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Chamber Profile |
The Half Moon Bay Coastside
Chamber of Commerce and Visitors' Bureau office is located
on Main Street in downtown Half Moon Bay.
The Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitors' Bureau is the only volunteer membership organization dedicated to the promotion of business on the Coastside. The Chamber now serves
nearly 700 members and has established itself as a leader in the community since 1963. Through a well planned and balanced
Business Plan, the Chamber is dedicated to creating a strong
local economy, promoting the community, providing
networking opportunities, representing the interests of
business with government, and encouraging a sustainable
future.
The Chamber is the primary source of tourist/destination marketing information for the Coastside, from Montara (9 miles to the north) to
Pescadero (15 miles to the south).
The Chamber is also dedicated to maintaining and
increasing its membership by providing more benefits and
more comprehensive services for the business community.
Quality of life and creating a strong local economy have become increasingly more important to the entire Coastside.
The Coastside has an abundance of businesses serving both residents and visitors.
Because of the rural appeal and close proximity to San Francisco and San Jose, many new businesses have settled
on the Coast. The Chamber has made its highest priority to raise Coastsiders' awareness as to the variety and location of businesses. Shopping locally is an integral part of supporting the Coastside community.
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Chamber Facts
Who We Are
Members Firms by Size
Year Founded
Did you know your Chamber...
Affiliations
What Does Our Chamber of
Commerce Do?
Visitor Services
Relocation Services
Businesses
Publications & Information
Events
Plus...
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Chamber
Facts
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Who We Are
The Chamber works to support business on the Coastside.
The Chamber is a
not-for-profit corporation.
Nearly 700 businesses and individuals are members.
Member businesses are all sizes, from small, home-based businesses to mid-size firms to large corporations.
Members are drawn from every
local industry.
Members represent every commercial neighborhood - from Princeton to Montara, from south of Pescadero to downtown Half Moon Bay - and cities throughout the Peninsula.
The Chamber team has
4 fulltime staff members and 11 board members.
The Chamber has 6 active ongoing committees and numerous task forces.
The Chamber has more than 30 active volunteers.
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Member Firms by Size
85%- 0-5 employees
11%- 6-25 employees
3%- 26-100 employees
1%- 101-500 employees
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Year Founded
The organization was incorporated in October 1963 as the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce. Since then
"Coastside" and "Visitors' Bureau" have been added to the
name.
President/CEO
Charise Hale McHugh, ACE
Chair of the Board
Heidi Kuiper, State Farm Insurance |
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Did you know your Chamber..
...Maintains an office with a full
time staff devoted to the civic and commercial development of
the area.
...Maintains a general information center answering hundreds of questions about the Coastside each month in person, by mail,
email, and by telephone.
...Conducts small business educational and information seminars and workshops.
...Provides on-going business referrals for members.
...Promotes Chamber member businesses through listing in publications, internet, and brochures.
...Provides maps, brochures, demographics and other pertinent information to businesses, residents and visitors.
...Stands ready to pursue any matter that can make the area a better place to live and make a living. |
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Affiliations
The Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Bureau is
a proud member of the following organizations in an effort to assist in
marketing our member businesses:
California Chamber of Commerce
California Travel Industry
Association (CalTIA)
California Travel & Tourism Board
Partners in Responsible Tourism
(PIRT)
San Jose Convention & Visitors'
Bureau
San Mateo County
Convention & Visitors' Bureau
Sustainable Travel Association
The International Ecotourism
Society (TIES)
United States Chamber of
Commerce
Western Association of
Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.)
The Chamber has also earned the distinguished honor of Accreditation by the United States Chamber of Commerce. |
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 What
Does Our Chamber of Commerce Do? |
Many people ask, "What does
a Chamber of Commerce do?" The Chamber does such a wide variety of
things, it is almost unanswerable! Below are some of the
many things the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of
Commerce and Visitors' Bureau does on behalf of the local
businesses and community:
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Visitor Services:
Answer thousands of calls and emails per year about the
Coastside area, beaches, retail shops, restaurants, hotels,
activities, and special events.
Mail out an average of 10-15 visitor packages PER DAY!
Conduct interviews for newspapers, book authors, and
magazines; supply information, photos, and sometimes
personal tours.
Produce and distribute 20,000 Visitor Guides annually.
Numerous referral calls to members.
Visitor information online at
www.hmbchamber.com.
Weekend staffed Kiosk at Mac Dutra Park to assist visitors
with information.
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Relocation Services:
The Chamber answers thousands of questions per year on life
on the Coastside - from the weather to the availability of
youth sports.
Sends out relocation packages with complete demographics,
history, map, Half Moon Bay Review, lodging, activities,
restaurants, real estate guides, and hiking information.
The Chamber is also a source of information for school papers on
history or current events and a media source as well.
Answer numerous referral calls on a daily basis from new
and old residents and businesses, as well as from tourists.
Relocation
information available online at
www.hmbchamber.com.
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Businesses:
Of course, the Chamber's primary role is to assist businesses on the
Coastside.
Assist new businesses with start-up information.
The Chamber is often the "go between" trying to solve a problem
between a Chamber member and a government branch.
The Chamber is the first information stop for a potential new
business.
The Chamber strives constantly to increase business for all
its members through the monthly E-Newsletter, network@night events, Business Directory,
Visitor Guide, events, website, and more.
network@night events connected to a theme make each
one a mini networking event.
Free website link and business listings for members 24/7 on
the Chamber's online Business Directory at
www.hmbchamber.com.
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Publications & Information:
Annual Business Directory
Bi-annual Coastside Street Map
Monthly E-Newsletter
20,000 annual Visitor Guides produced
Ecotourism Map
South Coast Visitor Guide
www.hmbchamber.com
Weekly Email Updates
Banners, signs, press releases, correspondence relating to
Chamber and Coastside functions.
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Events:
Farm Day Luncheon
Rock the Block Party
Annual Recognition Luncheon
Tour des Fleurs
Pumpkin Weigh-Off
Pumpkin
Festival
Nights of Light
network@night
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Plus:
Annual Scholarships to Half Moon Bay High School and
Pescadero High School graduating seniors.
Education Committee
Governmental Affairs Committee
Ambassador Committee
PRIDE Committee
Coastside
Ecotourism program to promote responsible travel.
The Chamber is pursuing an active role in working with the
City of Half Moon Bay in achieving their "goals and
objectives".
Visitor guides located throughout the Coastside, San Mateo and San Jose Convention and
Visitors' Bureaus.
Manage the Half Moon Bay Business Improvement
District (BID).
Heading the campaign to
Help the Highway
One Medians Grow!
Website,
www.hmbchamber.com, with over 4 million member referrals to
potential customers last
year! |
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