Who are the partners in this partnership?

• The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
• The Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association (local organization)
• The South Carolina Hospitality Association (state organization)
• American Hotel & Lodging Association (national organization)
• National Restaurant Association (national organization)

What significant changes will occur?

• MBAHA membership will also include membership to the MBACC and state hospitality associations for hospitality industry businesses. As an added bonus, if you are a restaurant, nightclub or hotel business, you will automatically gain membership into either the National Restaurant Association or the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Membership to these organizations will increase your visibility, deliver added value to your business and increase our local hospitality industry’s lobbying power at the local, state and national levels.

What types of businesses are considered to be in the hospitality industry?

• Accommodations/Lodging
• Nightclubs
• Restaurants
• Camping Resorts/Campgrounds

What’s in this partnership for me and my business?

• There are many benefits as a result of this partnership including more educational and networking opportunities and increased lobbying power at local, state and national levels.
• Membership in the Hospitality Partnership will increase your visibility, deliver added value to your business and increase our local hospitality industry’s lobbying power at the local, state and national levels.

How will this benefit the business community?

• By joining forces, the hospitality association and the chamber will have a stronger lobbying voice for local and state issues.
• The chamber will have added resources and experts to assist its hospitality members.
• With the increased focus on hospitality industry issues, the chamber can continue to serve the hospitality industry while keeping its focus on general business issues and needs. Hospitality members will become members of the state and national associations. Likewise, non-hospitality businesses can enjoy the benefits of the state and national chambers of commerce. Regardless of your industry, local membership in the chamber of commerce delivers added value specific to your industry.

Two organizations under one roof – is this a conflict of interests?

• Not at all. This is a natural partnership between three organizations that have the interests of the business community in mind. Working together will only enhance each organization's efforts. The Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association will maintain a unique identity but will operate out of the chamber's main office, with shared resources and a shared facility. And though the South Carolina Hospitality Association is based out of Columbia, SC, it will now have an even greater presence in our area on a frequent basis.

How will sales be handled?

·       The chamber's sales staff will handle hospitaltiy based memberships and most advertising & sponsorships.

·       Special upgraded hospitality memberships are available, offering individual businesses added exposure and prestige. These sales will be handled by the CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association and the South Carolina Hospitality Association’s sales staff.

Has anything really changed, or is this the same old memberships packaged together?

• Actually, a lot has changed. By combining resources, these organizations will be working together in an unprecedented manner to better serve businesses like yours. The results will be more training, better networking, increased advertising and full-time representation in Columbia. And that’s just the beginning. If there is anything you need that is not represented on the list of membership benefits, just let us know and we’ll be happy to look into it for you.

How will lobbying be handled?

• The chamber will maintain a full-time presence in Columbia through a partnership with a lobbying firm, as well as by utilizing contract lobbyists as needed. The chamber will employ contract lobbyists at the federal level as necessary. Likewise, the chamber will continue to host and attend functions in Columbia and D.C. enabling it to appropriately influence legislation.

• The local association will work through the South Carolina Hospitality Association, which employs a full-time lobbyist at the state level, as well as various contract lobbyists that work on specific issues as needed. The local association will focus its efforts on government relations at the local level and supporting the chamber and the state association at the state and federal level as necessary.