Conway Downtown Alive reports visitor-center growth, announces Porch Fest and mural plans

Hillary Howard, executive director of Conway Downtown Alive, told the Conway City Council on Feb. 18 that the Downtown Conway visitor center saw increased use in 2024 and outlined program plans for 2025.

Howard said the visitor center welcomed 6,934 guests in 2024, a 7% increase from 2023 and an average of 28 guests per operating day. The center recorded visitors from 49 states and an uptick in international travelers from countries including Japan, Ukraine, Romania, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria and Bangladesh. She said the top referral states after South Carolina were North Carolina, then Mid-Atlantic states and that traffic to the visitor-center web page rose from about 7,000 sessions per month last year to 12,783 sessions per month this year.

Howard described outreach efforts that include magazine placements, NPR sponsorships, geofencing campaigns with 625,000 impressions aimed at Grand Strand tourism areas, and partnerships with Coastal Carolina University for events. She announced a new downtown Porch Fest planned for February next year that will turn porches into small stages to showcase local musical talent. Howard also said Conway Downtown Alive is in talks to install a mural at the Stella’s ice cream wall with a potential ribbon cutting near Thanksgiving.

Howard said Conway Downtown Alive manages the Fifth & Main building on behalf of the city; in 2024 the city hosted 32 event rentals there and 12 were already on the books for the current year. She emphasized volunteers and ambassadors who staff the visitor center and promote downtown to new residents and visitors. The presentation concluded with council thanks and no questions beyond brief comments of appreciation.

"We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit," Howard said at the start of her update. "In 2024, the visitor center welcomed 6,934 guests. That's an increase of 7% over 2023."