Visit Myrtle Beach Named Top 100 Marketing Team

International recognitions highlight the destination marketing organization's role in attracting visitors to support Myrtle Beach area’s economy

November 2, 2026 — Visit Myrtle Beach has earned a prestigious 2026 OnCon Icon Top 100 Marketing Team Award, placing the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for South Carolina’s Grand Strand among the top marketing teams internationally and across multiple industries.

Established in 2019, the OnCon Icon Awards recognize outstanding professionals and teams worldwide for their success, innovation, thought leadership and community impact.

Visit Myrtle Beach was the only DMO honored on the Top 100 list, highlighting the team's expertise in developing and executing integrated marketing strategies.

Through advertising, digital marketing, public relations, social media and strategic partnerships, the organization promotes the Grand Strand’s 60 miles of coastline and 14 distinct communities, helping attract visitors and support the region's economy.

Additionally, Visit Myrtle Beach's marketing initiatives, developed in partnership with its public relations agency Fahlgren Mortine, earned two 2026 MarCom Awards.

The honors include a Platinum Award for integrated marketing, the competition’s highest level of recognition, and a Gold Award for online placement. The MarCom Awards are administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP) and attract nearly 6,000 entries annually from around the world.

“These are deserved honors for Visit Myrtle Beach, President Stuart Butler and the talented professionals who work every day to showcase our destination to the world,” said Matt Pivarnik, CEO of the Greater Myrtle Beach Collaborative. “Recognition from both OnCon and AMCP reflects the caliber of our marketing and communications team and its ability to compete alongside leading organizations across industries.”

The recognition also highlights the important role Visit Myrtle Beach’s marketing efforts play in supporting the Grand Strand’s economy through tourism.

By promoting year-round visitation, Visit Myrtle Beach helps sustain local businesses and employment opportunities while supporting the restaurants, attractions, entertainment and recreational amenities that residents enjoy throughout the year. Tourism also generates substantial tax revenues that help fund infrastructure, education, public safety and other essential services.

Visit Myrtle Beach's marketing efforts also deliver measurable economic returns. According to a 2025 study by Longwoods International, every $1 invested in the organization's destination advertising generates $139 in direct visitor spending and $20 in tax revenue within Horry County.

For more information about Visit Myrtle Beach’s efforts to market the destination and support the local economy, explore VisitMyrtleBeach.com.

Grand Strand Chef’s Table Showcases the Region’s Culinary Talent

By Ashley Daniels

This annual event is the chef’s kiss of culinary events here at the beach, and this year didn’t disappoint.

Grand Strand Chef’s Table 2026 celebrated the depth and range of the Myrtle Beach area’s culinary scene, bringing together standout chefs and hospitality talent from across South Carolina.

The foodie crowds turned out in full force on the evening of October 16.

Chef’s Table took place at The Ellie Beach Resort in southern Myrtle Beach, oceanfront near Springmaid Pier.

What could be grander than sampling food, wine and curated cocktails under the stars beneath a massive white tent on the resort’s beach lawn, with the sound of waves crashing in the background? That’s a tough one. Live music was also set up on the lawn outside the tent.

Food and drink stations under the tent were manned by an all-star roster of local chefs, James Beard-recognized pros and hospitality experts from local breweries, wineries and craft distillers, including Grand Strand Brewing Company.

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The showcased lineup featured:

• BJ Dennis, Gullah chef and culinary historian from Okatie, South Carolina

• Joseph Bonaparte, Wilson Lui, Catherine Medrano, Erik Schuster and Cody Middleton of HGTC’s International Culinary Institute in Myrtle Beach

• Jess Sagun of Winna’s Kitchen, Myrtle Beach

• Megan Fenwick of Croissants Bistro and Bakery, Myrtle Beach

• Jason Trinh of JEM Social, Myrtle Beach

• Jerrett King of O.A.K. Prime Kitchen and Bar, Myrtle Beach

• Jordan Heyd of Lekker Eats, Myrtle Beach

• Kamal Fraser of Caribbean Jerk Cuisine, Conway and Myrtle Beach

• Elliott Moss of Elliott’s BBQ Lounge, Florence

• Lisa Lee and Steve-O of Tasting Room on 9th, Myrtle Beach

• Keith Hardee of Boardwalk Billy’s, North Myrtle Beach

• Michael DeCicco of Linnette’s and The Dunlin, Auberge Collection, Kiawah River

• Taylor Piedfort of The Archer, Charleston

• Marcus Shell of Berkeley’s, Charleston

• Steve O’Neill of Montage Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton

These chefs absolutely brought their A game, serving delicious, creative bites in the coastal-casual surroundings. Standout samples for me included the taco bar with carnitas and smoked brisket, melt-in-your-mouth braised short rib, cozy chicken pot pie, rice noodle-wrapped shrimp, jerk chicken, an amazing eggplant bite with Parmesan foam, a pulled pork slider and shrimp ceviche.

This event is not only a celebration of culinary talent, but also an opportunity to give back to the community.

A portion of the proceeds from Grand Strand Chef’s Table is donated to the James Beard Foundation’s Good Food for Good mission and programs. The culinary nonprofit supports chefs and the independent restaurant industry as they work to set a new standard of excellence and build a better food system throughout the United States. The event also supports HGTC’s International Culinary Institute and its study abroad program.

For more information and updates on next year’s Grand Strand Chef’s Table, visit follow The Local Palate and Visit Myrtle Beach.

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Visit Myrtle Beach Strengthens Canadian Connections Through Media Mission

For many Canadians, Myrtle Beach brings back memories of family road trips and vacations shared across generations. For our local businesses, those returning visitors are an important part of the tourism economy. Canada is Myrtle Beach’s largest international visitor market, and Canadian travelers typically stay around 10 days, which gives them more time to dine, shop, play golf and explore communities throughout the Grand Strand.

To keep those connections strong and give Canadians fresh reasons to return, Visit Myrtle Beach recently traveled to Toronto, Burlington and Ottawa for a media and travel trade mission. Diane Charno, Bob Harris, Lori Lampo and Denielle Van Dyke joined Annika Klint, Rebecca Seeds and Sana Keller of Pulse Travel Marketing, our Canadian agency team, to connect with over 73 journalists, editors, travel advisors and group tour planners.

Through individual meetings, destination training sessions and evening receptions, the team shared updates on accommodations, attractions, our growing culinary scene and upcoming celebrations, including 100 years of Myrtle Beach golf and Can-Am Days in 2027. The goal was to give journalists fresh stories to tell and travel partners more reasons to recommend Myrtle Beach to their clients.

The stories started appearing before the team even returned home. Travelweek, PAX News, Open Jaw and Travel Courier covered the visit, highlighting vacation value, new experiences and the Grand Strand Chef’s Table event. After only 2 weeks, the Canadian team reported more than one million impressions across tracked media coverage and social activity, getting the stories and conversations out to more than just those who were in the room. 

Just as valuable was hearing what Canadian travelers are looking for in their next vacation. Those conversations help our team connect their interests with experiences across the Grand Strand, while reminding partners of favorite experiences and the warm hospitality that keeps visitors coming back.

Our team is continuing to follow up on story ideas, potential media visits and partnership opportunities generated during the trip. That ongoing work creates more opportunities to bring local businesses into the conversation and give Canadians a fresh reason to return.

Visit Myrtle Beach Launches “Myrtle Moments: Faces & Places of The Beach”

New podcast and video series celebrates more than 30 local attractions

Every favorite vacation spot has a story. Visit Myrtle Beach’s new original podcast and video series, “Myrtle Moments: Faces & Places of The Beach,” invites audiences to discover ours.

Featuring more than 30 local businesses and organizations, Season 1 introduces viewers and listeners to the people behind the experiences that define a Grand Strand getaway. It’s an opportunity to get to know a favorite place a little better, discover something unexpected and meet the people who help turn a trip to The Beach into a lasting memory.

All episodes are now available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and the Visit Myrtle Beach website. VMB will continue spotlighting the series and its featured partners throughout the fall and through the end of 2026, sharing episode features, video vignettes and social highlights.

Local Faces. Favorite Places.
New Discoveries.

From the fun of Family Kingdom Amusement Park to the flavors of Big Mike’s, the hospitality of Avista Resort, the natural beauty of Myrtle Beach State Park and the character of Downtown Conway, the series explores the many experiences that make The Beach its own kind of destination.

At the heart of those experiences are local people with stories to tell. Their personalities, pride and connection to the community give audiences a more personal introduction to the Grand Strand.

For first-time visitors, the show offers inspiration for where to go and what to experience. For returning guests, it’s a chance to discover a new favorite or learn something surprising about a familiar stop. For our partners, it’s another way to connect with travelers and share what makes their businesses special.

Bringing Our Partners’ Stories to Life

“Myrtle Moments: Faces & Places of The Beach” gives local tourism businesses a spotlight across several platforms, making it easy for audiences to discover the show in whatever way they enjoy most.

Viewers can explore The Beach through full-length video episodes on YouTube. Podcast listeners can take the stories along on a commute, a walk or the drive to their next getaway. Shorter partner features and social highlights bring individual places and personalities to audiences throughout the season.

Each format opens another door to discovery. A short clip might introduce someone to a restaurant they’ve never tried. A partner’s story might inspire a family to add a stop to their itinerary. An episode might remind a longtime visitor why they’re ready to return.

For VMB, this is an opportunity to connect destination marketing directly to the local businesses and organizations that make a vacation memorable. By sharing their stories across video, audio, social media and the web, the series gives travelers more ways to get to know our partners before they arrive.

A New Way to Make a Myrtle Moment

The series is the latest extension of the Myrtle Moments campaign, which celebrates the experiences that make visitors feel connected to The Beach.

Throughout 2026, the campaign has come to life through a market-wide lodging deal and direct mailer, television spots and the ongoing “Make Your Myrtle Moment” contest reaching college sports audiences this fall and winter. New television spots will also debut soon for the 2027 season.

“Faces & Places of The Beach” brings another dimension to that storytelling by letting audiences hear directly from the people who help create those moments every day.

The series celebrates the connection between our tourism businesses and the experiences visitors take home: a warm welcome, a memorable meal, a day of family fun or an unexpected discovery. Together, those moments tell the story of The Beach—and give travelers new reasons to make it part of their own.

Watch, Listen and Discover Your Next Favorite

Season 1 of “Myrtle Moments: Faces & Places of The Beach” is available now:

• Watch on YouTube

• Listen on Spotify

• Listen on Apple Podcasts

• Explore the series on VisitMyrtleBeach.com

Follow the show and look for featured stories and partner highlights across Visit Myrtle Beach’s channels throughout the fall.

We invite our partners, residents and visitors to share their favorite episodes with guests, friends and fellow Beach lovers. You may help someone discover their next favorite place—and the people who make it special.

Visit Myrtle Beach Fall Release Reaches a Potential Audience of Over 98 Million

Visit Myrtle Beach distributed a national press release in early August designed to show travelers why fall is so much more than just an extension of summer along the Grand Strand. The story combined coastal traditions, community events and new visitor experiences to position the season as the perfect time to plan a Myrtle Beach getaway.

The release, “The Local Secret About Fall in Myrtle Beach is Out” was distributed nationally through PR Newswire as part of Visit Myrtle Beach’s ongoing effort to generate positive exposure, support year-round visitation and elevate perceptions of the destination.

Sharing a Different Side of Fall

The release began with the local perspective that many residents consider fall one of the best times of year to experience The Beach. Pleasantly warm days make it possible to enjoy the ocean and spend time outdoors, but the story emphasized that the season’s appeal extends well beyond the weather and the beach.

From the Loris Bog-Off Festival and North Myrtle Beach’s Witches Sunrise Surf to Conway’s monthlong City of Halloween transformation, the release highlighted traditions travelers are not likely to find anywhere else. It also introduced new reasons to visit, including Little River Waterfront Fright Nights, NMB Live!, the Purdy Center at Brookgreen Gardens and the inaugural Myrtle Beach Songwriters Festival.

Additional experiences included the SOS Fall Migration, Myrtle Beach Jazz Fest, Harvest Home Weekend and fall adventures on the water with Crazy Sister Marina, helping to demonstrate the variety of activities available across the Grand Strand from September through November.

Together, these stories gave media outlets and potential visitors a picture of what fall is like in Myrtle Beach and showed it as a season shaped by local flavor, community traditions, live music, outdoor adventure and unexpected experiences.

Initial Results 

PR Newswire reported the following results from the national distribution:

• Total potential audience: 98,776,651

• Total pickups: 635

• Total engagement: 10,233 click-throughs, shares and downloads

The 635 pickups extended the story well beyond Visit Myrtle Beach’s owned channels, while more than 10,000 engagements showed that readers took action after encountering the content.

Why This Exposure Matters

Fall is a great time to inspire travel beyond the traditional summer vacation period. National distribution helps keep Myrtle Beach top of mind as travelers consider fall getaways and gives them timely, specific reasons to plan their trip. By connecting major festivals with local traditions, new attractions and individual businesses, the release also created visibility for communities throughout the Grand Strand. This broader destination story encourages visitors to explore more of the area and discover experiences that may lead them to stay longer. 

This type of storytelling supports the community by promoting the events, attractions, accommodations, restaurants and businesses that shape the visitor experience. Visit Myrtle Beach will continue pursuing positive national exposure and sharing stories that distinguish the Grand Strand throughout the year. 

Read the complete fall press release on PR Newswire.

June Communications Efforts Bring National Attention and Local Impact

Throughout June, Visit Myrtle Beach worked with national media, local news outlets and content creators to keep the Grand Strand top of mind for travelers planning vacations.

These efforts help inspire future trips, support area businesses and strengthen the local economy.

One of the month’s biggest highlights came June 9, when Myrtle Beach was featured on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” Nationally recognized travel expert Emily Kaufman, also known as “The Travel Mom,” destination in a South Carolina road trip series that introduced viewers to iconic attractions such as the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, SkyWheel, Broadway at the Beach and Ripley's Aquarium. Visit Myrtle Beach supported the production with local coordination and destination video assets, helping showcase the Grand Strand to a nationwide audience.

Other national coverage reached travelers with a variety of interests. Travel + Leisure named Myrtle Beach one of the 10 most affordable places to visit in the U.S. in August, highlighting the destination’s Make More Myrtle Moments lodging offers, family entertainment, dining scene and seasonal experiences. Forbes included comments from Visit Myrtle Beach President Stuart Butler in a story about lower fuel costs and summer travel, helping position the Grand Strand as an affordable and accessible destination. Myrtle Beach was also featured in Allegiant’s Nonstop Life magazine, reaching airline passengers, while ConventionSouth introduced meeting planners to the area’s wineries, breweries and distilleries. Together, these stories kept Myrtle Beach in front of families, business readers, airline passengers and meeting planners as they considered future travel.

The communications team also worked with local and regional media to promote events happening across the Grand Strand. Ahead of Independence Day, Visit Myrtle Beach shared a guide to July Fourth celebrations, including free fireworks, flyovers and family activities planned for America’s 250th anniversary. Providing these details in one place made it easier for news outlets to inform residents and visitors while helping people plan where to celebrate. The team also participated in local media interviews surrounding Carolina Country Music Fest. The interviews highlighted the excitement of the event along with its positive impact on area businesses and the local tourism economy.

Recent content creator partnerships continued producing strong results in June. Videos from Alexia Hargrove’s May visit received more than 3 million views and 200,000 reactions, comments and shares, making it Visit Myrtle Beach’s highest-performing creator partnership of the year so far. James Barrett’s “Merman’s Guide to Myrtle Beach” also reached new audiences through online coverage, social media and a newsletter that achieved a 32% open rate. Partnerships like these allow travelers to discover local restaurants, attractions, accommodations and communities through relatable, firsthand experiences.

During June, Myrtle Beach media coverage generated more than 1.2 billion potential views across television, online, print and other platforms. That exposure was estimated to be worth $16.1 million in advertising value. So far this year, communications efforts have generated more than 13.2 billion potential views and nearly $280 million in estimated advertising value. These figures show how widely the Grand Strand’s story is traveling and how continued media exposure can encourage visitation, support local businesses and contribute to a stronger quality of life for residents.

Much of the team’s work in June will continue producing results in the months ahead. The team is preparing for a national Family Fun Month television interview series, developing late-summer and fall story ideas, planning future visits for travel writers and coordinating upcoming content creator partnerships. These efforts will help keep the Grand Strand visible as travelers plan fall getaways and future vacations and will keep Myrtle Beach top of mind as a year-round destination.