Discover The Palm Beaches Moves Into New Fiscal Year With Fresh Leadership & Marketing Strategies

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – September 29, 2022 – Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB), the official tourism marketing organization for Palm Beach County, announces a new executive team as well as two new board members to lead the organization into a new era, energize its marketing, modernize its interaction with visitors and residents, and grow the tourism economy.  Milton Segarra, CDME, has been appointed as the Chief Marketing Officer and will spearhead all aspects of destination marketing including brand and digital marketing, social media, and public relations.  Kelly Cavers has been promoted to Chief Sales Officer, providing overall leadership and guidance to both Group Sales and Leisure Trade Industry Sales departments, as well as Destination Services.  Evan Lomrantz has been promoted to Chief Finance Officer, responsible for financial operations, human resources, community engagement, and strategic guidance. 

DTPB is also pleased to announce two new well-respected and seasoned hospitality professionals to its board of directors.  David Keamy, Executive Director of Sales for Ocean Properties Hotels and Resorts and the Opal Collection has been appointed as a new board member-at-large for the organization and brings almost 40 years of hospitality management, sales and marketing experience, mostly with Marriott International.  Peter Ricci, Director & Clinical Associate Professor for the Hospitality and Tourism Management Department at Florida Atlantic University, has also been named as a new ex-officio board member for his leadership in hospitality education and research, and his expertise in the local tourism community.  Ricci is a hospitality industry veteran with over 20 years of managerial experience in segments including food service, lodging, incentive travel, and destination marketing.

“The travel landscape has changed tremendously since the pandemic. We have become one of the biggest players in Florida’s Tourism industry and need to remain nimble and responsive, staying abreast of travel trends that create opportunities to uniquely position The Palm Beaches among different market segments,” said Jorge Pesquera, president & CEO of Discover The Palm Beaches.  “I am confident that we have assembled the right team and volunteer leadership to carry us forward in championing Florida’s premier tourism destination and creating a culture of innovation, growth, and success.”

Milton Segarra, CDME brings a wealth of experience from the destination marketing and hospitality industry including marketing, business development, corporate strategy, and strategic partnership development.  He most recently led the Coastal Mississippi Tourism Board, where he spearheaded a strategic master plan and led successful statewide efforts to secure federal COVID funds for tourism.  He was also previously president & CEO at Meet Puerto Rico, implementing significant branding, digital marketing, sales and social media initiatives to attract visitors.  At the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, he oversaw advertising and public relations campaign strategies and a network of representative offices in the U.S. and Europe.  Segarra achieved significant increases in bookings, room nights and hospitality partnerships during his tenure at these organizations.  He has also led several destinations and corporate rebranding efforts in the hospitality, healthcare, technology, and government sectors.
 
Kelly Cavers has spent over 25 years in various roles within the hospitality industry.  For the past six years, she has led the strategic group sales efforts and destination services for Discover The Palm Beaches.  She oversees a budget of over $2 million and a sales team of 18 and will now oversee Leisure Sales including international representation in six countries: the U.K., Canada, Germany, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil.  She is tasked with applying the latest technologies and community thought leadership to grow the group market and leisure tourism for the destination.  Under her supervision, the sales team generates and works with over 2,000 group lead opportunities for Palm Beach County and books close to 400 meetings and events in the destination, which represents over $75 million in direct spending to Palm Beach County each year.  Cavers’ prior experience included senior sales positions at other prominent destination marketing organizations, Choose Chicago and the San Diego Tourism Authority.
 
Evan Lomrantz has overseen the financial, human resources and community engagement functions for Discover The Palm Beaches for the past four years. Lomrantz has modernized the agency’s financial reporting and processes and applied technologies that have resulted in the effective and timely use of the organization’s $21 million budget.  In addition to his finance and administration role, he has also championed the equity, diversity, and inclusion strategic pillar for the organization through every facet including marketing, staffing, governance, and communications with the greater hospitality community.  He also promotes improved alignment and community engagement amongst residents, providing a greater understanding of the tourism industry and the shared community value that destination marketing and development represent.  Lomrantz was previously treasurer at the Professional Golfers Association and controller at TBC Corporation in Palm Beach Gardens.
 
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 $7.8 billion in economic impact during 2021.
 
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 lifts 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 (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, 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:
The Palm Beaches
PR@thepalmbeaches.com
561-233-3030