Suggested social media post: #ThePalmBeaches Announces 31^st Providencia Award Nominations. Click to nominate a community leader or business now: www.ThePalmBeaches.com/Providencia-Award.
 
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (February 23, 2023) – Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB), the tourism marketing organization for Palm Beach County, is now accepting nominations for the 31^st Providencia Award. The award is presented to a local business, organization or individual making an extraordinary contribution to the vitality and prosperity of Palm Beach County as a desirable tourist destination. Examples of exemplary contributions include the establishment of a new event(s), expansion of facilities and achievement of outstanding business levels. Nominations may be made online through Friday, March 3, 2023, at www.ThePalmBeaches.com/Providencia-Award.
 
“The travel and hospitality community in Palm Beach County is stronger than ever before. We welcomed more than 9 million visitors last fiscal year, breaking all records and solidifying us as Florida’s premier travel destination,” stated Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO of Discover The Palm Beaches. “Please take this time to recognize the contributions of our community leaders and businesses that provided valuable service to our industry and helped us achieve these outstanding accomplishments.”
 
To qualify for nomination, nominees must meet all of the following criteria:

• The organization or individual must reside in or be a resident of Palm Beach County, employed or otherwise associated with tourism, travel or hospitality
• Must contribute to the growth of the local tourism industry
• Implement innovative sales, marketing, public relations and social media initiatives to enhance The Palm Beaches’ image
• May not be an elected official or a TDC agency-affiliated member or organization
• A previous Providencia Award recipient may be nominated as long as it has been a minimum of 5 years since the award was received

The DTPB Providencia Committee, which is comprised of tourism professionals in The Palm Beaches, will review all nominations ultimately selecting three finalists. The public will then be invited to select the Providencia Award winner by voting online. Public voting will begin Monday, April 3 and run through Friday, April 28, 2023. Winners from the past five years include Palm Beach Outlets, Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, Lion Country Safari, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, and Equestrian Sport Productions.
 
As one of the county’s leading economic drivers, tourism helps support the local community and improve the quality of life for residents and businesses. Tourism statistics for FY21-22 showed record-breaking visitation, spending, and economic impact to Palm Beach County with 9.1 million total visitors (up 31%) generating $6.7 billion in direct spending (up 34%) and $9.7 billion (up 33%) in total economic impact. The demand for and revenue from hotels makes tourism vital to the overall economic strength of the destination. 
 
The tourism award is named after the Providencia – a cargo ship carrying 20,000 coconuts that ran aground off Palm Beach’s coast in 1878. The planting of those coconuts, by pioneer families, created the lush palm grove that inspired Henry Flagler to build two resorts and eventually name the Town of Palm Beach and America’s First Resort Destination®.
 
The Providencia Award winner will be announced at Travel Rally Day on May 12, 2023. Travel Rally Day, which is held in observance of the U.S. Travel Association’s National Travel and Tourism Week (May 7-13, 2023), is an annual celebration that brings together tourism and hospitality businesses and personnel to share in togetherness and spotlight travel’s essential role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating diverse communities, creating fresh job opportunities, inspiring new businesses and uniting millions of Americans in a fundamental connection.
 
Learn more about The Palm Beaches at www.ThePalmBeaches.com or follow along on social media via @PalmBeachesFL.
 
About Discover The Palm Beaches
Discover The Palm Beaches 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 boasts 47 miles of pristine beaches from Highland Beach and Boca Raton to Jupiter and Tequesta. Tasked with growing visitation and the local tourism economy, the organization works year-round to bring travelers from around the state, country and globe to visit Palm Beach County. The Palm Beaches have a rich history in hospitality as America’s First Resort Destination® and tourism is among Palm Beach County’s major industries, generating $9.7 billion in economic impact during 2022.
 
The Palm Beaches are home to more than 18,400 hotel rooms and feature more than 100 family-friendly attractions, an abundance of world-class luxury, award-winning restaurants, and 125 miles of peaceful waterways for on- or in-the-water activities, including 160 artificial reefs that line the Atlantic Ocean’s Gulf Stream current. 160 golf courses have earned it the moniker of Florida’s Golf Capital®, as well as The Cultural Capital of Florida® due to its thriving entertainment scene of more than 200 art and culture organizations. Situated along I-95, The Palm Beaches are accessible via Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), which offers more than 200 daily nonstop flights across the United States and seasonal lift to/from Canada. The Palm Beaches are also conveniently located within driving distance of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Miami International airports.

For more information about The Palm Beaches, visit www.ThePalmBeaches.com or on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and TikTok). Visitors and residents can take advantage of county-wide deals via The Palm Beaches Savings Pass.  They can also tune in to The Palm Beaches TV for 24/7 streaming content of the destination’s hotels, attractions, restaurants and experiences.
 
###
 
Media Contact:
Discover The Palm Beaches
Public Relations Team: PR@ThePalmBeaches.com