MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. The Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association is hosting its 2009 annual meeting and awards presentation 3:30 p.m. May 20 at Freestyle Music Park. After the annual meeting, new MBAHA members will have the opportunity to promote their products and services through a tabletop expo 4:30-5:30 p.m. Annual meeting sponsors are Freestyle Music Park and Genco Inc.

As part of the business meeting, the new board of directors will be presented. Recently elected members of the board are:

• Lodging directors: Scott Martin, Hampton Inn Broadway at the Beach; Derek Nelson, Staybridge Suites; Jim Powalie, Marina Inn at Grande Dunes; and Michelle Sutton, Burroughs & Chapin Company Inc.
• Restaurant director: Leon Williams, Max & Ermas
• Entertainment directors: John Stine, Freestyle Music Park, and Todd Parnell, Myrtle Beach Pelicans
• Ex-officio: Ericka Hill, NAACP

In addition, the MBAHA will recognize the many companies and individuals who define the hospitality industry in the Myrtle Beach area. The 2008 awards will be presented in the Friend of the Industry category. To be nominated, individuals and organizations must have:

• Donated substantial time, effort or financial aid to the support of the association and/or
• Made substantial, visible contributions to the growth of travel and tourism in the area and/or
• Made extraordinary contributions or shown extraordinary commitment to the industry

The 2008 Friend of the Industry winners are:

Horry County Legislative Delegation:

Sen. Raymond E. Cleary III
Sen. Dick Elliott
Sen. J. Yancey McGill
Sen. Luke A. Rankin
Rep. Liston D. Barfield
Rep. Alan D. Clemmons
Rep. Tracy R. Edge
Rep. Nelson L. Hardwick
Rep. Jackie E. Hayes
Rep. George M. Hearn
Rep. Thad T. Viers

For their collaborative effort and hard work to expedite the passage of the state bill allowing municipalities to enact the Local Option Tourism Development Fee.

• Lt. Amy Prock, Myrtle Beach Police Department

For her ongoing and successful efforts in assisting with the chronic problem of pizza shops trespassing and distributing pizza flyers to hotel rooms, on vehicles and in nonlodging business parking lots. Prock updated the nuisance laws, which are used in the pursuit of the illegal actions of these businesses, and provide additional protection and assistance to the hospitality industry.

• Chapin Memorial Library

For staffs ongoing and much-needed support of international student programs. Due to Chapin Memorial Librarys location and offerings, students visiting the Grand Strand in the summer are frequent visitors, and their computer use creates long lines and inconveniences Myrtle Beach citizens. Library employees have successfully managed this service while balancing citizens needs. Throughout the summer, staff helps many students and visitors in a most professional and welcoming manner, showcasing a good dose of Southern hospitality. The library also plays host to welcome sessions for the MBAHA and the international students on Thursdays throughout their stay. This gives the MBAHA, city, community organizations and businesses an opportunity to assist the students while they are on the Grand Strand.

• Jay Rowe, former professor and program coordinator, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Students, Hospitality and Tourism Management
For their commitment to the MBAHA through the years. Spring 2009 was the last semester of the program, which will now be included in the business program. The students, led by Jay Rowe and assisted by adjunct professor Robin Harvey, are student members of the MBAHA and the Hospitality Adventure Student Organization, volunteering countless hours for the associations golf tournament, Trio Dinner, Job Expo and monthly meetings as well as working in the associations office.

For the past six years, these students have worked with the South Carolina Hospitality Association to coordinate and produce the State ProStart Culinary Competition and the State Lodging Management Program Competition for high school culinary and hospitality students who travel to Myrtle Beach to compete. The students also set up and staff the HGTC recruitment booth for the three-day Hotel, Motel and Restaurant Supply Show of the Southeast.

On campus, students are involved with these HGTC Foundation events each year: Fall Retreat; the Chaine Dinner, which has raised more than $25,000 each year for the past two years; and the Annual Student Benefactor Dinner.

For the past five years, the hospitality students worked with area restaurants to coordinate the Festival Finale for the Tidelands Community Hospices Festival of Trees. For the hospice, students designed and facilitated the Jazz and Jewels Luncheon, a jewelry fashion show which raised more than $5,000 this year.

The students dedication and service to their college, the hospitality industry and the community showcases their abilities as future hospitality leaders.

Gold Star of Excellence Awards, sponsored by Genco Inc., will be presented to all member accommodations and restaurant businesses who achieved 100 percent cleanliness compliance in 2008, a standard set by the MBAHA. In 2008 more than 392 accommodations and restaurants earned that distinction. To be recognized, the Joint Ethics Committee must not have received any complaints regarding cleanliness. The committee, operating in cooperation with the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and the MBAHA, serves as an industry watchdog, receiving and monitoring visitor complaints.