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. 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 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

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 vacation experience.

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
Ms. Rita Barreto, President
Top Tier Leadership 
 
Vice Chair
Mr. Jason Emmett, Owner
Paradigm Hospitality Group
 
Secretary/Tresurer
Mr. John Carns, General Manager
The Boca Raton 
 
Mr. Troy McLellan, President/CEO 
Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Christophe Dagassan
Director of Leisure Sales/Global Travel Partnerships
The Breakers 
 
Immediate Past Chair
Mr. Patrick Franklin, President & CEO
Urban League of Palm Beach County

DTPB Board of Directors

At-Large Members
Mr. Brett Langbert, Executive Director
JP Morgan Securities

Mr. James Hansen, VP, Sales & Marketing
Kolter Hospitality
 
Mr. Peter Yesawich, Vice Chairman Emeritus
MMGY Global
 
Mr. Mohamed Elbanna, Regional Vice President & General Manager
Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach
 
Dr. Gary Vonk, President
Keiser University 

Bruce Shulman, Stragtegic Advisor
Northstar Travel Group

Community Members:
Ms. Yvonne Boice, Travel Consultant
Fugazy International Travel
 
Mr. Rick Rose, Proprieter
Palm Beach Vacation Rentals 
 
Ms. Mary Lou Bedford, President and CEO
Central Palm Beach County Chamber 
 
Mr. Lew Crampton, President & CEO (SF Science Center)
& City Council Town of Palm Beach
South Florida Science Center and Aquarium

Mr. Jim Williams
AW Architects Incorp
 
Ex Officio
Ms. Marian Antuña , Executive Vice President 
Central Palm Beach Chamber  
 
Ms. Cecilia Hudnet, Director of Sales
The Chesterfield Palm Beach

Mr. Ron Wichowski, General Manager
Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center
 
Ms. Ethel Issacs Williams, Legal/Business Consultant 

Mr. Kenneth R. Kennerly, Executive Director
The Honda Classic/ProLinks Sports
 

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.