It doesn’t require a considerable amount of imagination to conjure up images of Myrtle Beach. Just as names like Cancun and Daytona essentially sell themselves, Myrtle Beach has evolved to become a standard for vacationers in the Southeast seeking beach lounging, endless recreation and a hotel and restaurant for every budget.
Over the last several decades, this coastal resort city developed rapidly, continuously adding new hotels, trendy restaurants and leisure activities as demand for its long, beautiful beaches and seemingly inexhaustible stable of premium golf courses continued to rise. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, it was the 13th fastest-growing metropolitan area in the country.
But while Myrtle Beach has made quite a name for itself in the leisure market, it is the considerable growth in the meetings market that demands a closer look from planners throughout the U.S. The city today offers close to 90,000 hotel rooms, almost 2,000 restaurants, a huge range of standard and unique meeting venues and a wealth of recreation and activities for every kind of group.
"The choices set us aside from other destinations; we’re like a very large menu for planners to peruse," says Danna Lilly, director of sales for the Myrtle Beach Area CVB. "The diverseness in hotel accommodations, meeting facilities, entertainment, attractions and dining offers options for every price point and allows the planner to assemble the best package for their attendees."
Myrtle Beach’s popularity is due in large part to being the primary hub of the 60-mile Grand Strand, a series of beaches that runs from Georgetown, S.C., to Cape Fear, N.C. The city enjoys a humid subtropical climate, with mild winters and hot summers, making its beach backyard a major draw year-round. And while hotels and restaurants are building at a furious pace to keep up with demand, the city is in lockstep. About halfway through a major overhaul of the downtown waterfront area, Myrtle Beach hopes to unveil its multimillion-dollar, mile-long Oceanfront Boardwalk and Promenade project later this summer.
Ideally placed in the center of the city, the Myrtle Beach Convention Center draws major meetings and events, with 250,000 square feet of flexible space. Of that, there is a 17,000-square-foot ballroom, a 100,000-square-foot exhibition hall and 20 breakout rooms. Attached to the center, the Myrtle Beach Sheraton Convention Center Hotel provides 402 guest rooms, and the complex is only 10 minutes from the Myrtle Beach International Airport.
In a partnership that bodes particularly well for large groups or those requiring different room tiers, Kingston Plantation combines four hotels in one 145-acre site. Comprising a total of 113,000 square feet of meeting space and 1,300 guest rooms, planners can choose among the Embassy Suites Myrtle Beach, Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort, Royale Palm Condominiums and Kingston Plantation Condos. The resort complex also offers 72 holes of golf, a lazy river and pool complex, and a dedicated activities director.
Another solid choice for large groups is the Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort at Grande Dunes, an upscale property with 400 guest rooms and 45,000 square feet of meeting space. Additional highlights include indoor and outdoor pools, upscale restaurants, golf, tennis and a fitness center.
Recreation, namely championship golf, tennis and water sports, is also a highlight at Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, another standout meetings property in the Grande Dunes development. The resort boasts oversized guest rooms and expansive suites, in addition to 15,000 square feet of function space and outdoor areas such as a grand lawn with water and golf course views.
Bay Watch Resort & Conference Center treats groups to a scenic oceanfront location, popular dining and nightlife venues and a variety of meeting and event space.
With 800 guest rooms, the Sea Mist Oceanfront Resort Hotel makes excellent use of its beachfront location, with a number of outdoor venues ideal for receptions and other events. Indoors, the on-site conference center features a three-story atrium and 17,000 square feet of meeting space.
The Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort is a solid choice for groups needing plenty of meeting space along with quick access to premium golf. The resort offers 20,000 square feet of meeting space and 230 guest rooms, and is adjacent to three of the area’s top-rated golf courses.
Other meetings favorites include Grande Shores Ocean Resort, Avista Resort and Barefoot Resort.
With year-round warm weather, it’s no surprise that the water takes center stage when boardroom business has come to a close. With miles of beaches, waterfront restaurants and bars, and easy access, a simple stroll along the sand and the roar of the surf is enough for many, but there’s plenty more for those who crave it.
Among the waterborne pursuits are parasailing, kayaking, scuba diving, surfing and windsurfing. For more tranquil adventures, groups can bond on dolphin-watching tours, chartered sailboat excursions, sunset cruises and catamaran outings. Deep-sea fishing is also a major draw for Myrtle Beach, and groups can select from a wide range of charter boats.
It might not make sense to pry a group away from the water until you remember that Myrtle Beach is dubbed the "Golf Capital of the World."
"With over 100 golf courses in the area, a meeting without organized (or even spur-of-the-moment) golf is out of the question," Lilly says.
Though Myrtle Beach excels at outdoor fun, there is plenty to do when the weather fails to cooperate. A natural choice, even on the best of days, is the popular Broadway at the Beach. The Broadway part comes from the Palace Theatre, with regular high-caliber plays and musicals. For improv performances of a different nature, a Ripley’s Aquarium features a 330-foot underwater moving walkway for viewing everything from tropical fish to 10-foot sharks. Other features include an amusement park, a NASCAR SpeedPark, a zip-line course and an IMAX 3-D theater. Supporting all of this entertainment are close to 20 restaurants, a dozen bars and four hotels.
Though a long way from Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach offers gaming excitement for groups that want to head out to sea. The Big "M" Casino, a luxury gaming yacht, departs year-round into international waters and offers dining, entertainment and gaming.
Despite its reputation for the simple pleasures of sun and surf, Myrtle Beach breeds a fair amount of sophistication as well. The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is a great destination for groups, with 10 galleries and several options for hosting events and small meetings. For a hands-on experience of Myrtle Beach’s past, the new L.W. Paul Living History Farm brings to life Horry County as it was during the first half of the 20th century. Visiting groups learn how to make lye soap, cure meat and milk cows (or just watch).
The Carolina Opry, voted the top show in the state for several decades, offers groups an eclectic medley of music, along with comedy and dance. The modern, 2,200-seat theater also offers special group rates.
voted the top show in the state for several decades, offers groups an eclectic medley of music, along with comedy and dance. The modern, 2,200-seat theater also offers special group rates.
voted the top show in the state for several decades, offers groups an eclectic medley of music, along with comedy and dance. The modern, 2,200-seat theater also offers special group rates.
Hunter Holcombe is a freelance writer who covers leisure travel and the meetings, conventions and incentives industry.
