SPOTLIGHT markets

Weddings

Weddings are big businesses for our area, and destination weddings are the segment that is experiencing the most growth. In a destination wedding, neither of the people getting married lives in the Charleston area. This typically results in greater expenditures on accommodations, dining, catering, and a host of other goods and services. The Charleston area’s iconic and breathtaking locations, combined with our excellent support services make us a logical choice for a wedding… whether destination or homegrown!

Another secret? Having a wedding in a destination everyone wants to visit assures that guests have an even more memorable experience.

LGBTQ+

The Charleston area has long been a welcoming destination for all visitors, regardless of their sexual orientation. Our efforts in the LGBTQ+ market focus on marketing to groups and individuals to help them become more aware of what there is to see and do for LGBTQ+ travelers. This is achieved through direct outreach efforts to organizations, at travel shows, through LGBTQ+ friendly media, and through travel advisors who actively work with this market.

Sports

Spectator as well as participatory sporting events are a major component of our area’s visitor mix. Examples of annual spectator events include the Credit One Charleston Open on Daniel Island and the ESPN Charleston Classic held at the College of Charleston’s TD Arena. Participatory events include a multitude of youth sports tournaments and an impressive number of competitions designed for younger and older adults. The most well-known of these recurring events - and popular with all ages - is the annual Cooper River Bridge Run. The impact of sports events on the region’s tourism economy is one of our best kept secrets - each year over 600 sporting events of all sizes occur throughout the Charleston region, utilizing accommodations and facilities from the Isle of Palms to North Charleston and Seabrook Island.

Minority

Minority groups are a growing percentage of our annual individual and group visitation. These groups consist primarily of professional associations (legal, medical, educational), fraternal organizations, and family reunions. The largest percentage of these minority groups are African-American. We are continuing our outreach efforts to attract these groups via the VOICES: Stories of Change website, which utilizes the area’s rich Black history as an inducement to plan a visit or meeting here. Additionally, we are publishing Explore Black Charleston, a guide to highlight blackowned businesses in the area.