Corporate Meetings Site Visit
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A magician entertains FAM attendees at a pre-function event at
Marina Inn at Grande Dunes. |
Grande Dunes At The Pinnacle Of Myrtle Beach’s Sophisticated Transformation
Editor’s Note: Marlane shares her first-hand experience in this article after joining a group of meeting planners for a ConventionSouth co-sponsored familiarization trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina’s Grande Dunes resort. Ask about anyone from South Carolina’s top tourism region, The Grand Strand, and they’ll surely tell you that Myrtle Beach, the city in which the strand is anchored, has substantially progressed in recent years. You can take their word for it as I, along with a select group of corporate-oriented meeting planners, found in February during a familiarization trip. While some in our group had never visited Myrtle Beach, the trip for me was a “coming home” as I lived there for several years up until 2001. To my surprise, the experience was less of a nostalgic reencounter with the city I so closely knew and more of a fascinating realization that Myrtle Beach has since grown up and become a more sophisticated beach destination.
While it will forever be a welcoming escape for flip-flops and Atlantic Ocean fun, its emerging high-end attractions such as the Coastal Grand shopping center is striking accord with discerning, business-minded groups. Spearheading this luxury evolution is Grande Dunes, a newly built, finely crafted resort community that rests within 2,000-plus secluded and diverse acres.
Here, traditional Myrtle Beach property definitions of either being beachfront or off beach are defied. At Grande Dunes, the landscape stretches from an oceanside clubhouse and pool that’s tucked away from the mainstream to a prime, Intercoastal Waterway site that’s easily accessed by main travel ways and offers full-service resort amenities. Furthermore, its location places you within a five-minute drive from Broadway at the Beach, an entertainment playground for all ages with notables like Hard Rock Cafe, and a 10-minute drive from the airport—yet, on site, you feel far removed from Myrtle Beach’s 24/7 tourism enterprise. It’s not often that you have that “best of both worlds” feeling, but at Grande Dunes you do.
Exclusive atmospheres are found at the Cabana Club, sitting poolside on a bluff above the Atlantic Ocean; past the gated bridge and on the two expertly designed golf courses, where Florida-based golf guru David Leadbetter was during our trip; at the Italianate golf clubhouse, where you can dine, toast or gather in the boardroom beside one of the 18th holes; at the yacht club-like marina, where you can cruise along the waterway; and within the 2006-debuted, Mediterranean-styled hotel and meetings center, the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes.
The inn’s architecture, layout, design and décor is tailored with distinctive features and provides a world-class environment. Take for instance the front desk that, well, doesn’t exist. Instead, reception is provided at more intimate sit-down tables. In the lobby, an eclectic gathering of furnishings places you in the parlor of a world traveler. Or, within the 25,000 square feet of meeting space, where the ceiling of the circular Sand Dollar boardroom is designed to project sound without echo.
Further enhancing this atypical atmosphere is a renowned staff—from sales and management to reception and culinary—that are experienced and empowered to provide planners and attendees with first-class service. Among the team, Director of Sales Paul Brown enthusiastically shared his visions for unique ways to incorporate the leisure activities of the resort and Myrtle Beach into a business meeting.
Among the planners who joined us was Ann Godi, CMP, and president of the meetings firm Benchmarc360° Inc. Upon returning to Atlanta, I asked Ann to share with me her thoughts on her Grande Dunes’ experience. She replied, “WOW! Forget everything you think you know about Myrtle Beach when you visit Grande Dunes. At a staff meeting with our Global Sourcing team led by Connie Bergeron, CMP, we discussed potential clients for which the property might work. I was skeptical and knew we needed to visit in person. What an amazing discovery. Grande Dunes is perfect for golf groups, executive retreats and board meetings. The experienced staff, awesome chef and scenic views were not something we were prepared to experience.”
