About Us
MyrtleBeach.com is the Grand Strand’s largest privately- owned tourism portal. With more than 10 million visitors per year, we aim to provide users with the most comprehensive vacation planning guide for the Myrtle Beach area with more than 1,000 hotels, restaurants and attractions.
Our Mission
Our mission is to be the ultimate guide for the city of Myrtle Beach and the surrounding areas. We aim to connect both travelers and locals with the best hotels, restaurants, events, and attractions the Grand Strand has to offer. We hope to inspire unforgettable experiences through trusted recommendations, insider tips, and curated content that captures the heart and soul of Myrtle Beach.
Our Legacy: Building Myrtle Beach, One Brand at a Time
At MyrtleBeach.com, we’re not just another travel site. We’re locals. We’re storytellers. And we’ve spent decades helping shape the very destination we promote. Our roots in Myrtle Beach run deep—in tourism, in business, in community leadership, and in building the infrastructure that brought millions of visitors here in the first place.
Behind MyrtleBeach.com stands a name that has helped define this city for over 60 years: W. Cecil Brandon and The Brandon family.
A Legacy of Leadership: W. Cecil Brandon, Jr.
In 1959, W. Cecil Brandon, Jr. founded Brandon Advertising in Myrtle Beach with a simple mission: to help businesses grow. From a one-man shop, the agency evolved into one of the Southeast’s most respected advertising firms. But Cecil’s vision extended far beyond ad campaigns.
In 1963, alongside local legends Clay Brittain and Herb Forrester, Cecil co-founded Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, a groundbreaking tourism initiative that turned Myrtle Beach into the “Golf Capital of the World.”
For over three decades, Cecil served as Executive Director of Golf Holiday, helping launch a global golf travel movement that brought tens of thousands of annual visitors to the Grand Strand. His leadership cemented Myrtle Beach’s place in golf tourism history.
“Cecil Brandon had the idea of inviting the golf writers to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on their way down to cover The Masters. That was really the turning point, and they began writing about Myrtle Beach. That’s how our brand and our market was established,” Conner said. “Certainly in the 70s. We were a sleepy beach town and especially in the offseason, outside of June, July and August and Cecil Brandon and some others had the vision of building golf courses and creating demand in the shoulder season.” Tracy Conner, CEO Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owner’s Association. Read more at: https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/life/golf/article284835851.html#storylink=cpy
Cecil was the driving force behind Myrtle Beach having a huge presence at The World’s Fair in Knoxville TN in 1982, nearly single-handedly raising the money and developing the display. It was the first time in history that a destination was allowed to display at a World’s Fair event and helped propel Myrtle Beach’s overall brand awareness as America’s favorite beach destination.
In 1989, Hurricane Hugo devastated the Myrtle Beach area. It was the worst disaster in the area since Hurricane Hazel in 1954. With the news media spreading word of the devastation, Cecil went to work and created the Myrtle Beach Area Recovery Council and put up significant dollars and raised others to help spread the word that Myrtle Beach was back in business just two weeks after the hurricane had passed. Today, the Myrtle Beach Area Recovery Council is still in existence and led by Cecil’s son Scott Brandon and stands ready to help in the event of another natural disaster.
Cecil’s service record also includes:
President, Myrtle Beach Junior Chamber of Commerce
Board Member, Greater Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Chair, Hurricane Hugo Economic Recovery Fund
Member, Myrtle Beach National Company Executive Committee
Inducted into the Carolina’s Golf Hall of Fame
Inducted into Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame
Recipient of the Order of the Palmetto (South Carolina’s highest civilian honor)
Named one of South Carolina’s 25 most influential sports figures by The State newspaper
Cecil’s community-first mindset, his tireless advocacy for tourism, and his belief in Myrtle Beach shaped generations of growth. Cecil was a dynamic and inspirational leader all the way up until his passing on May 21, 2021.
Continuing the Mission: Scott Brandon
In 1999, Cecil’s son, W. Scott Brandon, took the reins at The Brandon Agency. Today, he serves as CEO of TBA Worldwide, a modern network of data-driven, tech-forward marketing companies that includes Brandon, MyrtleBeach.com, Intellistrand, Joybyte, TravelBoom Marketing, TBA Outdoors, Cineloco, Eight Oh Two Marketing and SaleSurf Growth.
In 2010, Scott acquired MyrtleBeach.com, recognizing the potential for a true local-led, content-rich portal to serve travelers and residents alike. Since then, the site has grown into one of the most trusted and visited resources for planning Myrtle Beach vacations. In addition to MyrtleBeach.com, Scott purchased Monster Marketing which publishes the Monster Coupon Book in Myrtle Beach featuring hundreds of area restaurants, attractions and amusements.
Scott has also:
Served for over 20 years as a bank board director, helping shape financial growth across the state
Sat on boards for Brookgreen Gardens, Fish Hippie, and Frogg Toggs, among others
Won the American Advertising Federation’s Silver Medal Award and the Myrtle Beach Citizen of the Year Award
His leadership continues to carry forward the Brandon family mission: support local business, drive sustainable tourism, and help Myrtle Beach grow with intention.
Today, the third generation of Brandons are making their mark on Myrtle Beach. Scott’s son Haywood Brandon now leads the MyrtleBeach.com and Monster teams which includes sales, marketing, distribution and accounting. Haywood also owns and operates four ISI Elite Fitness centers in the Myrtle Beach area. Scott’s daughter Haley Brandon is now CFO of the combined Brandon business units as well as owner and publisher of Sasee Magazine, a women centered publication distributed monthly in the Myrtle Beach area. Scott’s oldest son Hunter, an United States Army Veteran has also returned to Myrtle Beach after 8 years of service in the Infantry. He was honorably discharged as a Captain after serving a deployment in Syria. Hunter now owns and operates Glass Doctor of Myrtle Beach, specializing in window repair and replacement.
For the Brandon family, Myrtle Beach is much more than our business location. We are committed to the overall growth and success of the Myrtle Beach community. We live here, have raised our families here and have a passion for Myrtle Beach. We give back with both time and money. We’ve chaired the boards that guided recovery, expansion, and innovation.
Our passion for Myrtle Beach is personal. And it shows in every page we write, every hotel we feature, every guide we create.
When you read MyrtleBeach.com, you’re hearing from locals who’ve helped shape the community—not just marketers, but mark-makers.
As MyrtleBeach.com evolves, we remain committed to:
Providing accurate, insider content that reflects what’s really happening in Myrtle Beach
Promoting local businesses, events, and experiences with integrity
Giving travelers the tools to explore the best of the Grand Strand with confidence
We’re not just observers of Myrtle Beach. We’re part of its fabric. And we’re proud to share our story—and this city’s story—with the world.
Our Team
Haywood
Operations Manager
Years residing in Myrtle Beach area: 28
Haywood Brandon is a third-generation native of Myrtle Beach with deep roots in the Grand Strand community. He graduated from St. James High School and Clemson University. Growing up, Haywood enjoyed playing sports at the YMCA and Pepper Geddings Recreation Center, fishing in the inlets, and surfing on the local beaches that have shaped generations of residents.
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Lynne
Senior Account Management & Sales Director
Years residing in Myrtle Beach area: 42
Lynne graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1983 with a BA in Creative Advertising. She sits on the Board of Directors for Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union, on the board of the Carolina Coast Cotillion, is a past president and active member of the Surfside Area Rotary Club, past president of St James Booster Club, Church Council, and is involved in many philanthropic endeavors. She resides in Murrells Inlet with her husband. She is passionate about bible study and her hobbies include cooking, boating, swimming and being a beach bum. Lynne is an avid sports enthusiast and especially enjoys watching her beloved South Carolina Gamecocks.
Sam
Social Media Manager
Years residing in Myrtle Beach area: 19
Sam moved to the Grand Strand at the age of 6 and feels lucky to call the beach her home. After graduating from St. James High School, she went on to earn her Marketing degree from Clemson University. Sam returned to the Grand Strand after graduation, where she married her high school sweetheart. She has a passion for sharing the many gems of the Grand Strand community through social media and loves showcasing all the beauty, charm, and hidden treasures the area has to offer.
Marshall
Search Marketing Strategist
Years residing in Myrtle Beach area: 12
Marshall was born in Conway and spent the first four years of his life living in North Myrtle Beach before moving to Columbia, where he remained until he graduated college from the University of South Carolina. After graduation, he returned to the Grand Strand and has resided here ever since. Marshall’s lineage in the Myrtle Beach area goes back well over a century – with his family’s cemetery, Stephens Cemetery in Little River, being the oldest cemetery in Horry County. Marshall has nearly a decade of experience in search marketing and is thankful to be able to use those skills to help promote the Grand Strand.
