Thursday, Jul. 17, 2008

NMB releases bike rally survey

Almost half of respondents to a North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce survey said the chamber should help support and improve the rallies, while nearly another half said the rallies should be eliminated or downsized, according to results released this morning.

The chamber had been withholding the results, but its board of directors voted to release them. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce ran a similar survey of its membership and released the results on Tuesday.

In a prepared statement, chamber President Mark Jordan said: "The issues being identified are emotionally charged and much more complex than a simple yes or no. A survey is just one of many tools and opportunities to allow input from our members to assist our leadership in better representing their collective interest. At this stage of the debate, we believe the most important thing for us to do, is to make sure our members have an opportunity to be heard."

In the North Myrtle Beach survey, 61.7 percent of businesses said they did not agree that the community should do whatever is necessary to eliminate the rallies, while 38.3 percent agreed.

At the same time, 61.5 percent of respondents said they did not think things should just be left as they are.

Also, 60 percent of respondents said that the rallies did not have a positive impact on business, while 40 percent said they did.

About 240 of the chamber's nearly 1,300 members responded to the survey, chamber spokeswoman Jennifer Prince said.

Full survey results:

Bike Week(s) has a positive impact on my business
Yes | 40% (92)
No | 60% (138)

My business would be more profitable without Bike Week(s).
Yes | 43.2% (99)
No | 56.8% (130)

Do whatever is necessary to eliminate Bike Week(s)
Yes | 38.3% (90)
No | 61.7% (145)

Leave things the way they are
Yes | 38.5% (90)
No | 61.5% (144)

Work with vendors and promoters to accommodate the bikers
Yes | 56.5% (131)
No | 43.5% (101)

Should your chamber support efforts to:
Downsize the rallies | 12.7% (30)
Eliminate the rallies | 33.8% (80)
Support and improve the rallies | 48.9% (116)
Take no position | 4.6% (11)

Type of business
tourism - accommodations/recreational | 22.5% (53)
banking/financial | 5.5% (13)
health/medical | 4.7% (11)
industry | 4.7% (11)
restaurant/food service | 11.4% (27)
retail/shopping | 10.6% (25)
other | 40.7% (96)

Location of your business:
Cherry Grove | 12.8% (30)
Ocean Drive | 18.3% (43)
Crescent Beach | 7.2% (17)
Windy Hill | 9.8% (23)
Little River | 9.8% (23)
Longs | 5.5% (13)
Myrtle Beach | 28.5% (67)
Out of Area | 8.1% (19)