGS class in regard to age, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic factors and business. Candidates should exhibit an interest in civic involvement and have a history of voluntary leadership. LGS Class XXIX learns the history of Brookgreen Gardens during one of its monthly excursions. LGS application online Applications for the Leadership Grand Strand program are available online at LeadershipGrandStrand.com. Tuition is $890 with two $445 scholarships available. Application deadline is June 30. For more information, visit LeadershipGrandStrand.com or contact Greene at LGS@VisitMyrtleBeach.com or (843) Leadership Grand Strand is sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. 8

9 Grand strander As I ve always written, a Web site is the foundation of any lasting online presence, so I applaud those of you who currently have Web sites. But like every marketing effort, there comes a time for change, and that time is when your audience and market changes. Despite the fact that your Web site had all the bells and whistles for a mid-nineties design like an intro, animated gifs, and a classy soundtrack set on repeat on every page those same bells and whistles might not be wowing the crowds like they used to. In fact, they might be leaving your Web site in droves; just check your bounce rate. (Don t know what this is? Read below.) Taking Care of Business Programs and services to help small businesses grow and succeed. Page Compliments of DSL Marketing. Web site R.I.P. Knowing when it s time to redesign that old Web site First of all, understand that redesign does not simply mean making your Web site look better. Aesthetic value is relative, so the look of your Web site shouldn t be the only deciding factor when considering a redesign. Rather, the two most important elements to consider are functionality and compatibility. Functionality is a measure of what your users expect, and compatibility is the percentage of likelihood that your Web site will format correctly. As for functionality, Web surfers expect more and more out of Web products, especially Web sites. Videos are all the craze, flash design, the ability to purchase (e-commerce), photo galleries, forums, blogs and other Web 2.0 elements these are just the beginning. Many of these were recently invented and implemented, and all of them are continually improved upon. Your Web site should upgrade with the times. As for compatibility, put it this way: All the major Internet browsers come out with quarterly updates and yearly upgrades. Each new element and version of a browser could negatively affect the way your Web site renders or formats in that browser. This doesn t even take into account the fact that new browsers (enter Chrome) are created that your original Web site didn t even take into account. And browsers aren t the only products that have standards. Don t forget about the fact that the search engines have quality guidelines that continually change making your Web site s level of optimization relative to those changes. The list goes on. Bottom line, if your Web site is working for your company (capturing leads and creating sales) and you know for a fact that your Web site formats just fine in all the browsers, the code structure is in line with search engine quality guidelines, and you ve periodically added those functional elements that your audience loves and expects then don t redesign it. But that s a tall order. R.I.P., See Page

10 Grand Hurricane Preparedness Conference and Expo The 4th Annual Hurricane Preparedness Conference and Expo will be held June 1 at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Horry County Emergency Management are kicking off hurricane season with an expo that focuses on Preparedness Begins With YOU. The event is free. The first 300 people to register will receive a complimentary lunch courtesy of Santee Cooper. Go online to ChamberAcademy.com for a full description of sessions and to register. Agenda 8-9 a.m. Registration, Vendor Booths and Complimentary Continental Breakfast 9-9:15 a.m. Welcome ~ Brad Dean, President and CEO, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, and Paul Whitten, Director, Horry County Public Safety 9:15-10:15 a.m. General Session ~ Steve Pfaff, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, SKYWARN Storm Spotters, National Weather Service 10:15-10:45 a.m. Break ~ Hall of Fame Area ~ Vendor Booths 10:30-11:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions Preparing Your Pets Local veterinarians explain what you can do to prepare your pets for emergency evacuation. Volunteer Organizations Find out what volunteer organization do for hurricane preparedness and what you can do to help. Evacuation Education What you need to know about evacuation zones and sheltering. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunch provided by Santee Cooper. Presentation: Up Close and Personal With Your Local Meteorologists 12:30-12:45 p.m. Break ~ Hall of Fame Area ~ Vendor Booths 12:45-2:15 p.m. General Session ~ Hurricane Katrina: The Untold Stories. Presented by City of Gulfport, MS Brent Warr, Mayor 2:15-2:25 p.m. Break ~ Hall of Fame Area ~ Vendor Booths 2:25-3 p.m. Wrap-up ~ Randall S. Webster, Director, Horry County Emergency Management R.I.P. Continued From Page 9 The trick is how do you know that your Web site is working? Through Web analytics of course. Using quality Web analytics software gives you the ability to track the success of your Web site, in terms of both functionality and compatibility. From your Web analytics data, you can closely monitor your visitors, their length of stay, the number of pages they browsed, and their bounce rate (if they came and left on the same page). So before going through the investment of a redesign, dive into your analytics, and use the information to maximize your efforts. Analyzing this data can be a daunting and time-consuming task, so make sure you re up for it. If you re not, you may want to contact a qualified interactive company that can help lead the way. Editor s Note: Article courtesy of DSL Marketing. For all marketing questions, please visit DSLMarketing.com. Sponsored by: 10

11 Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau INSIDER 2009 Myrtle Beach Visitation Outlook findings revealed by Wendy Bernstein, MBACC research manager On Feb. 11, 2009, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted a meeting at the Island Vista Resort for all CVB members. The members received a wealth of information to assist them in their 2009 marketing efforts. In January 2009, the chamber commissioned Equation Research to conduct a study on destination metrics and travel planning trends. Equation Research Chairman John Pelletier presented the CVB members with the results of the study, highlighting several key points on how to salvage something out of this year and this economic turmoil. In the survey, the participants were asked about their leisure vacation plans in Half of the participants (recent visitors) had visited the Myrtle Beach area in the last two years while the other half (prospective visitors) had visited more than two years ago or never. Participants viewed a list of U.S. vacation destinations and were asked which three locations they would like to visit most. The recent visitors ranked Myrtle Beach as their No. 1 choice, while the prospective visitors ranked Myrtle Beach as their No. 3 choice. The participants were then asked about any advertising they had seen in the last six months. Myrtle Beach ranked at the top amongst its competitors in advertising awareness. Both groups also were asked how interested they were in visiting the Myrtle Beach area. Ninty-one percent of the recent visitors expressed interest in visiting and 65 percent of the prospective visitors expressed interest. The survey participants were asked about any negative factors that may impact their leisure vacation plans in Not surprisingly, the top five factors (in order of importance) were: uncertainty of the economy/recession, a decrease in disposable income, rising fuel prices, time availability and uncertainty about job/job market. These exact top five negative factors also were given by travelers who stated they were cutting back on their leisure travel plans in The areas in which the traveler will cut back the most are: spending during travel (eating out, attractions, shopping), cutting back on the trips or staying closer to home, and taking fewer trips or staying in less expensive accommodations. Ultimately what this means for the Myrtle Beach area is a combination of good news and bad news. The study shows that 9 out of 10 travelers are open to visiting a new destination, which makes the 65 percent of prospective travelers a great pool to draw from. On the same token, it also means that our 91 percent of recent visitors also are open to visiting a new destination. Pelletier noted that the only time a change in market share occurs is during a down economy. Therefore, it is not only important for the Myrtle Beach area to April 2009 The most powerful incentives are a free night stay, discounted travel packages and discounted airfare Travel Planning Study continue pursuing prospective visitors, but it is also imperative that we pursue our repeat visitors as well. Our competitors will be advertising as much as possible to try and capture a portion of the Myrtle Beach area s current market share, and if we loose market share now it could take up to five years to regain it. Pelletier stated the window of opportunity to capture that market share was the next 90 days and the clock is ticking. A complete copy of the Myrtle Beach 2009 Travel Planning Study is available on the chamber s Web site at under the heading Myrtle Beach 2009 Visitation Outlook. You ll also find a copy of a study conducted by Dr. Don Schunk, research economist at Coastal Carolina University, showing the effects a decrease in tourism would have on the Grand Strand. The presentation is titled Tourism Recession and the Implications for Grand Strand Tourism. VisitMyrtleBeach.com April 2009

12 INSIDER Convention & Visitors Bureau Horry County Admissions Tax -9.4% 30% 14.5% -14.2% 13.7% 19.2% 22.1% 15.7% -26.8% -4.5% 1.8% -0.2% Jan 08 Feb 08 Mar 08 Apr 08 May 08 Jun 08 Jul 08 Aug 08 Sep 08 Oct 08 Nov 08 Dec 08 $367,644 $390,470 $963,882 $1,020,330 $906,616 $1,252,890 $1,396,305 $1,458,563 $556,258 $617,133 $621,607 $366,849 Georgetown County Admissions Tax -18.1% -2.3% 4.8% 4.5% -8.9% 43.4% -16.4% -38.5% 16.8% -27.2% 19.9% -25% Jan 08 Feb 08 Mar 08 Apr 08 May 08 Jun 08 Jul 08 Aug 08 Sep 08 Oct 08 Nov 08 Dec 08 $48,748 $72,874 $137,010 $163,714 $117,158 $63,804 $44,241 $70,375 $61,920 $116,165 $76,208 $36,563 Horry County Accommodations Tax Collection 1.2% -1.3% 13.5% 28.8% -16% 1.6% -30.7% -7.3% 5% 1.4% -7.6% -29.5% Jan 08 Feb 08 Mar 08 Apr 08 May 08 Jun 08 Jul 08 Aug 08 Sep 08 Oct 08 Nov 08 Dec 08 $260,477 $483,866 $871,658 $1,109,237 $1,461,127 $2,592,125 $3,344,604 $2,658,074 $933,300 $669,689 $456,076 $256,469 Georgetown County Accommodations Tax Collection -8.3% -8.0% 6.4% -15.9% -18.1% -22.2% 110.2% -6.6% -3.9% 25.1% 9.5% 18.3% Jan 08 Feb 08 Mar 08 Apr 08 May 08 Jun 08 Jul 08 Aug 08 Sep 08 Oct 08 Nov 08 Dec 08 $20,492 $30,091 $55,457 $71,368 $107,792 $257,285 $324,617 $284,645 $91,491 $56,834 $40,974 $67,004 Percentages Shown Are Percent Change From Previous Year Percentages Shown Are Percent Change From Previous Year Horry County Gross Retail Sales 0.2% 3.5% -9.3% -12.2% 2.3% -1.4% -11.8% -5.1% -20.3% -11.3% -9.9% -16.2% Percentages Shown Are Percent Change From Previous Year Jan 08 Feb 08 Mar 08 Apr 08 May 08 Jun 08 Jul 08 Aug 08 Sep 08 Oct 08 Nov 08 Dec 08 $515,922,875 $577,862,905 $688,707,198 $766,145,587 $753,100,480 $937,117,351 $1,094,705,034 $918,607,616 $672,118,686 $563,572,991 $540,606,805 $562,613,878 Georgetown County Gross Retail Sales 24.6% 9.2% -3.4% -6% -18.3% -2.6% -9.8% 7.7% -8.1% -0.1% 1.0% -6.9% Jan 08 Feb 08 Mar 08 Apr 08 May 08 Jun 08 Jul 08 Aug 08 Sep 08 Oct 08 Nov 08 Dec 08 $85,505,443 $97,356,306 $101,819,490 $122,014,295 $107,245,704 $158,176,300 $152,022,635 $124,347,100 $111,954,396 $97,503,863 $90,491,183 $93,967,746 For more information regarding additional research conducted by the chamber, contact Wendy Bernstein at Source: S.C. Departments of PRT and Revenue, April 2009 VisitMyrtleBeach.com

13 Unique User Sessions January FEBRUARY Change Jan 217, , % Feb 215, , % Advertiser Referrals January FEBRUARY Rate JAN 347, , % FEB 358, , % Category Referrals Percent of Referral Clicks vs. Total Lodging 66.79% 69.29% Amusements 16.99% 12.42% Theaters 4.45% 4.07% Dining 2.94% 3.59% Shopping 1.54% 1.73% Watersports 0.67% 1.05% Weddings 0.53% 0.45% Golf 1.76% 1.75% Additional Services 0.13% 0.18% Other 4.20% 5.47% Convention & Visitors Bureau * YTD - January 1 - February 28 Percent Occupancy Percent per Room Week* (Jan. 25, March 7, 2009) 36.07% 33.47% Source: For more information, contact: Bill.Rosenthal@VisitMyrtleBeach.com Dollars Average Daily Rate per room Week* (Jan. 25, March 7, 2009) $52.99 $52.30 Arrivals December Airport Arrivals INSIDER Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun % 53.01% 64.18% 69.10% 60.85% 74.59% % 49.96% 62.09% 60.00% 58.93% 72.96% Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec % 75.78% 62.40% 54.25% 39.86% 24.74% % 73.73% 52.17% 55.87% 39.88% 25.22% Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 2007 $55.95 $71.90 $83.94 $98.29 $ $ $58.54 $73.02 $88.87 $95.87 $ $ Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 2007 $ $ $93.15 $76.80 $68.82 $ $ $ $83.14 $77.98 $69.80 $ Change Arrivals 46,552 39, % *Dr. Taylor Damonte, Director Clay Brittain, Jr. Center for Resort Tourism Coastal Carolina University tdamonte@coastal.edu Source: Horry County Department of Airports Help us Help you Provide data to CCU By sending in your weekly numbers, you will be providing valuable data that helps us to keep updated information. For more information, please contact Dr. Taylor Damonte, director of Clay Brittain, Jr. Center for Resort Tourism at Coastal Carolina University, tdamonte@coastal.edu. VisitMyrtleBeach.com April 2009

14 INSIDER Convention & Visitors Bureau Co-op Corner The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce advertising co-ops provide an opportunity to take advantage of negotiated discounted rates in order to stretch ad budgets. The range of co-ops available include a variety of online promotions, blasts, magazines and newspaper inserts. Also, the chamber will provide online creative support if needed by participants. To learn more about these opportunities and to find the right fit for your marketing program, contact Lynne Boykin, Brandon Advertising and Public Relations, at (843) or lboykin@brandonadvertising.com. For a complete list of co-ops, go to and click on Marketing Strategies. Space is limited for each opportunity and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure the discounted rates, each co-op must sell out in order for it to run. Note: In order to participate, members must contribute $1 per rented room night for lodging members or a 1 percent marketing fee or a nonparticipating advertising cost for activities and dining members. Group Co-op Going on Faith June/July 2009 Going on Faith is published as a news and idea source for travel directors for religious groups. Editorial includes coverage of destinations, special events and sources of planning information. Circulation: 6,000 Ad Size: 3 x Material Deadline: 05/01/2009 Ad Cost: $320, six spots available Interactive Co-op AAAJourneys.com June 2009 AAA Journeys features articles on regional and world travel, area history, auto safety, highway and transportation news, and consumer issues. Added Value: Click-thru to Web site or splash page. Inclusion in a 1,000 word story. One photograph placed within story. 25,000 impressions per participant. Circulation: Connecticut, Southwestern Ohio, Eastern Kentucky, Kansas and West Virginia Ad Size: 125x350 pixels Material Deadline: 05/01/2009 Taking the show on the road by Danna Lilly, CMP Myrtle Beach Area CVB director of sales For group business, the Myrtle Beach area is one of those destinations that fit into the Seeing is Truly Believing philosophy. And with time restraints that so many group planners fall under, there s not always time to take two or three days out of the office to research a destination. So, the group division of your CVB has been doing the next best thing... taking the show on the road to planners. Between mid-january and mid-march, your Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has hosted five events for groups of planners in Atlanta, Ga., Charlotte, N.C., and Washington, D.C. During each event, the CVB staff addressed each group, educated them on the value of Myrtle Beach and shared a fabulous destination video. When we hear the Wow, I had no idea that Myrtle Beach had so much to offer, then we know that we had made an impression. From there, it s further conversation, follow up and more follow up leading to the hopeful end result of bringing the planner to the Myrtle Beach area with a group of visitors Several CVB members have joined us for these successful events where we personally touched approximately 1,500 industry professionals. If you would like to learn how your business can help take the Myrtle Beach area show on the road, contact Danna Lilly, CMP, Myrtle Beach Area CVB director of sales, at Danna.Lilly@ VisitMyrtleBeach.com or (843) Where in the world is the CVB? April 1-2 Affordable Meetings Chicago, IL Mid-America April 4-8 Travel South Kissimmee, FL April 16 Greater Washington Society of Washington, D.C. Association Executives April National Association of Sports Commissions Denver, CO The CVB is busy this month welcoming eight groups with 901 attendees. Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Insider is published monthly by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, 1200 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach, SC If you have story ideas or questions, please contact Pat Creed, membership programs manager and CVB member liaison, at Pat.Creed@VisitMyrtleBeach.com or (843) Printed by Inlet Printing Co. April 2009 VisitMyrtleBeach.com

15 Grand strander Hire Legal... it s the law After lengthy debate and much public pressure, the general assembly passed the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act last May and it was signed into law by Gov. Mark Sanford on June 4, This new set of laws, intended to curb the practice of employing illegal immigrants, impacts all private employers in South Carolina. These new requirements are in addition to, and not in place of, the existing federal requirements. Beginning July 1, 2009, private employers doing business in South Carolina will be assigned a South Carolina employment license, authorizing the employer to employ individuals in South Carolina. The new law requires employers to comply with all requirements set forth by the new legislation, otherwise their employment license will be revoked and they will no longer What Makes an ambassador Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce ambassadors are volunteers who enjoy meeting new people and spending time with other professionals. Ambassadors act as the official goodwill greeters between the chamber and our current and prospective members. Their responsibilities include one-on-one visitations with chamber businesses, event networking and support of various community projects. Why become a chamber ambassador? As an ambassador, you will gain business exposure by being the first to meet chamber members and put your company s name in the forefront. By volunteering at chamber events and attending the monthly ambassador be able to legally employ workers in our state. The existing federal statutes, which require completion of the I-9 form, remain in effect and do not change. In addition to meeting the federal requirements, private employers in South Carolina can either: (A) Register to use the E-Verify work authorization program which enables an employer to verify work status of each new employee within five business days after hiring the employee. When using this system, employers are provisionally hiring each new employee until his/her work authorization has been verified, and must submit each new employee s name and information for verification; or (B) Employ only workers who possess a valid S.C. drivers license or state-issued ID card or meetings, your business is kept current on what is going on within the chamber and community. As an added bonus, you and your company are eligible for monthly and yearly award recognition. Do you have what it takes? If you meet the criteria mentioned above and are interested in becoming a chamber ambassador, contact Pat Creed, membership programs manager, at (843) or Pat.Creed@VisitMyrtleBeach.com. are eligible to receive such. Exceptions are made for employees who have relocated from other states to South Carolina. Employers are encouraged to adopt the new procedures as soon as possible; larger businesses with 100+ employees must comply with these new requirements by July 2009; smaller employers have an additional 12 months to comply. For more information, contact the Employment Security Commission (SCES.org) or a labor law attorney for more information. While most businesses never intend to hire illegal employees, the penalties for doing so are far more strict and severe than in the past. It is imperative that you, as a business, seek to comply with these new statutes. Applause to Laurie Dobis with Innovative Hiring Technology (IHT)/Grand Strand Inc., who earned the second highest points for February. Dobis is serving her first year as an ambassador. Ambassador of the Month Congratulations to David Powers with Ocean Breeze Awnings & More, who earned Ambassador of the Month for February. Powers is serving his first year as an ambassador

16 Grand strander Winners announced for Incredible Customer Experience Awards The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners for its third annual Incredible Customer Experience (ICE) Awards. Awards were presented during an elegant celebration at The Palace Theatre. ESPN broadcaster and actor Mitch Laurance along with Ewa Mataya Laurance, reigning International and World Cup Trick Shot champion and holder of multiple World and U.S. Open 9-ball titles, served as emcees at this year s ICE Awards. The ICE Awards consist of 10 categories with an individual and business winner in each category, for a total of 20 winners. Each winner was presented with a 12-inch engraved crystal award. Amusement/Entertainment Business: Myrtle Beach Pelicans Individual: Mary Williams, House of Blues Communications Business: WBTW News 13 Individual: Richard Green, Time Warner Cable (2008 winner) Dining Business: Chick-fil-A of Surfside Beach Individual: George Clark, Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort Financial Business: Atlantic Bank & Trust Individual: Kim Smith, Atlantic Bank & Trust Lodging Business: Springmaid Beach Resort Individual: Pam Reis, Crown Reef Resort & Conference Center Nonprofit Business: Grand Strand Miracle League Individual: Bob Jewell, Brookgreen Gardens Professional Business: Discover Chiropractic (2007 and 2008 winners) Individual: Ian McClure, Atlantic Physical Therapy Real Estate Business: Century 21 Broadhurst and Associates Inc. Individual: Paige Bird, RE/MAX Ocean Forest Retail Business: EmbroidMe (2008 winner) Individual: Sallie Hinson, CVS Pharmacy, Store 3567 Services Business: FSA Full Steam Ahead Inc. Fire and Water Restoration (2008 winner) Individual: Linda McDaniel, A&I Fire & Water Restoration We congratulate all the winners and nominees who help make the Myrtle Beach area a great place to live, work and play, said Greg Everett, president, Myrtle Beach Funeral Home & Crematory, and president and publisher, Myrtle Beach Herald. The ICE Awards are the Academy Awards of customer service. This is truly the Myrtle Beach event of the year. Go to MyrtleBeachICEAwards.com to see more of the winners photos. Atlantic Bank & Trust took home both the business and individual award at this year s ICE Awards. 12

17 Grand Economic Indicators strander Residential construction permits DECEMBER 2008 Location Myrtle Beach Unincorporated North Myrtle Beach Surfside Beach Georgetown County Single Family Units Single Family Units Cost $237,813 $7,139,463 $1,305,110 $266,003 $2,732,452 Multi-Family Bldgs Multi-Family Units Multi-Family Bldgs. Cost $0 $0 $4,457,547 $0 $0 Sally Hinson with CVS Pharmacy walked away with the individual retail ICE Award. The ICE Awards were brought to you by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and the Hospitality Partnership. This magnificent event was made possible through the generous support of Coastal Engravers Inc., HTC, Inlet Affairs Banquet and Catering, Myrtle Beach Funeral Home & Crematory, Myrtle Beach Herald, WBTW News 13, WMBF News and WPDE NewsChannel 15. Residential construction permits DECEMBER 2007 Location Myrtle Beach Unincorporated North Myrtle Beach Surfside Beach Georgetown County Single Family Units Single Family Units Cost $6,171,155 $19,743,319 $3,073,114 $331,000 $3,603,396 Multi-Family Bldgs Multi-Family Units Multi-Family Bldgs. Cost $3,777,999 $0 $14,709,905 $0 $0 Additional Economic Indicators Monthly statistics for the following economic indicators can be found in the CVB Insider special section of the Grand Strander: Accommodations Tax Collections Admissions Tax Airport Activity Gross Retail Sales Sources: Bureau of the Census, S.C. Employment Commission 13 13

18 Business Bulletin Grand strander On the Web AvidCast Inc. announced the launch of two Myrtle Beach Area Chamber member Web sites, Always In Touch Massage, alwaysintouchmassage.com and Crystalite Café, crystalitedining.com. Inside Tracks Coldwell Banker Chicora Real Estate announced that Marie Williams and Ronnie Williams have joined the Surfside Beach office. Pawleys Golf & Country Club has named Riley Kinlaw the new head golf professional. Kinlaw will manage the dayto-day operations of the resort s pro shop and its Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, as well as plan all member and guest tournaments. In addition, he will be responsible for coordinating with the golf course superintendent to ensure top-notch course conditions, as well as motivating staff to maintain the high level of customer service that guests of Pawleys Plantation have come to expect. Stephanie Griffin and Jackie Ketchem have joined South Atlantic Bank s growing staff. Griffin will serve as a teller working between both the Main and South Strand branches. Ketchem holds a South Carolina Real Estate License and is a South Carolina Insurance Producer, licensed in property, casualty, surety and marine. Bob Peyton is the new general manager of SunCruz Myrtle Beach. continuing education Sales associates from Coldwell Banker Chicora Real Estate recently attended Mortgage 101, a class sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mortgage. Sales associates attending and receiving certificates were: Cindy Senatore, Jan Buess, Gary Little and Dick Anthony, Surfside Beach office; and Erin Bishop, Fred Kane, Jackie Cooper and Chris Long, Carolina Forest office. Coldwell Banker Chicora Real Estate announced that the American Real Estate University has recognized Dick Anthony of The Dick and Vick Team (Surfside Beach office), and Michele Nelson and Donna Bunting (North Myrtle Beach office) as REO Specialists, a designation that requires an intensive course of study and examination to complete. Less than one percent of all real estate licensees have earned this recognition. Coldwell Banker Chicora Real Estate announced that Jan Buess of the Surfside Beach office recently passed her South Carolina Broker s examination. Prior to undertaking the broker s examination, licensed associates must complete 150 hours of specialized real estate training and must have practiced a minimum of three years as a Realtor. Gerrie Watson, CCIM, president of Myrtle Beach Commercial Real Estate Inc., was named a Certified Mediator from the National Association of REALTORS. Mediation lets the parties take control of the outcome of their dispute vs. letting a third party decide the outcome. Cheers AAF-Coastal Carolinas presented local advertising and marketing professional Milton Miles, vice president of marketing with The Sun News, with the Silver Medal Award at its annual ADDY Gala. The Silver Medal Award honors individuals for their outstanding contributions to advertising and who have been active in furthering the industry s standards, creative excellence, and responsibility in areas of social concern. The 2008 Miss Myrtle Beach Pageant and Miss Myrtle Beach Teen Pageant was held in honor of William Billy Alford, vice president of A&I Fire and Water Restoration. Alford received the Miss Myrtle Beach Pageant Community Leadership and Achievement award and was recognized for his community service and continued dedication to Coastal Carolina University. In addition, Alford was recently honored for his outstanding leadership in transportation. Alford was lauded by Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, Sen. Lindsey Graham, members of the Horry County Legislative Delegation and highway officials for his Bridge to Nowhere idea, which led to the eventual construction of the Conway Bypass and Carolina Bays Parkway. AvidCast was named Internet Marketing Firm of the Year by the Myrtle Beach Herald. Century 21 Real Estate LLC recently recognized Century 21 Boling & Associates with the Double Centurion Office Award for production. The Double Centurion Award is given to Century 21 System offices that achieve or surpass a certain volume of sales production within a calendar year. Individual agents from Century 21 Boling & Associates also have been recognized for receiving awards. Traci Miles received the Centurion Producer Award for her Individual Sales Production. Other agents recognized for 2008 sales production as Top Producers were Danny Baxley, Gene Heidt, Glenn Hellofs, Wendy Hodges and Shaun Milligan. Hodges also received the Century 21 Quality Service Producer Award for her commitment to customer service and professional excellence. John Draughn (Surfside Beach office), Gary Roberts and Lewis Bowers (Briarcliffe office) of Coldwell Banker Commercial Chicora Real Estate have earned a place in the company s Bronze Level Circle of Distinction based on their transaction revenue for The Circle 14

19 of Distinction is an honor bestowed upon the top 10 percent of ranking producers among Coldwell Banker Commercial professionals. Collins + Company Advertising/Public Relations received two top awards for Best of Print and Best of Show overall at the 2009 American Advertising Federation-Coastal Carolinas (AAFCC) Addy Awards competition. Collins + Company earned 12 Addy Awards overall, including six Silver Addys and four Gold Addys. Work done for clients Coastal Smile Center, Parsons Nursery, World Tour Golf Links and The Carolina Opry was awarded, while the Take Chances print No Dues Hike Continued From Cover Grand strander ad for Dr. Bob Swanson and Coastal Smile Center received Best of Print and Best of Show. The campaign was created and designed by Missy Rothrock, senior art director. Final editing is underway on a series of eight vignettes for the U.S. Treasury Department recently shot on location by Encore Video Productions Inc. The clips will be used for the department s intranet employee training, and four are being considered for release as public service announcements. Rick Coleman and Joey Coleman, owners of the Tabor City Jellystone Park Camp- Resort, have been recognized with the Camp-Resort of the We realize that renewing your chamber membership is not a philanthropic type thing, added Tony Cox, chairman of MBACC s membership committee. There has to be a value proposition for our members. For their investment, member businesses should get something in return. That return will continue to include networking events, educational seminars, advertising opportunities, call center referrals, welcome center brochure racks, Web site links, affinity programs, expos, festivals, pro-business legislation, and much more. Your Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce remains committed as the leading voice of the Grand Strand business community. Year award by the Jellystone Park franchise system. The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Yogi Bear s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort group. The Camp-Resort also won the Carroll Award for receiving the highest inspection rates among all Jellystone Parks. David Powers, Ocean Breeze Awnings & More, received the annual U.S. Chamber of Commerce Blue Ribbon Small Business Award. This was the third year in a row that Ocean Breeze Awnings & More has received this prestigious award. RE/MAX Carolinas has announced calendar year 2008 figures showing that The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber is working harder than ever to uphold its purpose to promote, protect and improve business throughout the Myrtle Beach area, Cox said. We appreciate our members support as we work together toward an optimistic new year. Membership renewals start in May Membership invoices will be mailed to all members May 1 and are due upon receipt. All chamber dues and related expenses are tax deductible as a business expense. As an incentive to renew your membership in May, the chamber is offering: Half-page ad in the 2010 edition of Grand Strand Living a relocation guide for newcomers and a primary business guide for residents (Winner will be responsible for ad creation and all applicable taxes.) Murrells Inlet s RE/MAX By The Sea Realtor Angie Shoemaker was the No. 2 Individual Producer in the state of South Carolina. This is the fifth consecutive year she has been in the top six: No. 6 in 2004, No. 2 in 2005, No. 2 in 2006 and No. 4 in South Atlantic Bank announced the naming of Mary Jo Rogers as Banker of the Year, by the readers of the Myrtle Beach Herald. Share Your News We are asking for your input on what articles and statistics you would like to see in the Grand Strander each month. your ideas to Also be sure to send in your company s news for the monthly Business Bulletin. This section recognizes new employees, staff promotions, relocations and expansions, awards, class and convention attendance, new Web sites, and year-end accomplishments for top real estate producers/sales. Send updates (under 75 words) by the 5th of each month to Kori.Hippe@VisitMyrtleBeach.com, fax (843) Due to limited space, the Business Bulletin does not include employee anniveraries, photos or nonprofit fundraising activities. Membership list on disk Table at Business & Restaurant Expo - March 2010 Two tickets to Annual Meeting October 2009 Two tickets to Legislative Luncheon November 2009 Value Half-Page Grand Strand Living Ad $2,735 Membership Disk 100 Business & Restaurant Expo Table 145 Two Annual Meeting Tickets 90 Two Legislative Luncheon Tickets 70 Grand Total $3,140 If you have questions about MBACC membership renewal, contact Pat Creed, membership programs manager, at Pat.Creed@VisitMyrtleBeach.com or (843)

20 New Members Grand strander A Touch of Class Bakery/Cafe, LLC Restaurant-Bakery Rennay Coleman 4006 Postal Way, Unit F Myrtle Beach, SC (843) (864) AddLogos, LLC Ads-Specialties Jim Mann 6001 S. Kings Hwy. Myrtle Beach, SC (704) (800) addlogos.com AdLav Indoor Advertising Advertising Dave Daniels 6510 Somerset Dr., Ste. 202 Myrtle Beach, SC (843) AdLavIndoor.com Carolina Film Group Video-Film Production Services Ralph McCloud 308-A 76th Ave. N. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) carolinafilmgroup.com Carolina Linen, LLC Linen Supply Service Jerry Nardone 620-A Sandy Ln. Surfside Beach, SC (843) Creative Internet Solutions Internet-Marketing J. Redmon PO Box 2563 Myrtle Beach, SC (843) Diamond Beachside A Taxi Taxicabs Raj Malik rd Ave. S. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) Econo Cleaning Carpet-Rug/Upholstery Cleaner Charlie Ludlam 1684 Coventry Rd. Surfside Beach, SC (252) Holiday Sands at South Beach Vacation Rentals & Beach Homes Erik Marlowe 2501 S. Ocean Blvd. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) HolidaySandsSouth.com Inlet Dental Center, Inc. Dentists Dennis James 9356-C Hwy. 17 Bypass Murrells Inlet, SC (843) Lictchfield Plantation Country Inn Bed & Breakfast Greg Matcher Kings River Rd. Pawleys Island, SC (843) (800) litchfieldplantation.com Myrtle Beach Republican Women Organizations/Clubs Johnnie Bellamy PO Box Myrtle Beach, SC (843) Piedmont Companies, Inc. Developers Sandra Cashion 2667 E. Main St. Lincolnton, NC (704) Quiznos Sub #4668 Restaurant-Fast Casual Randy Long 3290 Hwy. 17 S. Business Murrells Inlet, SC (843) Quiznos.com Quiznos Sub #4861 Restaurant-Fast Casual Randy Long S. Ocean Hwy., Unit 1 Pawleys Island, SC (843) Quiznos.com Quiznos Sub #4862 Restaurant-Fast Casual Randy Long 2000 Coastal Grand Mall Myrtle Beach, SC (843) Quiznos.com Quiznos Sub #9273 Restaurant-Fast Casual Randy Long 3735 Oleander Dr. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) Quiznos.com Regan s Irish Cottage, LLC Gift-Shops Theresa Regan 2834B Howard Ave. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) Solzon Technology Jim Filosa 730 Main St., Ste. 353 North Myrtle Beach, SC (843) solzon.com The Imperial Group International Real Estate-Company Deborah Caruso 4905-C Hwy. 17 Bypass Murrells Inlet, SC (843) theimperialgroupinternational.com The Lowcountry Food Bank Nonprofit Kristen Kennedy 200 S. Broadway St. Myrtle Beach, SC (843) lowcountryfoodbank.org 16