North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, CVB receives award of excellence for Hurricane Matthew response
May 15, 2017
The North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) received an Award of Excellence at the South Carolina Public Relations Association (SCPRSA) Mercury Awards for its crisis campaign- the “Coast is Clear.”
The “Coast is Clear” communications campaign won in the crisis and issues management category at the Mercury Awards on May 4, 2017 in Columbia, South Carolina. The campaign was created to respond to Hurricane Matthew hitting the coast of South Carolina. The plan was executed to instill confidence that North Myrtle Beach was safe for travelers to visit after the storm had passed, in addition to keeping the community and Chamber members informed during and after the storm. The plan also situated The North Myrtle Beach Chamber as the liaison between the business community and emergency personnel with the State of South Carolina, Horry County and the City of North Myrtle Beach.
“We are extremely proud to be recognized for a campaign that was able to assist thousands of visitors and the North Myrtle Beach community during a sensitive time,” said George DuRant, VP of Tourism Development at the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, CVB. “This is a great example of collaboration between government public safety departments and the private sector. The fact that we were communicating with our constituents in the first twenty-four hours set the tone for a challenging event.”
The integrated campaign included social media, public relations, digital advertising, email, text and website components and efforts. Overall, the email was read by 9,003 people, while the digital display “Coast is Clear” advertisements generated 1,534,623 impressions and 5,531 unique visits to the website during October 12 to 17. Between October 4 and October 12, Facebook alone generated 10,833 interactions related to the “Coast is Clear” storm messaging.
Visit ExploreNorthMyrtleBeach.com for more information on North Myrtle Beach events, attractions and visitor information.
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For more information about the Chamber and its efforts please visit NorthMyrtleBeachChamber.com or call 843-281-2662.
About the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau
The North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), an accredited five-star Chamber/CVB founded in 1999, continues to lead by example as an exemplary local business advocate and supporter, as well as a champion of North Myrtle Beach as a top travel destination within the Southeast. Since its founding, the Chamber/CVB has been whole-heartedly committed to advancing the welfare and prosperity of North Myrtle Beach while achieving a thriving, diverse and sustainable economy. The Convention & Visitors Bureau, North Myrtle Beach’s official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), is committed to growing the North Myrtle Beach visitor and destination market by distinguishing the coastal beach town as a first-choice travel destination and brand. North Myrtle Beach welcomes millions of visitors each year to “Just Coast” on pristine beaches and through unexpected adventures, representing an economic impact of $1,124,549,932 in North Myrtle Beach, and an additional $219,234,620 in the surrounding area in March – August of 2016 alone. The North Myrtle Beach travel industry accounted for nearly 14,000 jobs and generated more than $117,000,000 in State and Local Taxes in 2016. For additional information about the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, CVB and the North Myrtle Beach area, please visit www.explorenorthmyrtlebe
