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Myrtle Beach Area Welcomes Nonstop Air Service from Toronto on Porter Airlines

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce/Convention & Visitors Bureau today announces nonstop, twice-weekly service on Porter Airlines from Toronto City Centre (Island) Airport (TCCA) to Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) beginning Feb. 28, 2010, through May 30, 2010. One-way fares start at $179 plus taxes and are available to book now via FlyPorter.com. The investment in this service signals a continued, growing interest from Canadian travelers in visiting the Myrtle Beach area.

Though not the first international service for Myrtle Beach International, it is the first in the area in several years. This new growth clearly positions Myrtle Beach as an attractive and accessible destination in the Canadian travel marketplace. "The Canadian travel market is colossal for the Myrtle Beach area," said Brad Dean, president and chief executive officer of MBACC/CVB. "Canadians already have access to Myrtle Beach through nonstop service from Niagara Falls, N.Y., via Direct Air; however, Porter?s new international service from Toronto will inspire even more Canadian guests to visit the area through these fast and affordable flights. We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Porter and more Canadians to Myrtle Beach."

The lucrative Canadian market is the largest international market for visitation to the United States. In 2008 South Carolina welcomed almost a million Canadian visitors, on average spending 7.2 nights in the state; more than 85 percent of Myrtle Beach?s international visitor base is made up of Canadian visitors, with Ontario the destination?s top international market overall.

To tap into the Canadian market in more depth, the MBACC/CVB recently announced the appointment of Kimberly Hartley, president and executive director of Travel Solutions by Design (Corp.), as the director of Canada for the Myrtle Beach area. Hartley is well-known and respected throughout the travel industry as a leader and expert in destination sales and marketing in Canada. "I am excited to be able to bring the Myrtle Beach area to the forefront and promote the destination to retail travel agents and consortiums; tour operators, wholesale and motorcoach companies; meeting, incentive and corporate group planners; as well as the trade and consumer media," Hartley said. "Canadians know of the Myrtle Beach area, but they really do not know all about what the area has to offer today's visitor - it is an exciting and fun destination, offering something for everyone."

Flights from Toronto on Porter Airlines begin just a few weeks before the extremely popular Canadian-American Days Festival, which attracts thousands of Canadians to Myrtle Beach each March. The strategic timing of the flight schedule was crucial, as more than 40 percent of Canadian travelers to South Carolina visit in the first quarter of the year. "As Ambassador to Canada, I enjoyed working with Brad Dean and the team at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce," said the Honorable David Wilkins, former South Carolina Speaker of the House and former United States Ambassador to Canada. "We collaborated on promoting Myrtle Beach to Canadians, and when Porter Airlines brought me and a large contingent of Canadian dignitaries to Myrtle Beach, we struck up a relationship that has now evolved into a partnership. This new air service will open up more travel and trade opportunities between our state and Canada than ever before."

Through its convenience, speed and service standards, Porter excels in bringing simplicity and sophistication to leisure and business travelers. The carrier serves many Canadian markets from Toronto as well as Chicago and New York (Newark) in the United States. Its new route to Myrtle Beach is the farthest south Porter has ever flown. "Myrtle Beach is an excellent leisure destination for our passengers," said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. "It appeals to everyone from families to sports enthusiasts and is a good match with our successful seasonal program in Mont Tremblant. We now provide top flight golf and ski options to suit all tastes."

In July Horry County, S.C., announced plans to continue an airport landing fee incentive program started in 2008, which included the elimination of landing fees on all non-U.S. routes among other incentives for domestic flights to the destination. The program has attracted other important carriers such as Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air to begin service from key domestic markets like Chicago, Ill., and Allentown, Pa. "Myrtle Beach has long been recognized as the ultimate golf experience with more ?Top 100? golf courses than any other golf destination in the United States," said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. "Our research tells us that nonstop flights to Myrtle Beach are a critical consideration for golfers because less travel time means more time on the golf course. Toronto has been one of our top golf markets for many years, and Porter Airlines will provide a valuable service to the Myrtle Beach area by offering affordable direct flights for families looking for a beach vacation and for golfers to experience our great courses."

Based on 2006 visitor research, the MBACC estimates that 6 percent of travelers fly to Myrtle Beach. Some 14 million travelers visit the destination each year.

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