Once again, The Palm Beaches team is putting the finishing touches to its 2023-24 Destination Marketing Plan with a myriad of innovative strategies and tactics aimed at maintaining the record-breaking momentum we’ve experienced since last year. With an overarching theme of “Transitioning our Strategy,” the plan recognizes certain significant issues/initiatives that will likely cause seismic changes for Palm Beach County as a travel destination. These include the launch of a Tourism Master Plan process – the most comprehensive research aimed at establishing a decades-long roadmap for our industry; findings revealed in the 2023 DestinationNEXT global DMO trends study; the end of our 3-year Strategic Plan; and the arrival of a new President and CEO. These are events that will have a profound impact on how we market, the evolution of our tourism infrastructure, and how we ensure resident support and long-term sustainability for our community. So, hold on tight – it’s going to be a fun and fulfilling ride!

On more recent news, despite heat waves and other uncontrollable challenges, I am delighted to share positive results for the month of July. The Palm Beaches “bucked the trend” by posting another excellent month, when most of Florida is beginning to feel a softening in business activity. Highlights of key statistics where The Palm Beaches outperformed the State can be seen below. While August and September will be challenging months for our industry, we are still confident that – with the continuing deployment of targeted media, social and PR efforts, and aggressive sales initiatives – year-end results will exceed forecast. Enjoy!

Key Lodging Performance Trends for July

• The Palm Beaches ranked 1st in room nights sold growth at 3.1%, one of 3 markets with positive growth. The State of Florida decreased by 3.9%.
• The Palm Beaches ranked 2nd in room revenue growth at 5.0%.  Only Tampa (Hillsborough County) and The Palm Beaches had positive revenue growth. The State lost 6.4% in revenue.
• The Palm Beaches was one of four markets that were able to grow ADR and one of three markets that grew in occupancy.
• Total room nights sold from hotels and shared lodging increased 9.9%
• Overall lodging revenue was up 11.4% year-over-year at $92.2M.

Also, in Q2:

• A record 61,000 Canadians visited in Q2-2023, 4% more than 2022.
• Visitation from Germany was also a record at 5,100, up 18% from 2022.
• Brazil was up 70% from 2022 with 7,800 visitors.