May 4-10 Declared Travel and Tourism Week in South Carolina. Eva Aronson of Grand Palms Resort in Surfside Beach Recognized as the South Carolina Hospitality Employee of the Year.
At an April 30 event celebrating the Palmetto State’s more than $30 billion tourism industry, Governor Henry McMaster proclaimed May 4-10, 2025, is Travel and Tourism Week in South Carolina.
Gov. McMaster said, “South Carolina’s tourism industry is fueled by our unmatched culture, hospitality, and unrivaled natural treasures, all of which make South Carolina the best state in the country to visit. Travel and Tourism Week is an opportunity to recognize the tourism industry, and to honor those who work tirelessly to help visitors and citizens discover everything South Carolina has to offer.”
The governor’s proclamation aligns with the nationwide celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), which was created by Congress in 1983 to elevate the power of travel, and was unveiled during a celebration at the Governor’s Mansion. Tourism leaders from every corner of the state, including Visit Myrtle Beach's Partnership Director Johanna Hodge, the current president of S.C. Association of Tourism Regions, gathered for the celebration.
Hodge announced Eva Aronson of Grand Palms Resort in Surfside Beach was the reciepient of the South Carolina Hospitality Employee of the Year award. Eva has 29 years of service in the industry and is known for her attention to detail and commitment to making lasting relationships with guests. She is described as dependable, caring and friendly, and guests ask about her year after year.
Eva was recently honored with the Front of House Employee of the Year Award for both the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association and the South Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association. She was nominated for the South Carolina HEY award by Visit Myrtle Beach. The HEY award is coordinated and co-sponsored by SCATR and SCPRT.
“It has taken the dedicated efforts of many industry professionals across the state to build and grow our more than $30 billion tourism industry,” said Duane Parrish, director of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. “Each member of our industry plays a critical role in achieving continued year-over-year tourism growth and success. And this certainly includes the hundreds of thousands of hospitality employees all across our state, from the frontline staff we often see at hotels, restaurants, and attractions to the support and management staff who are often less visible to the traveling public. Every one of these roles is critical to our state’s tourism success.”
In South Carolina:
- 1 in 10 people work in hospitality, supporting more than 200,000 jobs
- The estimated annual economic impact of the industry is more than $30 billion
- Tourism-related tax collections reduce the annual tax burden for every resident by nearly $1,000
