On May 6, 2021, Visit Myrtle Beach, the destination marketing organization of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC) and Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), celebrated National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) with a presentation to members of the Myrtle Beach area community showcasing its new branding campaign.
The public event was held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Atlantic Ballroom of the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort and Spa at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach.
The refreshed brand, The Beach, and corresponding marketing campaign, “You Belong At The Beach,” are designed to drive safe and responsible travel with new and repeat visitors along the destination’s 60 miles of pristine Atlantic coastline as well as instill a greater sense of community pride among residents. Extensive visitor, resident and stakeholder research was conducted to inform the brand development during the past year. In addition, thoughtful and inclusive creative executions ensured the positioning was reflective of visitor experiences and resident sentiment.
Here are some of the examples of the new Visit Myrtle Beach logos.
In addition to the national campaign, the presentation revealed a local approach to the messaging with “We Are The Beach,” which is designed to instill a greater sense of community pride among residents.
These are some of the fun branding that will be used throughout the Grand Strand community.
“‘We are The Beach’ is a rallying cry for those that call the Grand Strand home,” said Karen Riordan, MBACC and CVB President and CEO. “Members of the community will soon see elements of this campaign launched locally across the Myrtle Beach area in the form of flags, sidewalk imagery and more.”
As part of the National Travel and Tourism Week celebration, Visit Myrtle Beach officials also announced the destination’s 2020 economic impact, which included more than $842 million in gross lodging sales. “While the pandemic has had a profound impact on tourism, Myrtle Beach is well positioned for a strong recovery in 2021, which makes this the right time to really leverage the new brand architecture and creative elements,” Riordan said.
“We are exceptionally thankful for the many community partners who worked tirelessly to support the Myrtle Beach visitor experience and made the many adjustments needed, such as new safety protocols, during the past year,” said Stuart Butler, chief marketing officer, Visit Myrtle Beach. “Tourism is the economic lifeblood of Myrtle Beach, providing $7 billion in economic impact throughout our 14 communities in the Grand Strand. The Beach branding will ensure we continue to invest in increasing our tourism market share and leverage our competitive advantage for years to come.”
The previous branding for Visit Myrtle Beach was utilized for more than 10 years and supported significant industry growth for the region. The consumer research and brand development work was conducted in partnership with MMGY to support Visit Myrtle Beach’s long-term strategic plan.
Visit Myrtle Beach continues to maintain the Healthy Travel section on VisitMyrtleBeach.com with the latest COVID-19 updates and mandates, and also encourages overall vigilance that may go above and beyond what is required. In general, this means wearing face coverings at public, indoor settings, and also outdoors when social distancing is not possible; frequent hand-washing with soap and water; and staying home when sick.
For more information, visit VisitMyrtleBeach.com.
