History

1938 Chartered as Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce

1941 Inactive during World War II

1947 Restructured and re-chartered, located at 824 N. Kings Highway

1955 Included North Myrtle Beach (no office)

1957 Area officially designated South Carolina’s Grand Strand

1957 Changed name to Greater Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, serving South Carolina’s Grand Strand from North Myrtle Beach to historic Georgetown

1960 Moved to 1301 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach

1968 Opened Georgetown office

1973 Opened North Myrtle Beach office

1975 Closed Georgetown office

1978 Completed 4,000-square-foot addition to Myrtle Beach office

1979 Changed name to Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. Opened Myrtle Beach Area Convention Bureau.

1984 Opened Murrells Inlet office

1987 Opened 501 Welcome Center on the campus of Horry-Georgetown Technical College

1994 Myrtle Beach office relocated to 1200 N. Oak Street

2002 In preparation for opening new welcome center in Aynor, closed North Myrtle Beach office and Myrtle Beach/Grand Strand Welcome Center on Horry-Georgetown Technical College campus

2003 Opened Ashby Ward Official Myrtle Beach/Grand Strand Welcome Center on U.S. 501 in Aynor

2004 Opened a new welcome center at Myrtle Beach International Airport

2010 U.S. Chamber of Commerce awarded the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce a five-star accreditation for excellence in planning and performance. The distinction is held by less than 1 percent of U.S. chambers.

2010 Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau gained industry accreditation through Destination Marketing Association International

2015 U.S. Chamber of Commerce awarded the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce a five-star accreditation for excellence in planning and performance. The distinction is held by less than 1 percent of U.S. chambers.

2015 Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives named Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce the 2015 Chamber of the Year – the ACCE’s most prestigious and competitive annual award

2016 Closed Murrells Inlet office

2017 Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives named Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce the 2017 Outstanding Chamber of the Year

2018 MBACC President & CEO Brad Dean resigned for another post. The chamber announced the hiring of Karen Riordan who became the next president and CEO in August 2018

2020 U.S. Chamber of Commerce awarded the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce a five-star accreditation for excellence in planning and performance. The distinction is held by less than 1 percent of U.S. chambers.

2020 Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau gained industry accreditation through Destination Marketing Association International

2021 Visit Myrtle Beach launched “The Beach” branding and a new logo

2021 MBACC created Keep Myrtle Beach Beautiful and earned official affiliate status with Palmetto Pride, Keep South Carolina Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful

2022 MBACC unveiled a new logo that includes script and block fonts over a wave design

2022 MBACC launched Partnership Grand Strand, a new 501(c)(3) foundation and a five-year strategic initiative designed to accelerate economic prosperity and quality of life for all businesses and residents across Horry and Georgetown counties. 

2023 Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives named Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce the 2023 Outstanding Chamber of the Year