Eight days from now, the Republican party debate will take over the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, bringing with it thousands of attendees that local businesses are counting on to help them through the slowest month of the year, and publicity that tourism officials believe will help boost the area’s image.
“The infusion of the debate, not only from the national attention, but people attending, will bring in additional funds to the community at a time when we are at our slowest capacity,” said Stephen Greene, the president of the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association.
The uptick in business, in what is typically the slowest month for Grand Strand businesses, will bring welcome additional revenue that they likely would not have had otherwise, he said.
About 4,000 people are expected to attend the debate and events leading up to the debate on Jan. 16, said Chad Connelly, the head of the S.C. GOP.
The potential direct economic impact of the debate goers is about $1.2 million, according to Paul Edwards, the director of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Edwards determined the direct economic impact by figuring that each attendee would likely spend about $200.
The economic impact of the debates in 2008 - Democrats and Republicans both held debates in Myrtle Beach - was between $8 million and $10 million, according to the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber also estimated that Myrtle Beach got more than $12.4 million in free publicity from broadcast and print coverage of the 2008 debates.
Some local businesses are trying to capitalize on the larger crowds in town and are offering specials the weekend before the debate. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is encouraging businesses to offer special discounts and decorate in red, white and blue for a “Civic Pride Decoration Contest” leading up to the event.
The Tilted Kilt at Broadway at the Beach will offer 20 percent off food Jan. 13 through Jan. 16, said Jay Sansone, the kitchen manager.
“We’re hoping with just the sheer amount of people coming we can drum up more business at a slow time of year,” he said.
Past and Presents, a home decor store with antiques, handmade wreaths and Yankee Candle at The Market Common is also offering 20 percent off.
“It’s really dead out here right now,” said owner Genia Swilling.” “Anything that will draw attention to our businesses, especially the local store owners I think is important.”
She already has a box of patriotic decorations that she will set up in the shop next week as part of the chamber’s contest.
Just as businesses are decorating, the Myrtle Beach Convention Center will be preparing for the event.
Last week convention center staff made a few repairs and touched up some paint, normal repairs for this time of year, said Paul Edwards, the convention center director. There weren’t a lot of debate specific preparations, not like in 2008 when the public lobby areas were repainted before the debates, he said.
For the most part the preparations are similar to other big events at the convention center, Edwards said, adding that the difference is that Fox News will be setting up the stage and lighting and bringing in additional power.
The Sheraton Hotel at the convention center should be full the night before the debate and the night of the debate, he said. Other events in the off season also sometimes fill the hotel, but having another one this year will definitely be a boost, Edwards said.
The potential benefits down the road from national publicity surrounding the debate, is a bonus to the immediate impact, said Chamber spokeswoman Nora Hembree.
The Chamber will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars from its annual budget on TV advertisements during this year’s debate, according to Chamber officials.
“Given the time of year, having an event like this in town is definitely a positive thing, there is no way around that,” Hembree said.
Taylor Damonte of Coastal Carolina University’s Clay Brittain Jr. Center for Resort Tourism said he doesn’t know what the impact of this specific event will be but that any event that brings visitors will have an immediate impact on occupancy.
That will be especially significant on a weekend when occupancy rates typically hover between 35 and 50 percent, which is more than other weekends in January because it is President’s Day weekend, he said.
“There is another type of impact that is potentially as great or greater than the occupancy rate that weekend itself and that is the name placement of Myrtle Beach in the national news and that can have an impact for a long-run,” he said.
The S.C. GOP has partnered with several hotels, who will shuttle guests to the events, and judging by the way the rooms are filling up, there is a lot of demand, Connelly said. There should also be more foot traffic at Broadway at the Beach, both from visitors and area residents who want to check out the events, he said.
The S.C. GOP is planning a whole weekend of events leading up to the Monday debate including, a kickoff concert Saturday and a mini-convention, the GOP Experience, with a variety of vendors and exhibitions at Broadway at the Beach. Several other events will take place Sunday and Monday morning, he said, adding that more details will be released this week.
The City of Myrtle Beach is preparing for the debate too and will be setting up special areas around the convention center, said spokesman Mark Kruea.
The added visitors and buzz generated around the debate will provide a good mid-January boost, Kruea said.
“It’s definitely a plus here during the winter months and it’s the sort of coverage and exposure you wouldn’t have this time of year or any time of year,” he said.
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