Board of Directors
CONSENT CALENDAR
October 2026
HILTON HEAD ISLAND-BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSENT CALENDAR September 22, 2026
STANDING COMMITTEES & SUBCOMMITTEES BLUFFTON REGIONAL BUSINESS COUNCIL Chair: Diana McDougall The first meeting of the restructured BRBC was held on September 23. The new council is made up of selected staff and Chamber board members whose operations are in the greater Bluffton region. The Council will inform the Chamber on key priorities for action within the region. Future meetings will be held on the 4th Wednesday of every other month at our Chamber’s Bluffton office.
BUSINESS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP Chair: Ray Warco Subcommittees: Early Childhood Education High School Internships Colleges internships The committee meets in Bluffton on the third Wednesday of every other month at the Culinary Institute of the South. During the September 16 meeting we viewed the first video of our Virtual Job Shadowing series - an interview with leadership and staff of TS Conductor. The second video will feature Ward Edwards Engineering. We will also begin work on the Partnership’s second project, Project-Based College Internships.
BUSINESS WORKFORCE COALITION Chair: Mike Overton Subcommittees: LowcountryJobsNow.org Diverse Abilities Encore Opportunities Affordable Childcare Transportation Task Force
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The committee meets on the second Wednesday of every other month at the chamber. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 11, when we’ll have updates on the Transportation Task Force’s work on Ride Share, Park-N-Ride, and ferry service, as well as an update on our Tri-Share childcare funding efforts.
PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE Chair: Mary Lee Carns Subcommittee: Environmental Affairs Committee The committee meets on the first Wednesday of every other month. On September 29, we hosted the South Carolina Chamber’s (now SCMC) 2026 Vision and Voice Tour at the Culinary Institute of the South. The Environmental Affairs Committee recently completed and presented its second environmental audit - USCB. At our November 4 meeting, in addition to our regularly scheduled national, state, Beaufort County, Jasper County, Hilton Head Island, and Bluffton legislative updates, we will preview plans for our March 2027 Washington Fly-In.
COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS 2025-26 FY Reporting To-Date (July 1, 2026 - September 30, 2026)
STORIES & MENTIONS
IMPRESSIONS
AD VALUE
1,139
5,038,389,286
$2,982,356.31
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS - SEPTEMBER 2026
UVPM: 5,586,953
UVPM: 75,500,835
UVPM: 2,455,000)
UVPM: 3,828,307
20 Best Small Towns to Buy a Vacation Home
15 Best Weekend Beach Getaways Across the U.S.
These Are The Best Restaurants In The World, According To Travelers On Tripadvisor
27 best golf resorts in U.S. and Canada: GOLF’s Top 100 Resorts in the World
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UVPM: 4,825,305
18 Luxury Resorts in the US and Caribbean for Your Next Family Vacation
UVPM: 4,111,042
All the Key Hotels in the United States: The Full 2026 Selection
EVENTS OCTOBER 2026 October 14: Power Hour | 9:15 a.m Zoom October 20: State of the Region | 11:00 a.m Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa October 21: Banker’s Night | 5:00 p.m South Carolina Yacht Club October 29: Conversations + Cocktails | 5:00 p.m Shops at Sea Pines
NOVEMBER 2026 November 2: Women Around the Table | 5:30 p.m Local Kollective November 4: Executive Connection | 4:30 p.m Vagabond Cruise November 5: Chamber Young Professionals | 5:30 p.m Country Club of Hilton Head November 6: Member Minute | 9:00 p.m Camellia Art Bluffton November 12: Economic Summit | 8:30 a.m. Culinary Institute of the South November 17: Regional Advancement Luncheon | 11:30 a.m. Riverton Pointe
DECEMBER 2026 December 8: Member Minute | 9:00 a.m December 11: Sparkles & Spirits | 5:30 p.m. South Carolina Yacht Club
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MEMBERSHIP NEW MEMBERS - Eleven members applied for membership in the chamber during the month of September resulting in new revenue of $7,705.00.
DROPPED MEMBERS - Eleven members were dropped from membership during the month of September resulting in lost revenue of $8,452.50.
RENEWALS 29 Edgewater, member since 10/1/1994 Abbey Floor Fashion, member since 7/1/2024 Alarm, Fire & Security, LLC, member since 10/1/2012 Alliance Global Partners of the Lowcountry, member since 7/1/2015 Bad Biscuit, member since 9/1/2020 Binya Boutique LLC, member since 5/1/2022 Bowdie’s Chophouse, member since 11/1/2022 Buckwalter Dental Care, member since 6/1/2015 Budget Blinds of Hilton Head Island, member since 6/1/2006 Camp Hilton Head, member since 7/1/1988 Carey & Company, P.A., member since 11/1/2016 Catch 22, member since 4/1/2017 Charbar Co. Burgers & Sushi, member since 2/1/2013 Chez Georges Bistro & Bar, member since 8/1/2020 Coastal Carolina Medical Center, member since 8/1/2003 Coastal Home and Villa, member since 11/1/2017 Coldwell Banker Access Realty, member since 4/1/2014 Crescent Hospice, member since 10/1/2007 Daufuskie Difference, member since 8/1/1988 Destination Vacation, member since 11/1/2005 Dolphin & Nature Cruise, member since 6/1/1994 Dream Chasers Management Group Virtual Learning LLC, member since 9/1/2025 Dyess Air & Plumbing, member since 6/1/2013 Earthworks Landscape, member since 8/1/2024 Farmers Market of Bluffton, member since 6/1/2008 First Baptist Church of Hilton Head, member since 8/1/1995 First Presbyterian Church, member since 9/1/2006 Flexecution, Inc., member since 10/1/2023 5
Floors by Sterling Hight, member since 10/1/2011 Floors To Go, member since 5/1/2024 GoMobile Storage, member since 10/1/2016 Goosehead Insurance, member since 1/1/2024 Gray’s Heating & Air Conditioning, member since 6/1/1997 Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island, member since 7/1/2011 Haig Point Club & Community, member since 7/1/2009 Hampton Inn Hilton Head Island, member since 7/1/1988 Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum & Shop, member since 10/1/2005 Harris Teeter Main Street Village, member since 1/1/1994 Harvey & Battey, P.A., member since 7/1/2008 Hilton Garden Inn Hilton Head, member since 7/1/2000 Hilton Head 360.com, member since 9/1/2005 Hilton Head Audubon, member since 6/1/2023 Hilton Head Distillery, member since 9/1/2016 Hilton Head Entertainment, member since 11/1/2019 Hilton Head Island Beach & Tennis Resort, member since 5/1/1980 Hilton Head Island Coffee Roasters, member since 9/1/2021 Hilton Head Public Service District, member since 11/1/1998 IMC Resort Services, Inc., member since 8/1/2009 Indy Karting & Amusement, member since 9/1/2021 Island Club of Hilton Head, member since 7/1/2017 Island Skiff Adventure Tours, member since 7/1/2017 Island Time Hilton Head, member since 11/1/2019 It’s Greek to Me, member since 2/1/2010 John Vann, member since 6/1/2016 Kelly & Sons Plumbing, Inc., member since 7/1/1991 Kilwins at Shelter Cove Towne Centre, member since 6/1/2015 Kitchen Design Solutions, member since 10/1/2024 Lighthouse Consulting, LLC, member since 7/1/2011 Lowcountry Media Solutions, member since 6/1/2014 Memory Matters, member since 8/1/2000 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., member since 7/1/1978 Minor, Haight & Arundell, P.C., member since 8/1/1995 Nurse Advocate Partners, member since 11/1/2019 Ochsner 65 Plus, member since 11/1/2023 6
Old South Golf Links, member since 8/1/1991 Old Town Bluffton Merchants Society, member since 11/1/2002 One Hot Mama’s American Grille Bluffton, member since 8/1/2019 Pedals Bicycles, member since 7/1/2022 Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf, Inc., member since 11/1/1988 Premier Properties by Haig Point, member since 2/1/2018 Progress Printing Plus Company, member since 11/1/2012 Pure Salt Studios - Hilton Head Island, member since 2/1/2025 Rotary Club Of Hilton Head Island, member since 8/1/2017 Sam’s Club #6582, member since 2/1/1995 Savannah College of Art and Design, member since 6/1/2023 Sea Pines Real Estate - The Cottage Group, member since 11/1/2025 Seashore Vacations, Inc., member since 7/1/1978 Shore Beach Service, Inc., member since 7/1/1978 South Atlantic Bank - Bluffton, member since 11/1/2005 SouthernCarolina Alliance, member since 10/1/2018 Stage Front Presentation and Production Systems, member since 7/1/2011 T2 Teaching and Tutoring, member since 10/1/2025 The Bluffton Sun & Hilton Head Sun, member since 10/1/2002 The Hilton Head MLK Committee for Justice, member since 5/1/2024 The Shops at Sea Pines Center, member since 11/1/2025 TidePointe, a Vi Community, member since 7/1/1994 University of South Carolina Beaufort - Bluffton Main Campus, member since 10/1/1992 Vivid Gallery, member since 7/1/2019 Walmart Supercenter #728 Hilton Head, member since 8/1/1986 WiseGuys Modern American Restaurant, member since 10/1/2008 Yellow Transportation, member since 3/1/2011
VISITOR & CONVENTION BUREAU CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2026 Hilton Head Island has once again been named the #1 Best Domestic Island in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, marking an incredible 10th consecutive year receiving this prestigious recognition.
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This milestone reflects Hilton Head Island’s enduring appeal and the exceptional experiences our destination and partners continue to provide. The award reinforces the Island’s position as a premier travel destination and provides a powerful opportunity to promote Hilton Head Island nationally and internationally throughout the coming year. Adding to the celebration, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport was named the #1 Best Domestic Airport for the seventh consecutive year, further strengthening our region’s reputation as a premier travel destination.
2026 TRAVEL WEEKLY MAGELLAN AWARDS – GOLD WINNER Visit Hilton Head Island’s “Naturally Your Favorite” campaign received a Gold Award in the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards in the Travel Destinations – Marketing Campaign, Advertising/Marketing category. This national recognition celebrates the strength and creativity of our destination marketing efforts and the continued success of the “Naturally Your Favorite” campaign in showcasing Hilton Head Island’s distinctive experiences, natural beauty, and enduring appeal to travelers.
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5TH ANNUAL KINGDOM CUP, 2026 The 5th Annual Kingdom Cup welcomed guests to Hilton Head Island for a memorable weekend of championship golf, exclusive experiences, and signature Lowcountry hospitality. Guests competed in two tournament rounds at The Sea Pines Resort, while enjoying appearances and conversations with some of golf’s biggest names, special gifts, and evening events. The milestone fifth year continued to elevate the Kingdom Cup experience, creating memorable moments both on and off the course.
MARKETING PARTNERSHIPS AND MEDIA (AUGUST 2026 - OCTOBER 2026)
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WEBSITE REPORT HILTON HEADISLAND.ORG
177K
62K
242K
-25% YoY Visits
-48% YoY Link Clicks
-37% YoY Pageviews
22K
6K
29K
-2% YoY Visits
-3% YoY Link Clicks
-4% YoY Pageviews
VISITBLUFFTON.ORG
*Hilton Head Island Note: Beginning this year, we shifted one of our paid website campaigns from a continuous, year-round approach to a series of shorter, strategically timed campaigns focused on driving visitation during the shoulder and off-seasons. This approach is intended to improve efficiency by concentrating investment during periods when it can have the greatest impact. As a result, website traffic metrics may appear significantly lower than in prior years during periods when the campaign is not actively running. These decreases should not be interpreted as a decline in overall website performance, but rather as a reflection of the revised strategy. As additional campaign periods occur throughout the year, year-over-year comparisons will become more representative of the new marketing approach.
MONTHLY HOTEL REPORT
LODGING PERFORMANCE SUMMARY - AUGUST 2026
MONTHLY SUMMARY Peak summer was a strong one for area hotels, and August brought the usual late-season slowdown. July set a high bar. Hotels across the market filled 73% of their rooms at an average of $262 a night, both ahead of last year. As summer wound down and families headed back to school, August cooled off a bit: market occupancy settled at 60%, just shy of last year, and nightly rates eased to $214. Bluffton was a bright spot, with occupancy climbing to 66% from 63% last August, while Hilton Head Island dipped slightly to 60%. Looking ahead, fall travel should hold steady, with occupancy around 60% through October before the typical seasonal dip in November. 11
Hilton Head Island
MONTHLY PERFORMANCE
OCCUPANCY
ADR
REVPAR
60%
$251
$151
Year
Occupancy
Year
ADR
Year
2025
63%
2025
$258
2025
$161
2024
56%
2024
$242
2024
$136
2023
62%
2023
$258
2023
$161
Bluffton
MONTHLY PERFORMANCE
OCCUPANCY
ADR
REVPAR
66%
$225
$148
Year
RevPAR
Occupancy
Year
ADR
Year
63%
2025
$261
2025
2024
67%
2024
$279
2024
$188
2023
69%
2023
$246
2023
$169
2025
Market
$165
MONTHLY PERFORMANCE
OCCUPANCY
ADR
REVPAR
60%
$214
$128
Year
RevPAR
Occupancy
Year
ADR
Year
RevPAR
2025
61%
2025
$221
2025
$136
2024
57%
2024
$208
2024
$118
2023
61%
2023
$216
2023
$131
MARKET FORECAST - BEAUFORT COUNTY Month
Occupancy
ADR
REVPAR
September
59%
$196
$116
October
61%
$199
$122
November
50%
$171
$86
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MONTHLY SHORT-TERM RENTAL REPORT September was a strong month for the short-term rental sector and a welcome turnaround after a summer of softer occupancy. Occupancy rose 18% over September 2025, and rates held firm with a modest 2% gain. Together, that lifted revenue per available rental 20% above last year. Looking ahead, early bookings suggest this momentum will carry into the fall. October is pacing ahead of last year in both occupancy and rate, and November and December are tracking slightly ahead as well. It’s an encouraging sign as we settle into the shoulder season.
Monthly Performance
SEPTEMBER 2026
OCCUPANCY
ADR
40%
18% YoY
Year
Occupancy
REVPAR
$347
+2% YoY
$140
20% YoY
RevPAR
Year
ADR
Year
2025
34%
2025
$340
2025
$117
2024
39%
2024
$342
2024
$134
2023
43%
2023
$352
2023
$153
KeyData On-The-Books Pacing “On-the-books” means reservations already confirmed for a given month. To gauge how a month is shaping up, we compare what’s booked as of today (10/12/26) to what was booked for the same month on this same date last year (10/12/25) - giving us an early, apples-to-apples read on demand before the month actually arrives. Month
Occ. 2025
Occ. 2026
ADR 2025
ADR 2026
RevPAR 2025
RevPAR 2026
October
34%
November
14%
37%
$298
$310
$102
$115
15%
$375
$374
$52
$54
December
6%
7%
$361
$370
$23
$26
GROUP MEETING SALES SNAPSHOT LEAD ACTIVITY & PIPELINE HEALTH •
Continued flow of qualified group, meeting, wedding, sports, and incentive leads
•
Strong interesting shoulder season and off-peak dates
•
Active pipeline spanning
•
2026-2028, with emphasis on converting tentative and repeat business into definite bookings 13
PARTNER COLLABORATION •
Ongoing coordination with hotel and venue partners on availability, pricing, and concessions
•
Focus on highlighting unique venues, outdoor spaces, and off-site experiences
INDUSTRY PRESENCE & SALES EFFORTS •
8 trade shows attended since January: 167 appointments resulting in 37 RFPs
•
2027 FAM opportunity(GBTA)
OPERATIONAL PROGRESS •
Continued refinement of sales processes, lead tracking, and follow-up workflows
•
Strong alignment to ensure consistent group messaging
•
Re-imagining the meetings website and group-focused marketing materials
WHY GROUPS & MEETINGS MATTER •
Drives year-round and midweek demand, supporting hotels, restaurants, transportation, retail, and service providers
•
Generates high economic impact per visitor beyond room nights
•
Builds a long-term booking pipeline that stabilizes future visitation and revenue
GROUP SALES MOMENTUM Year to date performance shows significant acceleration in both lead generation and conversion: •
Created Leads: 105
•
Associated room nights 971
•
Definite Leads: 8
Groups, meetings, and transient business continue to demonstrate strong momentum, supported by a healthy pipeline, active partner collaboration, and forward bookings that benefit the broader business community and reinforce long-term economic sustainability.
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HHI AIRPORT ENPLANEMENTS/DEPLANEMENTS ENPLANEMENTS
2023 2024 2025
r em
N
D
ec
em ov
ct O
Se
be
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er ob
be r em
pt
A
ug
Ju l
us t
y
Ju ne
ay . M
il pr A
M
ua Fe
br
ar
ry
y nu ar Ja
ch
2026
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2023
3,852
3,564
5,310
9,785
13,266
12,951
14,316
12,943
11,527
9,905
4,512
3,692
2024
3,651
4,423
6,026
11,026
13,760
13,192
13,444
12,586
10,744
10,646
5,965
4,824
2025
3,593
3,453
7,521
12,765
14,309
14,799
15,105
14,402
12,063
11,500
6,432
4,736
2026
3,344
4,438
7,532
14,593
17,344
16,009
16,133
15,175
DEPLANEMENTS 2023 2024
em be ec em
D
ec
be r em
be r
D
ov N N
ov
ob er ct O
r be m
pt e
Se
r
r em
ob ct O
Se A
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st
ly Ju
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ay .
Ju
A
be
er
r
pt
em
be
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ug
Ju
ly
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ay . M M
il pr A pr il
M ch ar M
y
Fe
br u
ar
y ar nu Ja
ar
y ar br u
Fe
Ja
nu
ar
y
2026
ch
2025
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2023
3,658
3,725
5,905
10,346
13,100
13,466
14,758
12,950
11,967
9,565
4,532
3,756
2024
3,498
4,718
6,213
11,024
13,838
14,012
13,929
13,304
10,372
10,453
5,724
4,950
2025
3,412
3,772
7,853
13,491
14,621
15,942
16,125
14,509
11,775
11,563
6,109
4,832
2026
2,806
4,821
8,217
15,128
17,133
16,804
16,901
15,250
SAV AIRPORT ENPLANEMENTS/DEPLANEMENTS ENPLANEMENTS 2023 2024 2025 2026
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2023
113,592
117,200
161,231
188,411
192,157
183,472
187,742
164,104
156,498
177,658
163,318
139,408
2024
116,066
127,303
176,567
193,997
206,880
200,972
190,225
166,810
162,858
188,292
173,625
159,687
2025
114,508
124,731
182,081
199,750
207,137
205,334
205,366
185,657
172,197
190,986
172,462
153,763
2026
122,614
129,779
184,119
210,380
209,630
195,709
195,983
175,528
DEPLANEMENTS 2023 2024 2025 2026
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2023
113,125
121,793
170,031
186,222
188,709
184,675
189,937
163,366
160,398
178,436
155,748
140,301
2024
118,759
132,250
182,538
190,872
206,164
199,001
196,322
166,905
162,802
190,868
165,951
158,667
2025
116,214
129,954
183,690
200,210
203,355
205,864
211,009
181,861
171,568
196,740
164,493
155,601
2026
121,501
136,710
193,337
206,955
202,991
193,925
203,696
169,345
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