Vacation Rentals Member Benefits
Membership in Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce,
the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association and the South Carolina Hospitality Association
______________________________
Membership in these organizations will boost your visibility, identity and credibility and deliver added value to your business as well as enhance our local hospitality industry's lobbying power at the local, state and national levels. To keep our members on the cutting edge of the industry, we offer members many benefits and opportunities.
______________________________
Member Resources |
 |
- Grand Strander, member newsletter, mailed to members monthly. Members also can view it online.
- The Grand Strander Express, a recap of important dates and events, is faxed and e-mailed to members weekly.
- Communications, Newsletters & Updates members receive the association's monthly magazine Hospitality News. Hospitality Snapshot is our weekly e-mail newsletter, keeping you informed of issues and happenings impacting the industry, you and your customers. You will always know what's hot, what's not and what's on the horizon!
- MBAHA Membership Directory and Planner: Offers easy desktop access to member contact information and contains a new built-in planner.
- Hospitality Hotline Newsletter: Stay abreast and keep informed about industry issues and MBAHA activities.
- True Blue employee health Insurance options from BlueCross BlueShield.
- Hospitality Cares Indemnity Health Care benefits program.
- Hospitality Insurance Program members can access an array of insurance products designed for your industry. Members receive great prices and industry-specific coverage on workers compensation, property and casualty, employment practices liability and even employee benefits.
- Communications to stay informed with industry information on local, statewide and national issues.
- Research Department gives you access to research information that will help make your business more profitable. The department publishes the Going into Business in the Myrtle Beach Area brochure, and an annual Myrtle Beach Area Statistical Abstract, also available online, which provides important area statistics, basic demographic and tourism information.
- Member-to-Member Discount Program offers discounts to other members on your products or services. Every member receives an identification card with a brochure naming participating members and the discount available.
- Hospitality Smart Buys HASC has developed a cooperative member-to-member buying program for you! As a member, you can receive special deals and discounts from a variety of supplier members’ products and services. We are committed to serving you by helping add dollars to your bottom line.
- Hospitality Credit Card Processing Heartland Payment Systems offers special pricing and features tailored for your business. In addition to the capability of managing your account information online, be assured that an HPS Relationship Manager is always ready to provide exceptional service.
- Bad Check Recovery Service Fars Marketing offers our members a waiver on their normal $99 enrollment fee and collects 100% of the face value of bad checks and bank fees at no cost.
- Buying Services that save you money on products and services that you already purchase.
- Overnight Mail and Parcel Service receive discounts on overnight letters and package services from United Parcel Service. There are no minimums and you do not have to have a collection box.
- Credit Union you and your staff can take advantage of outstanding financial packages, including checking, savings, ATMs, credit cards and loan services.
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce complimentary membership.
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce complimentary access to eVoice.
- Grand Openings and Ribbon Cuttings for new member businesses.
- Hot Fax Advisories to alert members to crimes being committed against businesses in the area.
- Annual Progress Report
- Hospitality Scholarship Program
- Travel Show Program 15 dynamic consumer travel shows promoting the Myrtle Beach Area.
- Visa, MasterCard, Discover & American Express charge your membership and services.
______________________________
Chamber Events |
 |
Events and programs to network and create new business:
- Business After Hours provides the opportunity for members to make valuable new business contacts in a relaxed, social setting. Sponsored by different chamber members, these monthly casual gatherings offer a great opportunity to exchange business cards and ideas as you meet new business associates and strengthen established ones
- Connections Marketplace a fun way to capture a week’s worth of contacts in less than two hours
- Annual Membership Meeting informational and educational presentations and speakers, the chamber’s year in review and business and individual awards
- President’s Gala honoring Citizen of the Year and Ashby Ward Pioneer of the Year
- I.C.E. Awards Incredible Customer Experience Awards
- Networking & Meeting Opportunities throughout the year members work with members to solve problems, create innovative solutions, and meet common goals. Maximize your network through local, statewide, and national industry gatherings that promote, educate, and represent your interest and your business. Learn and share your ideas at a monthly chapter meeting in Charleston or Columbia, or attend quarterly or regional activities in other areas like Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Rock Hill, Spartanburg, and Greenville.
- Tabletop Expos include Member to Member, North Strand, South Strand, Can-Am Days, monthly meetings with “New Member Table” and “New Member Expo” where you can increase your name recognition, gain exposure for your products and services, generate business leads and meet new customers.
- Annual Hospitality Job Expo heralded as the largest and most successful job expo in South Carolina.
- Chamber Access new member reception with benefits and services overview and networking.
- Monthly membership meetings held at different locations with up-to-the-minute newsworthy topics each month.
- Ambassadors meet new clients while contacting members on behalf of the chamber.
- Time Warner/HBO Hospitality Classic Scholarship Golf Tournament.
______________________________
Education Programs |
 |
Training and education opportunities that improve your business:
- Business Series This series helps businesses learn what they need to know about sales, marketing, advertising, customer service, team building, time management, leadership skills and a host of other important topics.
- Technology Series From Microsoft Office Suite training to Web base marketing, these workshops are designed to keep your business competitive in the fast-paced business world.
- Personal Development Series From health & fitness to stress management and personality profile, this series enables you to put your
best foot forward.
- Hospitality Series These classes are specifically geared to the hospitality industry. From ServSafe training to mastering excellent customer service and efficient check-in procedures, this series will keep your business at the top of their game.
- Hospitality-specific educational opportunities.
- Horry Georgetown Technical College Education Partnership Program.
- Learn key tips on ways to promote your business to groups, conventions and meetings in the Myrtle Beach area .
- Hospitality Education Consortium and Hospitality Education Programs in high schools and higher education.
- Discounts on Training Materials & Seminars.
- Sales & Marketing Training Resources access to videos, CD rom, how-to manuals and other training material. Members receive substantial discounts.
______________________________
Marketing Strategies |
 |
- Member directory listing in Grand Strand Living® relocation/newcomers guide and The Official Myrtle Beach Area Vacation Guide; Advertising in these guides.
- Web site business directory listing on VisitMyrtleBeach.com, MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com, SCHospitality.org and MBHospitality.org with link to your URL.
- Web Site category links under “Where to Stay” from the home page of VisitMyrtleBeach.com.
- Inclusion in the e-Newsletter, which goes to over 875,000 e-mail addresses requesting Grand Strand area vacation information and an e-Postcard, which goes out from one exclusive advertiser twice each month.
- Distribute your brochures through our official welcome centers.
- “Chamber TV” have your 30 second commercial continually before visitors in three welcome centers.
- Member Business Referral Service includes Web site, call center and welcome centers referrals of your business to inquirers.
- Online coupons which can be printed out at welcome centers for visitors.
- “Arm Chair Fams” familiarize welcome centers management and staff with your business so they can give referrals to visitors with accurate information.
- Purchase Membership List on disk or e-mail spreadsheet.
- Mailing Services include Central Mail a direct mail from member sent with The Official Myrtle Beach Area Vacation Guide and Grand Strand Living® Relocation Guide; Inquiry Service Visitor and Relocation Leads send your own direct mailing; Reader Response responses from ads placed in national and Canadian publications, along with reader response cards.
- Web Site category links along with other Web site and e-mail products.
- Convention Bureau group marketing, leads and promotion.
- Partner with the Convention Bureau at group and meeting planner trade shows and consumer shows.
- Advertising in Group Planner Guide and Guide to Meeting Planning.
- Cooperative and consumer trade advertising.
- Event sponsorship opportunities including monthly events.
- Festival sponsorships including Sun Fun Festival, Christmas Towne, Canadian-American Days Festival, Grand Strand Fishing Rodeo and Take a Kid Fishing Day.
- Marketing and Advertising Discounts discounted advertising in Carolina Hospitality the association's bimonthly magazine reaches over 2,100 hotel and lodging companies, as well as members of legislature, media and hundreds of industry suppliers. Members receive a 35% discount. Each edition features a cover story of a restaurant member, a hotel member, a supplier, and a new member spotlight. Also included are marketing tips and industry updates impacting your bottom line. Co-Op Advertising Programs receive advertising discounts by calling HASC. Members receive a 10% discount on individual ads in the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation& Tourism's “Smiles” book, distributed to millions of travelers throughout the world. Receive up to a 50% discount in Leisure Fun magazine and many others.
- South Carolina Sales & Marketing Council the SCS&MC is a group of sales and marketing professionals working together to provide leadership, professional development, and training. Its mission is to raise the level of excellence and encourage the exchange of ideas among sales and marketing professionals for the betterment of the industry and participating members. Don't miss the chance to interact with your peers or attend the next sales seminar. Join SCS&MC today!
- Free Members Listings all Grand Strand area HASC members receive a free listing on SCHospitality.org Web site by company name, phone, address, services, amenities and much more! Our association is consistently seeking additional avenues to maximize member exposure.
- Videos, CD Rom, manuals, seminars and other sales and marketing training resources.
- Member Only Marketing Resources.
______________________________
Government Relations |
 |
- GovNet receive the latest legislative updates and learn about our legislative positions in this biweekly e-newsletter.
- Legislative Luncheon with elected officials.
- Legislative Alerts.
- Annual MBAHA Candidates Forum televised by Time Warner.
- COMBO Council of Myrtle Beach Organizations Board.
- South Carolina Travel & Tourism Coalition.
- Governmental Affairs Programs.
- Members receive the benefit of “strength in numbers,” as the largest combined voice for the foodservice, lodging and tourism industry in South Carolina. Everyday our association is expressing our concerns on important issues that affect your business to state legislators and officials in your community, and even the Halls of Congress. By working together through the association, our members help make sure laws and regulations are not put into effect without a full understanding of their impact on your business.
- Full-time presence representing industry interests and Grand Strand interests by professional lobbyists.
- Southeastern Tourism Society.
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce Travel & Tourism Foundation.
- Travel Industry Association of America.
______________________________ |
