This summer, Myrtle Beach has received several high-profile mentions in some of the country's top news publications, including both The New York Times and Forbes. Coverage from these well-established global media brands carries particular weight as both have spent decades building credibility and cultivating loyal readerships that trust their reporting and recommendations.
Highly respected media outlets like The New York Times, MarketWatch and Forbes are increasingly valuable in today's crowded media landscape where paid marketing, sponsored content and AI-generated information are making audiences more discerning about the sources they rely on.
This valuable third-party exposure before national and international audiences is worth celebrating, especially as the articles pointed to different strengths of our area, including our growing food and beverage scene, major live entertainment and continued reputation for offering travelers a strong value. The coverage also reinforces the work local organizations and businesses are doing to keep the destination's attributes worth spotlighting.
The New York Times Highlights Myrtle Beach Value
Just ahead of Labor Day, The New York Times put Myrtle Beach in the national conversation about affordable travel in the Aug. 19 Frugal Traveler article on finding last-minute travel deals. Well-respected reporter and columnist Elaine Glusac pointed to Myrtle Beach as a family-friendly destination where the late-summer slowdown can create opportunities for travelers looking for savings.
In her article, "How to Find the Best Deals Over Labor Day and Beyond,” Glusac discussed the destination alongside Hawaii and Las Vegas, as well as travel to New York’s Adirondacks and Yosemite area, while examining ways Americans can stretch their vacation dollars. She reported that Visit Myrtle Beach's destination-wide lodging savings program, "Make More Myrtle Moments," was offering four nights for the price of three or six nights for the price of five through the end of the year.
Glusac also interviewed Visit Myrtle Beach President Stuart Butler as a travel authority, where he advised readers on additional cost savings best practices such as inquiring directly with hotels and vacation rentals before booking as properties often provide incentives such as waived fees or complimentary amenities.
That kind of national coverage reinforces something especially important as families continue watching their travel budgets: Myrtle Beach can offer a wide range of experiences and price points without requiring visitors to sacrifice the traditional beach vacation.
MarketWatch Showcases Myrtle Beach As Smart Domestic Option
Visit Myrtle Beach's Butler was also interviewed by MarketWatch for a June 11 story by Genna Contino about Americans choosing domestic destinations as international airfare increased. The article was titled “Americans are trading Tuscany for Tacoma, thanks to soaring airfares.”
The Myrtle Beach section focused on affordability and value. MarketWatch noted Myrtle Beach's No. 1 position on Tripadvisor's list of top domestic summer destinations and quoted Stuart discussing both the economic pressure on budget-conscious travelers and the destination's strong drive market. He noted that roughly half of the U.S. population is within a 12-hour drive and that interest from the Northeast was increasing and travelers looking to save can compare Myrtle Beach with Florida and potentially save $100 to $200 on gas by choosing Myrtle Beach.
Forbes Looks At Local Spirits & Music Scene
In July, Forbes contributor Noël Burgess took readers beyond the Myrtle Beach he remembered from family vacations in a feature titled “Where To Drink In Myrtle Beach Beyond The Beach And Boardwalk.” Burgess has visited the area almost annually for more than 20 years.
His latest trip offered a very different look at the destination, from locally brewed beer and craft cocktails to Brazilian cachaça and bourbon made with locally sourced grain. Through the trip-planning assistance of Visit Myrtle Beach, he visited and highlighted numerous businesses and areas across the Grand Strand, including
- Boteco VIP
- RipTydz Oceanfront Grille & Rooftop Bar
- Grand Strand Brewing Company
- New South Brewing
- Twelve 33 Distillery
- Hook & Barrel
- Tidal Creek Brewhouse
- Pirates Voyage
- Fat Harold’s Beach Club
- The Tasting Room on 9th
- Blueberry’s Grill
- Winna’s Kitchen
- Drunken Jack’s
- Creek Ratz
- The Wicked Tuna
- Marina Inn at Grande Dunes
- Hilton Grand Vacations Club Ocean Enclave
- The Ellie Beach Resort Myrtle Beach
He also gives Murrells Inlet MarshWalk, Little River, downtown Conway and downtown Myrtle Beach/Arts & Innovation District meaningful attention as places to explore, although those obviously aren't individual businesses.
More important than any individual stop was the broader message that the Grand Strand continues to evolve, which is particularly meaningful for a destination where repeat visitation is a major part of the tourism economy. That evolution is being driven by local entrepreneurs, chefs, brewers, distillers and hospitality professionals who are giving visitors new reasons to explore beyond the places they may already know.
Forbes also put Myrtle Beach in the company of noteworthy music destinations across the country when contributor Michele Herrmann included the Carolina Country Music Fest (CCMF) in her roundup of “Underrated Music Festivals” worth putting on travelers' radar.
The May 29 article described CCMF as one of the East Coast's largest outdoor country music festivals and highlighted its transformation of the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk into a four-day beachfront celebration featuring major headliners, emerging performers, fan experiences and oceanfront entertainment.
For the Grand Strand, events such as CCMF do more than fill a concert calendar. Thousands of attendees also stay in local accommodations, eat in restaurants, shop, visit attractions and support businesses throughout the area. Just as importantly, nationally recognized events add another dimension to Myrtle Beach's identity as an entertainment destination.
National Coverage Creates Positive Local Impact
These stories may appear in national publications, but their impact begins here at home. Positive earned media introduces the Grand Strand to new audiences without relying solely on traditional advertising. A Forbes reader may discover that Myrtle Beach has a growing craft beverage scene. A country music fan may see CCMF alongside festivals from across the country. A New York Times reader searching for an affordable Labor Day getaway may suddenly put Myrtle Beach on the shortlist.
And behind every one of those stories are local businesses and people creating experiences worth writing about. The beach will always be at the heart of the Grand Strand, but national journalists are increasingly finding stories that extend beyond the shoreline. From entrepreneurs investing in downtown and locally made food and drinks to major events attracting national audiences and hospitality businesses keeping vacations accessible, the destination continues to give travelers more reasons to take another look.
For those of us who live and work here, that national attention helps strengthen our community pride and our quality of life, supporting the tourism economy, local businesses and jobs.
