MBACC/MBAHA Partner Member Benefits
Membership in Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and
the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association
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Membership in these organizations will boost your visibility, deliver added value to your business and 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 including identity and credibility for your business.
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Member Resources |
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- 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.
- MBAHA Managers Guide to Hospitality Services & Products: Offers easy desktop access to member contact information for easy access to products and services
- Hospitality Hotline Newsletter: Stay abreast and keep informed about industry issues and MBAHA activities
- True Blue employee health Insurance options from BlueCross BlueShield
- Flex-Med Insurance: Full-time, Part-time and seasonal employees and no pre-existing conditional exclusions
- 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.
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce complimentary membership
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce complimentary access to eVoice for 10 or fewer employees
- 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
- Visa, MasterCard, Discover & American Express charge your membership and services
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Chamber Events |
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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.
- Ambassadors meet new clients while contacting members on behalf of the chamber
- Time Warner/HBO Hospitality Classic Golf Tournament
- Gold Star of Excellence Awards: Presented annually by MBAHA for achievement of a “Spotless Reputation in Cleanliness”
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Education Programs |
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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.
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Marketing Strategies |
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- 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. More than 300,000 visitors, vacationers and locals stop at our welcome centers each year
- “Chamber TV” have your 30 second commercial continually before visitors in three welcome centers
- Backlit display ads in Aynor Welcome Center where many visitors access these for “things to do” and “places to stay”
- 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 Stay & Play® 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
- 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.
- The Myrtle Beach Visitor Guide MBAHA Visitor Guide distributed through travel shows and welcome centers
- Event sponsorship opportunities including monthly events
- Festival sponsorships including Sun Fun Festival, Christmas Towne, Celebration Expo (featuring the Can-Am Welcome Reception and Business & Restaurant Expo), Grand Strand Fishing Rodeo and Take a Kid Fishing Day
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Government Relations |
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- Government relations on legislative issues affecting the hospitality industry
- GovNet receive the latest legislative updates and learn about our legislative positions in this biweekly e-newsletter.
- Taste of South Carolina Legislative Luncheon with elected officials at the State House in Columbia is the hospitality industry’s day to impress lawmakers and as a statewide group, lobby for favorable legislation.
- Legislative Alerts
- Annual MBAHA Candidates Forum televised by Time Warner
- COMBO Council of Myrtle Beach Organizations Board
- Governmental Affairs Programs
- South Carolina Travel & Tourism Coalition
- Members receive the benefit of “strength in numbers,” Everyday our Partnership is expressing our concerns on important issues that affect your business to state legislators and officials in your community
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