Myrtle Beach Travel and Things to Do Guide

Welcome to Cvent’s Myrtle Beach meeting planning guide – a Myrtle Beach city guide for meeting planners. Meeting planners may be wary of the term "beach destination," associating it with onslaughts of wild Spring Break partiers and an overflow of tourist-y nightclubs. Not so at Myrtle Beach. This family-friendly city welcomes guests with warm Southern hospitality and charm as they relax on rolling white sands, at sprawling golf courses or among many vibrant cultural venues.Also a departure from the old definition of a beach destination, Myrtle Beach proves there's no need for planners to spend a fortune or travel far distances to get a taste of sand and sun. In fact, the city is just a four-hour drive from Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, and a seven-hour drive from Jacksonville, Florida. Touching down at the Myrtle Beach International Airport has never been easier thanks to the addition of new and expanded air service from destinations in Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.Once inside the city, planners are met with the centerpiece of Myrtle Beach meetings and conventions: the stunning Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Located in the heart of the Grand Strand, the expansive Myrtle Beach Convention Center boasts 250,000 square feet of flexible meeting space including a 100,800-square-foot exhibit hall, divisible into three sections. The center's elegant 17,000-square-foot ballroom can seat more than 1,700 people for galas and banquets. In addition to the indoor space, Myrtle Beach is also home to the lovely Events Plaza, whose 30,000 square feet of lush landscaping are perfect for receptions and other outdoor events.Beyond the convention center, a number of alternative event spaces fill the region. Host a meeting at the spectacular Brookgreen Gardens, where lush landscapes mingle with more than 1,200 works crafted by over 350 sculptures. Invite attendees to step back in time with a reception at the picturesque Litchfield Plantation, or liven up your event by planning a group outing to the Hard Rock Park, the first major theme park to be built in America for over a decade. Smaller groups can unwind with fine French cuisine at the wine cellar room in the famed Library Restaurant.
Alternatively, groups can choose to combine accommodations, exciting activities and flexible meeting space at one of the many convention hotels found across the region. Host a meeting at the 145-acre Kingston Plantation and enjoy the convenience of 500 guest rooms combined with 13,000 square feet of meeting space. Or, take advantage of the 45,000 square feet of meeting space along with 405 impressive guest rooms at the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort & Spa at Grand Dunes.
As one of America's most popular beach destinations, Myrtle Beach enjoys a thriving tourism-based economy that brings in millions of dollars every year. Second only to tourism, farms that produce tobacco, indigo, watermelon and berries also contribute greatly to the economy. Myrtle Beach is also home to the corporate headquarters of Coastal Financial Corporation and AVX Corporation along with colleges and universities such as Coastal Carolina University and Webster University.