♦ NORTH MYRTLE BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ♦ CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU ♦ SEPT 2009 ♦ Dear Member, From the Desk of Our President Tourism and Hospitality is the Over the last ninety days, perhaps place. Internet inquiries rose 70% city’s number one industry. As you have read about the special during that time. In June alone, the “Designated Marketing Or- Advertising and Marketing Blitz the chamber distributed close to ganization” for marketing and Campaign we initiated with the 40,000 Visitor’s Guides and a to- promoting the community nation- financial support of the City of tal of 81,000 over the 3-month ally and internationally with the North Myrtle Beach. period. This compares to 47,000 support of Accommodations Tax one year ago for the same 3 dollars, your North Myrtle Beach Realizing the downturn in our months. Chamber of Commerce, Conven- nation’s economy, and the nega- tion & Visitors Bureau, advocates tive projections made for this Overall inquiry types were up a strong partnership with the city summer’s tourism business, the even more. Hotel-Motel inquiries and county to help assure that the city agreed to grant the chamber rose by 152%; Condos/ Beach business climate at the local level $200,000 with an additional Houses were up 125%; Attrac- remains positive and supportive $50,000 from the chamber’s tions rose by 119%; and Golf was for quality growth and a thriving budget to provide $250,000 for up 72.8%. economy. the campaign. This truly indicates the quality In addition to hospitality and The results were impressive and brand we have all created for tourism, our Business Plan for hopefully you have seen exam- North Myrtle Beach and the huge 2009-2010, includes position ples of these results from the number of potential visitors inter- statements and collaborative ini- number of visitors we have been ested in our location as a family tiatives in support of transporta- fortunate enough to attract to our vacation destination. tion and infrastructure; planning city. This means critically needed and development; education and tax dollars are generated to keep It also says wonders about how workforce; economic develop- our businesses operating and city our full time residents welcome ment; and efficiency of govern- services at optimum levels. these visitors which is so very ment; all aimed at enhancing and much appreciated and important The online marketing campaign, to our success. improving North Myrtle Beach as th which ran from March 15 a premier vacation destination, as th well as a place to live, work, and through July 15 , leveraged the Thank you for all you do to make raise a family. impact of the chamber’s current our community such a wonderful marketing efforts already in place. Inside this issue… Sincerely, Annual Turkey Dinner Drive………………………………………..pg 5 Board of Directors Spotlight……………………………………..….pg 6 R. Marc Jordan, IOM, CCE Henry Brown visits North Myrtle Beach……………………………pg 6 President/CEO North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce North Myrtle Beach Board of Directors Chamber of Commerce Staff Officers Mike Robertson…………………………………Chairman of the Board Marc Jordan President/CEO Damon’s Grill Ed Horton………….…..Immediate Past Chairman/Visitor Center Chair Trina Scabery Executive Assistant Anderson Brothers Bank Rachel Whitley………………………………………………...Treasurer Ann Arnold Chief Financial Officer National Bank of South Carolina Marc Jordan……………………………………………..President/CEO Ruth Anne Ellis Visitor Center Director North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce Ed Prince…………………………………………….Public Policy Chair Marilyn Rinehart Marketing/Advertising Director Prince & Prince Properties Hardy Butler………………………………………...Membership Chair Charlene Lynam Retired Retailer Community/Special Events Director Joyce Thomas……………………………..Marketing/Advertising Chair Century 21 Thomas Realty Vicki Keibler Membership/Sales Director Ron McManus……………………..Community & Special Events Chair Dixie Chicken Fishing Funament Jennifer C. Prince Media/Communications Monroe Baldwin…………………………Economic Development Chair Specialist Myrtle Beach Tours Antonel Neculai Board Members at Large MIS/Marketing Database Manager Bubba Collins Kim B. Dayvault Bubba Collins Insurance Myrtle Beach Mall Jay Drummond John Griggs Operations Assistant Larry Spainhour State Farm Insurance HTC Visitor Center Information John Smithson George Gregory Specialists: Ex-Officio Elliott Realty Sandra Appelbe Jim Eggen Richard Scott Charlotte Bailey Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts Gilmore Entertainment Brenda Brewster Debra Brown Grace Spainhour Dan Moore Jan Ellington Grace Realty Co. DM Development Company Patricia Harrison Tom Staats Betty Mauney Century 21 Barefoot Realty Inc. Joe Flesch Fazelle Scaggs Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort Betty Ann Sharpe Office Volunteers: Jessica Worley Mary Beam Ocean Drive Resort Frances Beck Dottie Brehaut Jean Etheridge Find us on Facebook: Rosemary Hannell Jean Gibson www.facebook.com/people/North-Myrtle-Beach- Lucille Lewis Chamber/100000067578226 Minnie McIntyre Mary Kay Nance 2 Member Spotlight The Signatures Group, Inc. SendOutCards In 1996, with the Internet just getting started, Cara Adams left Kerry Kasotsky is an independent distributor of SendOutCards, a The Post and Courier Display Advertising Department in relationship marketing system. With SendOutCards, businesses Charleston to set out on a new venture, exploring how and what can send customized greeting cards and gifts to their clients and this new internet opportunity could do to promote and expand prospects to build and maintain relationships. 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Other destination cards and its gift catalog has dozens of business-appropriate gifts cities that will be included as well are San Francisco, California, and gift cards. You can store contact data online and receive e- New York City, Las Vegas, Nevada and Orlando, Florida. Linda mail alerts for important events. Once you create your custom Cox is our newest addition as Sales Manager for The Signatures card with SendOutCards, the company prints and stuffs it, adds a Group, Inc. for the Myrtle Beach area. She will be handling all first class stamp, and mails it via the U.S. Postal Service. A gift leisure travel and groups in the Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle is packaged with a custom card in a clear envelope and mailed Beach area from our AccessMyrtleBeach.com city guide and via Priority Mail. All you do is make selections via your local business clients. Give her a call today at (843) 427-4112. SendOutCards account on the internet, and SendOutCards does everything else! There are several SendOutCards packages available with costs and features to fit every budget. For more info contact Kerry at (910) 383-2741 or [email protected]; go to www.sendoutcards.com/ Want to be included in the Member Spotlight? E-mail Jennifer Prince at [email protected] or fax 843-280-2930. Spotlights are on a first come first serve basis and may be edited by staff members SANDPIPER HEATING & Awesome Party Planners and Catering AIR CONDITIONING, LLC Awesome Party Planners and Catering can help you plan your We at Sandpiper Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC would like to next event. Experience the taste, ease, and excitement of letting introduce ourselves to you and tell you a little about what we us assist you on making your event one to remember for a life- offer as a local company. In our ongoing efforts to provide the time. Our professional consultation services can help guide you very best products and services to our customers, we endeavor to from planning to clean up. 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