More travel destinations and hotels are using FourSquare, Twitter and Facebook to generate revenue streams and Myrtle Beach is no exception.
"Promotion isn't just about getting your name in the newspaper anymore. It's really about word of mouth and and it's about finding ways to get people to talk about you and engage with you," Margi Booth of M Booth & Associates said.
On Thursday, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a 2011 tourism marketing update at the Myrtle Beach Area Resort and Spa at Grand Dunes. Booth gave a presentation on ways strategic public relations can help drive customers to businesses. "I think social media is key. Fifty-six percent of people, for example, are finding that they're listening to what others say and acting on it. Almost 40% are buying based on what somebody else has told them," Booth said.
M Booth & Associates is a communications agency out of New York that has been working to help the MBACC build and brand the city.
"Myrtle Beach has been highlighted in some of the biggest and best broadcasts, magazines and newspapers. The opening of the boardwalk was featured on The Today Show, CBS and The New York Times. We brought down Cake Boss and that was featured on Food Network. May Fest has been featured in publications, regional and national, like National Geographic. You're all over online," Booth said.
The Chamber dedicated $28.6 million to tourism marketing. In January, the MBACC started running its 2011 TV ads in 13 cold weather markets. The area was also promoted as the perfect Valentine's Day getaway in 12 cities. An increase in visitors from Atlanta was also seen in early 2011, which was partly attributed to the availability of direct flights.
"What the chamber is doing and what we're doing now in increasing that coverage really helps impact the customers that don't really know Myrtle Beach to get comfortable making that first decision to come," Bill Golden of Golf Holiday said. Golden also gave insight into 2011 spring advertising and provided an update on a recent research survey.
"We're seeing increased activity online. We're seeing increased activity with our members and our consumers, and certainly increased booking activity. So, it appears we're going to have probably the best spring we've had in three years," Golden said.
According to Booth, travel statistics show that the economy is coming back and travel is coming back too. "I think we're going to see a lot more travelers traveling all over the country and particularly to Myrtle Beach," Booth said.
