Grand Strand fares better than other destinations in bad economy

There’s good news for the Grand Strand when it comes to tourism. In a press conference held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center Tuesday, members of the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association said the area faired much better compared to other popular vacation destinations so far this year. The theme was “Good news in a Bad economy.“

“The marketing that has happened, the effort of the local hoteliers and the local politicians to make sure of this economy that we have in Myrtle Beach which is driven greatly by tourism is well taken cared of in the best possible way during tough economic time,” said Bob Barenburg, Managing Director with Hilton Hotel Corporation.

Local hotelier Todd Race VP of sales and marketing with Wyndham Vacation Resorts said that their occupancy rate is up 2% compared to last year with the other same named resorts nationwide.

Race said it’s mostly thanks to the beach being a convenient ‘drive to destination.’

“People tend to take a look at their values within their family and they value time together more than even before so vacationers are right there so our product the Wyndham Vacation Resorts has a very high value proposition in times like this because it delivers exactly what people are looking for which is more time with the people that mean the most to them,” said Race.

Stephen Greene President and CEO of MBAHA said that the recent one sales tax has also helped the Grand Strand put its best face forward.

“The increase in advertising dollars obviously more product that we are putting on the beach including additional attractions those like Wonder Works and others that are coming into this beach helped to bring in and redefined the Myrtle Beach area and it also helps to get not only our repeat visitors but new visitors who are coming for the first time,“ Greene said.

With tourism being a large employer for the Grand Strand, Barenburg said that even seasonal jobs though temporary leave a lasting positive impact on the community.

“I have 600 to 700 employees depending on the time of the year…they’re depending on tourism to come in these are the same people that are having their cars repaired that are visiting doctors locally that are shopping in super markets they are depending on myself and on my team and the community to continue to promote tourism because it’s about jobs,“ explained Barenburg.

Greene said that because tourism is so important to the Grand Strand’s economy the hospitality association is launching a website called TourismWorksForUs.com. It’s a website he said that conveys what the local quality of life would be “If there were no tourists”.   

He said he wants the community to visit the website and see how the industry affects them and the Grand Strand’s future.