About Discover The Palm Beaches

Tourism is among Palm Beach County’s major industries. It generates an annual economic impact of approximately $11 billion in the local economy, produces $92.5 million in bed-tax revenue, lodging sales of approximately $1.3 billion, and supports more than 95,000 jobs. Discover Palm Beach County Inc. dba Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB) serves as Palm Beach County’s travel planning resource for domestic and international visitors. As the official destination marketing organization charged with promoting Palm Beach County as a leisure travel and meetings destination, Discover The Palm Beaches plans and executes initiatives in a broad range of areas including sales, marketing, research, visitor services, and industry relations. The goal is to deliver the right message through the right medium to the right audience at the right time in order to increase visitation and economic impact in Palm Beach County. Discover The Palm Beaches is a private non-profit corporation that is funded primarily by the collection of a “bed tax” paid by lodging guests for short-term stays in Palm Beach County.

History

The Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council (TDC) was established by the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners in 1981. In 1982, Palm Beach County enacted its first tourist tax and created a Tourist Development Plan for spending the revenues generated by the tax. The tourist tax, commonly known as the “bed tax,” is levied on lodging room nights in the County for a term of six months or less.  

Discover Palm Beach County, the original name of what is now known as Discover The Palm Beaches, was formed in 1983 as a nonprofit entity. One of the original marketing and advertising statements created in this time was Palm Beach County, Florida The Best of Everything. DTPB continues to operate today under a contract with Palm Beach County to provide tourism marketing services under the County’s Tourist Development Plan and receives funding from a portion of the “bed tax” collected in the County. DTPB’s Board of Directors provides supervision over DTPB affairs.

Discover The Palm Beaches is only one of the non-profit tourism organizations acting under contract to the County. The Tourist Development Council whose responsibility is contract oversight of the agencies funded by the “bed tax,” also acts as a liaison between the agencies and the Board of County Commissioners. The other agencies under the umbrella of the TDC are the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission, and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.

Mission

Grow The Tourism Economy

Strategic Pillars

Revenue Optimization

Organization & Destination Development

Collaboration

Destination Stewardship

Community First

Brand Promise

The Palm Beaches are America’s First Resort Destination.  The community where genuine hospitality is a way of life and the diversity of travel experiences is matched by the warmth of its coastal communities. It is Florida’s finest travel experience.

DTPB Board of Directors, 2025-2026

The Board of Directors is that group of persons vested with the management of the business and affairs of this Corporation, subject to the law, the Articles of Incorporation, and these Bylaws.

Officers/Executive Committee

Officers

Chairman Mr. Peter Yesawich, Co-Founder, MMGY Global

Vice Chairman Mr. Mohamed Elbanna, Executive Vice President, Global Operations, Auberge Resorts Collection

Secretary/Treasurer Mr. Jack Lighton, Executive Director, 4Ocean Foundation

Immediate Past Chair Mr. Jason Emmett, Owner, 2Ton, President, Shula’s Restaurants

Executive Committee Members

Mr. Troy McLellan, President/CEO, Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Bernardo Neto, General Manager, The Ben – An Autograph Collection Hotel

DTPB Board of Directors

Industry Members

Ms. Jennifer Berthiaume, Principal Chief Executive Officer, Berthiaume Consulting Group

Ms. Diane Quinn, CEO, The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts

Mr. Ron Wichowski, Senior Vice President of Operations and Food & Beverage, Southeast Region Dimension Development

Community Members

Ms. Erica Kasel, Chief Marketing Officer, Radence

Mr. Andrew George, SVP Live Event Experience & Operations TMRW Sports Group

Ms. Emily Snyder, Director of International Sales The Boca Raton

Ms. Mary Lou Bedford, President and CEO, Central Palm Beach County Chamber

Mr. Rick Rose, Proprietor, Palm Beach Vacation Rentals

Mr. Noel Martinez, President & CEO Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce

Ex Officio

Ms. Alyssa Freeman, Executive Director Marine Association of Palm Beach County

Mr. Alex O’Connor, Vice President Development, Related Ross

Mr. Bruce Seigel, General Manager, The Colony Hotel Palm Beach

Mr. Michael Stone, President, Wellington International

TDC Liaison

Mr. Jim Mostad, Senior Vice President, Sales The Breakers

Our various districts collectively bring together urban and suburban regions, along with natural waterways, lakes, Everglades, and the Atlantic Ocean that grace The Palm Beaches. These are all part of our identity and brand, as represented in our Palmscape logo. 

To learn more about our marketing initiatives view our 2026 Tourism Business Plan.