Looking to Plan a Myrtle Meeting?
Learn everything you need to know about this lively locale at
Destination Southeast, Northstar's premier event for meetings and incentive pros looking to book biz in the area.
New & Coming Soon to Myrtle Beach
• In response to the many changes that the coronavirus
pandemic has wrought on the business and leisure travel segments, Visit Myrtle
Beach has debuted
Campaign Sunshine, a promotional initiative that features a video titled
“Sending Some Sunshine Your Way.” With its picturesque visuals of the beach, the surf and the city, the video is
designed showcase the destination’s appeal for vacationers and
meeting groups alike. The organization also maintains a healthy travel
information
section on its main website, featuring up-to-date information about
attractions, restaurants and other businesses; the cvb has also created a video that encourages visitors to meet responsibly in Myrtle Beach.
• Kingston Resorts is
investing in upgrades to two of its Myrtle Beach hotels. A $20 million
renovation is already complete at the 387-room Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort,
with a new open-air event space among the new additions. The company is pumping
$30 million into upgrades at the Embassy Suites Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort,
with a completion date in early 2022. New features will include a new pool
deck, bar with garden terrace, children’s water park and lawn area that can be
used for games and other events
•
The 151‐room Four Points by Sheraton Myrtle Beach will debut in late 2020. The property will have more than 9,000 square feet of meeting
space, a business center,
fitness center, indoor/outdoor swimming pool and a casual restaurant.
•
Funplex Myrtle Beach, a new amusement park, is scheduled to open in
spring 2021. The tropical-themed attraction will be home to thrill rides including
Mach Fun, billed as “the tallest interactive 360° jet simulator ride on the market,” and will host group events.
• The Polynesian Oceanfront Hotel
has debuted near the city’s top group‐friendlyattractions and meeting spaces. The
property has two pools (one outdoor and one indoor), a pet‐friendly
policy and accommodation options including efficiency units with full kitchens,
making it an attractive choice for budget‐conscious attendees traveling with
family members.
• Set to open in spring 2022 is a dual-branded Springhill Suites
and Courtyard by Marriott property. The Ocean Boulevard development is being
constructed on the site of the recently demolished Pirates Cove and Palmetto
buildings. The 26‐story structure will house a 115‐room Courtyard by Marriott and a 115‐room Springhill Suites property;
the two hotels will share a business center, top‐floor restaurant and bar, and
swimming pool with lazy river.
• The stages are
live again at some of Myrtle Beach’s most legendary performance venues, with
extensive hygiene and sanitation protocols in place. The Carolina Opry, the region’s
first live theater, requires guests to wear masks and practice social
distancing, in accordance with local ordinances. The venue now undergoes
rigorous cleaning multiple times per day and is furnished with multiple
sanitizing stations.
• The
1,993-seat Alabama Theatre has reopened and follows protocols similar to the Carolina Opry's. To maximize social distancing,
the venue now arranges for alternate-row seating and disinfects the facility
before and after every performance. The Alabama Theatre also partners with the
Duplin Winery,
a North Myrtle Beach attraction, for combo packages that pair a live show with
gourmet cheese and wine tastings.
• There are
plenty of ways for groups to enjoy Myrtle Beach while maintaining social
distancing. Among them are Broadway at the Beach, a
350-acre site with dining and attractions, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, which is
lined with shops and restaurants along its 1.2-mile span, and Brookgreen
Gardens, a picturesque
site where attendees can tour botanical gardens and learn about Lowcountry
history.
• Up-to-date visitor information can be found on the Greater Strand is Open website,
created by the Horry County Welcome Back Committee. The site highlights the
region’s commitment to health and safety, including businesses that have made
the “Greater Grand Strand promise” to follow CDC guidelines and create safe
environments for workers, visitors and residents alike.
• Founders Group International, which operates multiple golf courses
in the Myrtle Beach area, is once again allowing golfers to walk its courses
throughout the year. The change is a result of increased sanitation protocols
the company started in response to the pandemic. Guests still have the option
to ride in carts, but those who prefer to walk can do so at all of the
company’s courses. Founders Group facilities include TPC Myrtle Beach,
located in Murells Inlet, and Grande Dunes Resort,
which is part of a large recreational and residential complex.
• Among the city’s newest venues to offer active excitement for
groups is Big Air Trampoline Park,
which opens this summer near Myrtle Beach State Park. The 40,000‐square‐foot venue offers trampolines,
indoor zip lines, ninja training course and a “shark cage” that challenges delegates to ride a mechanical shark.
Groups of up to 300 attendees are accommodated.
• Planners can infuse their events with local flavor at Tidal Creek
Brewhouse that has a craft kitchen with full
menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Groups can make use of on‐site
audiovisual equipment for presentations, as well as indoor and outdoor space for private events.
• The Doubletree by Hilton Oceanfront Resort, formerly the
Springmaid Beach Resort, is set to reopen in 2020. The 453‐room resort
has 8,532 square feet of meeting and exhibition
space, including 21 breakout rooms.
• Myrtle Beach plans to open Crooked Hammock Brewery at Barefoot Landing, a retail and entertainment complex in North
Myrtle Beach. In addition to an array of beers, the venue will serve
casual fare (burgers and ribs are house specialities). Group events can be held
in a private dining room, bar or outdoor patios, where attendees can test their
bocce- and cornhole-playing skills.
• Downtown Myrtle Beach is gearing up for growth, and meeting planners may find some interesting new options as a result. The latest example of the neighborhood's ongoing revitalization is the new Arts & Innovation District, an ambitious development slated
to debut in 2022. Among the additions will be a new cultural arts center and theater in
2022. The venue, a partnership between the city and
Coastal Carolina University, will offer an art gallery and a 300‐seat
theater.
• A $150 million redevelopment of the Myrtle Beach Mall will add a boutique hotel, as well as fresh retail, dining and entertainment venues.
• The former Long Bay Resort will
get a new name and a new look in April. The 286-room property will reopen as the
Grande Cayman Resort,
following a multimillion-dollar renovation that includes new façade, updated
lobby and guest rooms and new carpeting, flooring and lighting. The property
offers indoor and outdoor swimming pools and 1,710 square feet of meeting and
event space.
• The 330-room Ocean Enclave by Hilton Grand Vacations debuted in May. The North Ocean Boulevard property features luxury units with oceanfront views.
More Event Venues
• The Asher Theatre is more than an entertainment venue: the facility also hosts conferences and private events. The theater offers a 350-seat auditorium and VIP lounge, as
well as six conference rooms housed in a separate wing. The theater’s featured act is James Stephens III, who blends comedy, celebrity impressions and music in his show, “Man of a Thousand Faces.”
• The picturesque Little River area is home
to Twelve 33 Distillery, an outfit that sources ingredients from local farmers for its handcrafted spirits. Guests
are served the native potables in the distillery’s 3,000-square-foot tasting
room, which accommodates up to 200 guests. Smaller groups are accommodated in
the 550- square-foot “hidden” speakeasy.
• Groups can take part in Myrtle Beach’s vibrant pub at 44 & King,
a venue that serves southern comfort food and locally-sourced drinks
within a friendly pub ambiance. Surrounded by majestic live oak trees,
the pub is available for buyouts of up to 160 people Beer lovers can
savor locally crafted quaffs from South Carolina breweries including
Ghost Monkey, Revelry Brewing and Swamp Cabbage Brewing Company, while
those who prefer cocktails can sample drinks made with local potables
like Dixie Vodka, Six & Twenty Heirloom Rye Vodka, Striped Pig Gin
and Mountain Peak Espresso Rum. The menu features southern and
Lowcountry specialties, such as fresh okra, shrimp and sweet potato
grits and barbecue brisket.
• Kingston Resorts, a development that includes the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort and Embassy Suites by Hilton,
offers attendees superb wellness and fitness facilities. The Landing, the spa and fitness center, offers five treatment rooms and a VIP lounge for groups, as well as racquetball courts, an indoor pool, sauna and studios for yoga and Pilates. Guests
can also make use of two sand volleyball courts and four pickleball courts. The three golf simulators and putting green are also available to participants looking to perfect their swing, and the venue’s fire pit and bar area allow for end-of-day socializing.
• THEBlvd, one of the destination’s newest entertainment and retail attractions, continues to add new group-friendly venues. Among the latest to open at the 55,000-square-foot complex
is Banditos Cantina, a revamped version of a popular local Mexican restaurant. Groups of up to 300 can make use of the space for private events for a Banditos Taco
Party with “deconstructed” tacos and traditional buffets with favorites like adobo chicken, grilled sirloin and cheese quesadillas. The eatery is decidedly modern and artsy, with large, Mexican-inspired wall murals and colorful tiles, as well as
impressive ocean views.
• Barefoot Landing, the retail and entertainment complex on the Intracoastal Waterway, has debuted a new restaurant, Dockside Village. The anchor venue, Lucy Buffett's Lulu's, is one of the latest ventures of the sister of famed singer Jimmy Buffett. The family-friendly restaurant hosts live music every night, while the video arcade and ropes course provide additional fun for children
and adults. Lulu's has a large menu that includes seafood, sandwiches and salads, with a variety of options that meet a range of special diet needs.
• With roots that date back to 1944, The Bowery has a long history of entertaining visitors. Groups of up to 500 can enjoy the lively ambiance at this casual venue, where the popular country music group Alabama once served as the house band. A country music group called The Bounty currently holds that title; they perform six nights a week, with guest bands joining the stage on Sundays. An array of thick burgers (including the 8th Wonder, a one‐pound Angus beef hamburger with lots of toppings), chicken wings and hefty sandwiches are among the menu options at this jamming spot.
• The 242-room South Bay Inn & Suites recently opened on North Ocean Boulevard, along the Boardwalk. The property has an indoor water park and multiple restaurants.
• Waikiki Village, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, now has appropriately retro-modern décor, enhanced by contemporary amenities like in-room smart TVs and microwaves. The property has a swimming
pool, a hot tub, an outdoor grill and space for playing bocce ball.
•
Broadway at the Beach, a shopping, dining and entertainment complex, continues to add group-friendly restaurants to its vibrant roster. Among the newest this year is Bar Louie, a
self-described “gastrobar” with a menu that includes burgers, sandwiches and flatbreads, complemented by a range of craft cocktails and local beers. To satisfy their sweet tooth, visitors can pop into the Doughnuttery, a family-owned donut shop, and
Tipsy Scoop, an ice cream shop where the sweets are infused with liquor; both businesses recently opened inside the giant candy store called
It’sugar.
• The Rivertown Bistro, located in the
historic district of nearby Conway, features seasonal fare by locally-renowned
chef Darren Smith. House specialities like vegetable dashi bowls and
chargrilled parmesan shrimp scampi combine southern traditions with creative
twists and locally-sourced ingredients. The eatery offers a private dining room
that accommodates 36 guests.
• The Myrtle Beach Sports Center, adjacent to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, hosts tournaments and group sports events. The complex includes eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts and a large multi-screen
video wall, and can seat up to 2,000 spectators on telescopic bleachers. The facility hosts court sports including gymnastics, wrestling, pickleball, table tennis and more. The venue also can host trade shows and includes an elevated mezzanine and
an indoor/outdoor café.