Randal Wallace

I recently had the honor to represent the city on two different trips. I traveled with the Chamber of Commerce on a trip to Toronto , Canada and then I represented the City at the National League of Cities trip to Washington DC. I thought these were both very productive trips for the city.

On the trip to Toronto,  I  was part of a large group that was promoting Myrtle Beach and Horry County. Our airport recently added flights directly to Toronto on Porter Air and  to Niagara Falls on Direct Air. These are two great opportunities to tap into this heavily populated area around Buffalo NY and Toronto . While we have reached out to these areas for years the Chamber has made a renewed effort in recent days and the addition of these two airlines will be a big help.

We were hosted by the United States Consul General to Canada for a reception. He invited various travel operators and Chamber members from around the Toronto area including our sister city Burlington Ontario. This was an extraordinary event and I commend the Chamber of Commerce folks who put this together. It is great to know we have these folks working so hard on our behalf.

I think that one event will pay huge dividends because it shows how important the Canadian market is to us, as not only a city , but as a country to have our Consul General involved in promoting our area. The Canadians in attendance were very excited at the prospects of coming to Myrtle Beach. I even had a new property owner asking for advice on what to do and where to go when he brings his family down for the first time.

The relationship to Canada is a special one for me because I have entire side of my family that is Canadian, a Step Dad and all of his family. They stretch from Toronto to Ottawa to out west in Saskatoon, Edmonton and British Columbia. I have actually been able to travel out west and it is an extraordinary place to see.  From  Banff, to Frank’s slide, to Smashed in Head Buffalo Jump western Canada is breathtakingly scenic.

The second day of our trip was very special  because it was a chance to renew our relationship with our sister city Burlington. Their Mayor Cam Jackson met us at the Toronto Star Golf and Travel Show to cut the ribbon on the Myrtle Beach area booth. He showed up with reporters in tow and Mayor Rhodes and Mayor Jackson hit it right off. The visit received a lot of local press because of the Sister City connection.  I think we will see many more opportunities to renew this relationship after all the talking the two of them did.

Mayor Rhodes really does do a fantastic job in these situations as an ambassador for the City of Myrtle Beach. I will give him credit for that talent. It is something I wish all the citizens of Myrtle Beach could see. We also had another luncheon in Niagara Falls with there travel operators. This was yet another venue in which Mayor Rhodes shined as he invited these folks to come to Myrtle Beach.

In both areas the interest in Myrtle Beach was very high and I feel like this was an enormously successful trip promoting and more importantly getting to know the Canadian and New York travel operators and promoters. Tourism promotion is just like every other area of life it is built on relationships that is why these promotional opportunities are so important.

I would be remiss to not mention the efforts and work of Horry County Council Chairman Liz Gilland. This was most likely the last trip I will be taking with her since she will be retiring from public office in January. Ms Gilland has traveled a few miles for the county and I have been with her a few times. She has always been an outstanding representative for all of Horry County. She will be missed and I feel like she has done a lot to get Horry County to the level it is today in many areas especially tourism promotion and I wish her well.

I also want to brag on our home grown airline Direct Air. I have been impressed with the job they do not only as an airline but also as an active member of our community. I expect great things from them. They have really contributed to the promotion of Myrtle Beach as a fun affordable vacation destination all over the Northeast epecially in the Niagara Falls area.

I think we are going to see a lot more Canadians in our area in the near future and I might add, a few of us ought to fly up there. If you have never seen Niagara Falls or spent time in Toronto it is well worth the trip.

Tags: Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach City Council, Randal Wallace

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