About Discover The Palm Beaches

Tourism is among Palm Beach County's major industries. It generates an annual economic impact of approximately $7 billion in the local economy, produces $42 million in bed-tax revenue and lodging sales of approximately $623 million and supports more than 66,000 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. DTPB operates 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 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 Goals

Improved Alignment and Community Engagement
Strengthened Brand Awareness and Marketing
Ensured Organizational Sustainability
Energized Destination Development
Expanded Meetings and Events

Brand Promise

Palm Beach County is the best way to experience Florida, where genuine hospitality is a way of life and breathtaking beauty occurs naturally. It is the place to enjoy the time of your life.

DTPB Board of Directors, 2019-2020

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

Chairman
Mr. Patrick Franklin, President & CEO
Urban League of Palm Beach County
 
Vice Chair
Ms. Rita Craig, President
Top Tier Leadership
 
Secretary/Tresurer
Mr. Jason Emmett, President
Duffy's Sports Grill
 
Mr. Troy McLellan, President/CEO 
Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce

Mr. John Carns, General Manager
Boca Raton Resort & Club
 
Immediate Past Chair
Mr. Joe Cardenas, CEO
Aquaco Farms

DTPB Board of Directors

At-Large Members
 Mr. Brett Langbert, VP & Financial Advisor
JP Morgan Securities

Mr. James Hansen, VP, Sales & Marketing
Kolter Hospitality
 
Mr. Peter Yesawich, Vice Chairman
MMGY Global
 
Mr. Mohamed Elbanna, Regional Vice President & General Manager
Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach
 
Dr. Gary Vonk, President
Keiser University 
 
Community Members:
 Ms. Yvonne Boice
Fugazy International Travel
 
Mr. Rick Rose, Owner
Grandview Gardens Bed & Breakfast and Vacation Homes
 
Ms. Mary Lou Bedford, CEO
Central Palm Beach County Chamber
 
Mr. Christophe Dagassan,
Director of Leisure Sales & Global Travel Partnerships
The Breakers
 
Mr. Lew Crampton, President & CEO
South Florida Science Center & City Councilman - Town of Palm Beach

Mr. Jim Williams
AW Architects Incorp
 
Ex Officio
Ms. Maria Antuna, President
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
 
Ms. Cecilia Hudnet, Director of Sales
The Chesterfield Palm Beach

Mr. Bruce Shulman, Strategic Advisor
Northstar Travel Group

Mr. Ron Wichowski, General Manager
Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center
 
Ms. Ethel Issacs Williams, Senior Vice President Development & Public Affairs
Kaufman Lynn Construction

Mr. John Tolbert, President/Managing Firector
Boca Raton Resort & Club
 

Our various districts collectively bringing together urban and suburban regions, along with natural waterways, lakes, Everglades and 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 2020 Destination Marketing Plan.