Myrtle Beach tourism marketing for value-minded, last-minute guests.
The Grand Strand drew 17.8 million visitors in 20251, and Visit Myrtle Beach says 97% of visitors arrive by car2. We help rentals, hotels, golf courses, charters, attractions and restaurants win the price-conscious, late searches those families make.
- 17.8Mvisitors in 2025
- 12months planned ahead
- Directbookings, not clicks
This is a typical Grand Strand pattern based on summer 2025 hotel occupancy of 71.1% in June, 76.0% in July and 64.4% in August7, fall 2026 occupancy around 60%8 and spring draws such as Can-Am Days in March9.
Tourism marketing in Myrtle Beach: price, timing and a reason to go
Tourism marketing in Myrtle Beach wins on value and timing. Grand Strand tourism fell about 3% in 2025, and the Chamber projected roughly another 3% decline in 20262; Visit Myrtle Beach says middle-income families are hurting and plans to stress value and trip justification2. Last-minute booking was also named as a factor in the slower 2025 summer5. A Myrtle Beach rental or attraction that shows a clear price and a reason to book now has the edge over one that waits for the summer rush.
The Grand Strand is also a drive-in market with deep supply: about 425 hotels and 157,000 accommodation units3, plus 20,613 active short-term rental listings on AirDNA6. Core markets include Upstate South Carolina and the Charlotte suburbs2. We target those drive markets in Google Ads, build Google Business Profiles for Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach, and plan the year around Bike Week, the Myrtle Beach Classic, CCMF, the Fourth of July and the Fall Rally, working remotely from Jacksonville.
Twelve months, planned before they arrive.
The events that move Myrtle Beach demand and the marketing move for each. Tap an event to see it.
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Who visits Myrtle Beach and how they get there
Myrtle Beach is a drive-to market. Visit Myrtle Beach says 97% of visitors arrive by car, with Upstate South Carolina and the Charlotte suburbs among the core markets2. Historically, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee have been the top feeder states, and Canada has supplied most international visitors11. That Canadian share is shrinking: Visit Myrtle Beach put the decline at about 30%9. For a Grand Strand business, that means Google Ads geo-targeted to drive-time cities, with messaging built for families watching the budget.
Grand Strand guests are booking later and spending carefully. Last-minute booking driven by economic concerns was named as a factor in the slower 2025 summer5, and Visit Myrtle Beach noted budget-conscious visitors buying groceries and cooking in their rooms to save money12. Early interest is still there: Tripadvisor's 2026 Summer Travel Index, built on its search data, ranked Myrtle Beach the No. 1 U.S. summer destination13. The answer is to show up early with content and stay visible late with ads and live availability.
Vacation rentals are a major share of Myrtle Beach lodging. AirDNA lists 20,613 active short-term rentals with 54% occupancy and a $278 ADR over the 12 months to August 20266. In summer 2025, rental occupancy held at 70.0% (up 0.3%) while hotel occupancy fell 2.1%7. Myrtle Beach ordinance 2024-069 bars short-term rental buildings with three or more units from converting to long-term rentals across 114 blocks east of Kings Highway14. For rental managers, that means a large, stable pool of competing units and a real need to stand out on reviews and direct booking.
Four levers, one Myrtle Beach booking curve.
- 01
Local SEO & Google Business Profile
Local SEO on the Grand Strand means ranking in the right town: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach each draw their own searches. We build Google Business Profiles with clear prices, amenities such as pools and parking, and fresh photos, because value-minded guests compare before they call.
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Google Ads for tourism
Google Ads for Myrtle Beach tourism work best on deal and date searches from drive markets in the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee. We keep campaigns live into the last-minute window, when a growing share of Grand Strand decisions get made.
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Direct-booking websites
A Myrtle Beach direct-booking site should show the total price, fees and what is included before the guest has to ask. For rentals, we highlight what OTA listings leave out, such as a direct-booking rate or perks you choose to offer, so price-conscious families have a reason to book with you.
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Seasonal campaigns & email
Seasonal marketing on the Grand Strand is about the shoulders: Can-Am Days and golf in spring, Bike Week and the Classic in May, and the Fall Rally and October festivals after Labor Day. Email to past guests goes out early with a clear offer, then again close to the date for families who decide late.
What online travel agency commissions cost you each year.
Booking sites bring guests, and they charge for it on every stay. Moving even part of those bookings to your own website keeps that margin. Enter your numbers.
Commission rates vary by platform and contract. Use the rate on your own statements.
Grand Strand tourism news that shapes your season
- Jul 10, 2026
July 4, 2026 hotel occupancy on the Grand Strand reached 93.2%, up 13.2% year over year, and vacation rentals hit 87.5% that Saturday4.
So what: Peak holidays still fill. The marketing job on those weeks is rate and minimum-stay discipline, and moving spill-over demand into the weeks before and after.
- Sep 25, 2026
Tourism leaders are pushing fall festivals, sports and conferences with fall hotel occupancy around 60%, and Visit Myrtle Beach's president called the area a 12-month destination8.
So what: Fall visitors need a dated reason. Build landing pages and ads for the Fall Bike Rally, City of Halloween and sports weekends instead of generic fall-getaway copy.
- Feb 23, 2026
Canadian tourism to Myrtle Beach was down about 30% ahead of the 65th Can-Am Days9.
So what: Winter demand from Canada is thinner. Rentals that relied on Canadian long stays should add domestic winter offers, such as golf and extended-stay rates, aimed at nearby states.
What we’d tell a Myrtle Beach hospitality owner over coffee.
Destination marketing is doing its part
Grand Strand destination marketing returned $139 in visitor spending for every $1 invested in 2025, according to a Longwoods International study1. The demand is being built at the destination level; Myrtle Beach businesses gain by being easy to find and easy to book when that traffic arrives.
Independents face the softest demand
After Q3 2025 occupancy fell 3.3%, Visit Myrtle Beach forecast mild 2026 demand declines for mid-scale, economy and independent hotels10. Independent Grand Strand properties need the direct-booking reasons and review strength that chain loyalty programs provide their competitors.
Weather moves the season
In 2025, May and June rainfall ran 183% above the prior year, the Carolina Forest wildfire burned from March to May, and Tropical Storm Chantal hit the Fourth of July weekend5. Myrtle Beach businesses need ad budgets and Google Business Profile updates that can shift within days when weather changes travel plans.
Three ways to build organic search
Month-to-month, no long-term contract. Every plan includes technical SEO, on-page optimization, Google Business Profile management, the AEO basics (schema, AI crawler access, answer-first pages) and a named strategist. Want your AI answers tracked and worked on every week? See AEO + SEO.
Essentials
- 3 blog posts per month
- 3 optimized pages per month
- 2 citations built per month
- 4 Google Business Profile posts per month
- Technical SEO & on-page optimization
- Monthly reporting
- Named strategist, direct access
Growth
- 6 blog posts per month
- 6 optimized pages per month
- 4 citations built per month
- 4 Google Business Profile posts per month
- Technical SEO & on-page optimization
- Biweekly reporting
- Named strategist, direct access
Authority
- 10 blog posts per month
- 10 optimized pages per month
- 6 citations built per month
- 8 Google Business Profile posts per month
- Technical SEO & on-page optimization
- Biweekly reporting
- Named strategist, direct access
All three plans are month-to-month. SEO compounds: meaningful movement typically takes 3 to 6 months, and we will tell you before you sign if your market needs longer.
Two plans, priced on your ad spend
The management fee is set by how much you spend on ads, not by which plan you pick. The plan sets how often we get into the account. Ad spend goes to Google directly and is never bundled into our fee.
Core
- Biweekly optimization cycles
- Search & Performance Max campaign build
- Local Services Ads setup where eligible
- Conversion & call tracking, duration-thresholded
- Negative keyword management
- Monthly reporting on cost per lead
- Named strategist, direct access
Priority
- Weekly optimization cycles
- Everything in Core
- Ad copy & landing page testing
- ZIP-level bid segmentation
- Seasonal budget pacing
- Biweekly reporting on cost per lead and per booked job
- Percentage rate drops at $30K, $50K and $100K spend
What would my management fee be?
Fees are driven by ad spend alone. Google Ads is billed by Google to your own card. We never mark it up or take a cut of it. Month-to-month, cancel any time.
What business owners say about us.
Real reviews from real business owners. 4.9 stars on Google.
Tourism marketing in Myrtle Beach, answered.
How much does tourism marketing in Myrtle Beach cost?
Media Spearhead works month-to-month with no long contract. Google Ads management starts at $400 per month, and ad spend is paid directly to Google, separate from our fee. Google Business Profile management starts at $300 per month per profile. A Myrtle Beach rental manager or attraction can run heavier in spring and summer and scale down in winter without penalty.
How do I get more direct bookings for a Myrtle Beach vacation rental?
Compete on clarity. Show the total price and fees up front, use real photos and a booking engine that works on a phone, and run Google Ads on your brand and property names. With 20,613 active listings on AirDNA6, guests compare fast, so a direct-booking perk and strong reviews give them a reason to choose you. The calculator on this page estimates the commission you keep.
When do Myrtle Beach visitors book?
Later than they used to. Last-minute booking driven by economic worries was cited as a factor in the slower 2025 summer5. Interest still starts early, with Tripadvisor search data ranking Myrtle Beach the top U.S. summer destination for 202613. We run content and email early in the year, then keep ads and live availability running close to arrival dates.
Should I still market to Canadian visitors in Myrtle Beach?
Yes, but with a smaller share of budget. Canadian tourism to Myrtle Beach was down about 30% ahead of the 2026 Can-Am Days9. Keep a Canadian-friendly page and email past Canadian guests, but shift most winter and spring budget to domestic drive markets, since 97% of visitors arrive by car2.
What are the short-term rental rules in Myrtle Beach?
One key rule protects rental supply near the ocean. Myrtle Beach ordinance 2024-069 bars short-term rental buildings with three or more units from converting to long-term rentals across 114 blocks east of Kings Highway14. Other city and Horry County rules on licensing and taxes also apply, so confirm your unit's status with the city or county before you advertise.
How should Grand Strand businesses budget across the year?
Put the most into late spring and summer, then fund the shoulders on purpose. Summer 2025 hotel occupancy peaked at 76.0% in July7, while fall 2026 ran around 60%8. Spring Bike Week, the Myrtle Beach Classic and the Fall Rally are the best hooks for shoulder campaigns. Winter spend should be small and aimed at golf and long-stay guests.
How much do reviews matter for Myrtle Beach restaurants and attractions?
A lot, because the choice is wide. The Grand Strand has about 2,000 restaurants and 80+ golf courses3, and value-minded families compare ratings before they commit. We set up review requests after each visit, reply to every review, and use what guests praise in ad copy and on your Google Business Profile. We never buy, filter or write reviews.
Is Myrtle Beach tourism down?
Slightly. The Grand Strand drew 17.8 million visitors in 20251, down from 18.2 million in 20245, though visitor spending held at $13.3 billion against $13.2 billion1. Fewer visitors spending about the same means competition for each booking is sharper, which rewards businesses with strong local SEO, reviews and a clear direct-booking offer.
How should Myrtle Beach golf courses and charters market?
Target the trip, not only the round or the boat. Golf courses can build packages with nearby rentals and run ads around the Myrtle Beach Classic in May and the spring and fall shoulders. Charters and outfitters should keep departure points, trip lengths, prices and weather policies current on their Google Business Profile, and run ads to drive-market families planning a beach week.
Does Media Spearhead have an office in Myrtle Beach?
No. Media Spearhead is based in Jacksonville and serves Grand Strand tourism businesses remotely. We research the market directly, including Visit Myrtle Beach data, the event calendar and local rental rules. We work with you by phone, video and shared reports, and you own your Google Ads account, Google Business Profile and website data. You can leave any month.
Fill the Grand Strand's shoulder seasons.
Tell us about your rental, hotel, golf course, charter or attraction and the weeks you struggle to fill. We will review your Google Business Profile, ads and booking path and build a plan around Myrtle Beach's calendar. Call (904) 341-5986.
- Month-to-month
- You own everything
- 4.9 stars on Google
Sources
Every number on this page links to where it came from. Checked September 2026.
- Tourism Works for the Grand Strand (Myrtle Beach Area Chamber; DK Shifflet Visitor Volume & Spending Study)
- WPDE (Myrtle Beach Area Chamber / Visit Myrtle Beach), March 9–10, 2026
- Visit Myrtle Beach Fact Sheet
- Myrtle Beach Area CVB, July 10, 2026
- Post and Courier, Oct 8, 2025
- AirDNA, updated Sept 29, 2026
- Visit Myrtle Beach (Tourism Works for the Grand Strand), Oct 7, 2025; Post and Courier, Oct 8, 2025
- WPDE, Sept 25, 2026
- WMBF News, Feb 23, 2026
- Spectrum News (Visit Myrtle Beach), Feb 9, 2026
- Myrtle Beach Area CVB, Nov 6, 2018
- WMBF News, Oct 7, 2025
- Tourism Works for the Grand Strand (Visit Myrtle Beach)
- Avalara MyLodgeTax, Jan 2025