WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (May 6, 2020) – In a historic act of solidarity, The Palm Beaches became the most active destination during National Travel and Tourism Week’s (NTTW) Virtual Road Trip across America. Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB), the official tourism marketing organization for Palm Beach County, rallied its communities in the weeks leading up to the U.S. Travel Association event – ultimately bringing the destination’s number of stops to 30, the most of any single county or city in the country and more than half of Florida’s total.
 
Hotels, attractions and other local businesses throughout The Palm Beaches were encouraged to light up in red (NTTW’s official color) and pin their location to the map, which travelers navigated on Twitter using the hashtag #VirtualRoadTrip. DTPB’s vehement efforts to garner participation included personal communications and daily newsletter updates, with instructions on how to engage and position The Palm Beaches as a top destination on the virtual road trip.
 
The 37th annual NTTW is themed around the “Spirit of Travel” and how it cannot be broken, even as the industry suffers unprecedented impacts due to the global COVID-19 crisis. The longstanding tradition is also an opportunity for tourism workers and supporters to unite and honor the value the industry brings to economies, businesses and personal wellbeing.
 
Among the road trip’s featured stops in The Palm Beaches were:

• Iconic properties such as The Breakers and Eau Palm Beach
• Cox Science Center and Aquarium
• Historic cultural centers including the Flagler Museum and Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center, a conservation center located one on of the world’s most densely nested Loggerhead sea turtle beaches
• Hilton West Palm Beach, the Palm Beach County Convention Center’s trendy, attached hotel
• FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches, the preseason home of the 2019 World Series Champions, The Washington Nationals, and runners-up Houston Astros
• House of Perna, a female-founded and family-owned business dedicated to creating ethically made clothing for women

“We’re humbled to see The Palm Beaches cover so much of the map, during NTTW’s Virtual Road Trip across America,” said Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO of Discover The Palm Beaches. “What’s even more moving is seeing businesses that run the gamut from small, family-owned boutiques to world-renowned hotels come together to spread a message of hope, unity and support. That’s really what this virtual road trip symbolizes for us and destinations across the U.S.”
 
The 12-hour road trip, which took place on Tuesday, May 5, is the first of several NTTW initiatives designed to connect the tourism community, inspire travelers through virtual experiences and garner wider support for affected businesses. Discover The Palm Beaches will continue its efforts by encouraging able followers to eat and shop local as well as volunteer or donate to the following groups: Hospitality Helping Hands, Feeding South Florida and Save Palm Beach Food.
 
Additionally, DTPB will lead its special edition Town Hall on Friday, May 8. At the virtual event, local tourism leaders will take the stage to discuss The Palm Beaches’ current economic state and recovery stages as well as share details on new organizational campaigns and initiatives. Registration for the Town Hall will remain open until the event, which begins at 9 a.m. EDT. Questions can be submitted in advance to covid19@thepalmbeaches.com until Thursday, May 7, at 9 a.m.
 
DTPB’s Town Hall is one of many virtual platforms through which the organization has maintained regular communication with partners and community stakeholders. In tandem with these efforts, DTPB continues to update its various digital resources, including a directory of hotels accommodating essential lodgers, an aggregation of local restaurants and shops offering to-go services and a hub of virtual experiences serving as a source of inspiration and education for kids at home.

About Discover The Palm Beaches

Discover The Palm Beaches, formerly the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau, is the official 501(c)(6) not-for-profit, accredited tourism marketing organization that promotes the collection of 39 cities and towns commonly referred to as “The Palm Beaches,” which spans more than 2,300 square miles and 47 miles of pristine, golden beaches from Boca Raton to Jupiter and Tequesta. Tourism is among Palm Beach County’s major industries, generating $5.06 billion in direct visitor spending and supporting 70,000 jobs with an economic impact of more than $7.7 billion. Once recognized as a tropical escape for elite travelers in the late 1800s, America’s First Resort Destination® is making its resurgence as The Best Way To Experience Florida®, welcoming a record-breaking 8.22 million people in 2019. The Palm Beaches are home to more than 17,000 hotel rooms, ranging from historic resorts to boutique inns. The destination features more than 100 family-friendly attractions, world-class luxury and antique shopping experiences, 125 miles of peaceful waterways for on- or in-the-water activities, 160 artificial reefs that line the Atlantic Ocean’s Gulf Stream current, 160 golf courses, award-winning restaurants and a thriving entertainment scene boasting more than 200 art and culture organizations.
 
Situated along I-95, The Palm Beaches are also home to Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), with more than 200 daily direct flights to 27 domestic and international destinations in the United States and Canada. The Palm Beaches are also conveniently located next to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Miami International airports, each one only an hour away. In addition, Brightline, soon to transition to Virgin Trains USA, transportation into The Palm Beaches from Fort Lauderdale and Miami is even faster and more convenient – with an additional connection to Orlando coming soon.
 
For more information about The Palm Beaches, visit www.ThePalmBeaches.com and connect on social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PalmBeachesFL, YouTube at Discover The Palm Beaches and the hashtag #ThePalmBeaches. Tune-in to The Palm Beaches TV for 24/7 streaming content of the destination’s hotels, attractions, restaurants and experiences. 
 
MEDIA CONTACT:
Gina Kramer
Manager, Public Relations
Discover The Palm Beaches
gkramer@ThePalmBeaches.com
Cell: 609-752-9622