TDC Board Book April 2023

Palm Beach County

Tourist Development Council Board Book

April 13, 2023

Table of Contents

1. TDC Attendance 04.13.2023

2. TDC Board Meeting Agenda 04.13.2023

3. TDC Board Meeting Minutes 02.09.2023

4. CONSENT ITEMS

4.A. DTPB Activity Report

4.B. Cultural Council Activity Report

4.C. Sports Commission Activity Report

4.D. Film & TV Monthly Newsetter

4.E. Film & TV Production Report

4.F. Convention Center Income Statement & Financial Operations Analysis Compared to Budget & Prior Year

4.G. Convention Center Marketing Report

4.H. Convention Center "Pace" Revenue Report

4.I. ERM Project Status Report

4.J. PBI Traffic Report

4.K. Contract Tracking Report

5. OLD BUSINESS

5..A. - 1. TDC Dashboard Current Month & FY2023

5.A. - 1.a. Bed Tax Collections

5.A. - 1.b. Report Out Metrits

5.C. FY23 Forecast FY24 Budget

5.D. FY24 Program Administration Budget Budgets

5.E. FY24 Performance Measures

5.G. DTPB President & CEO Retirement

6. NEW BUSINESS

6.C. - 1. Sargassum Issues Summary

(Seat)

(1) Commissioner Maria Sachs, Chair (1/14/21)

(4) Jim Bronstien, Vice Chair(9/30/26) Appt(3/1/95) ReApp(9/18/18) Dis.3

(2)Roger Amidon Appt(9/30/25)Dist. 1

(3) Jim Mostad (9/30/20) Appt (10/16/19), Dis. 2, St 3

(5)Daniel Hostettler(0930/23) Appt (05/18/21). Dis 4.

(6)Commissioner Adam Frankel (9/30/24) Appt (03/08/22)[Dis.5]

(7)Don Dufresne (9/30/23) Apt(6/5/12) ReAp(5/3/16)&(8/20/19) Dis6

(8) Davicka N. Thompson (9/30/2024) Appt(12/6/16)RdAppt(8/25/20) [Dis.7]

(9) Commissioner Christina Lambert Appt (10/01/22)- (9/30/26) At-Large

STAFF

Verdenia C. Baker, County Administrator

Liz Herman, Assistant County Attorney

Dave Lawrence, Culture

George Linley, Sports

Michelle Hillery, Film & TV

Jorge Pesquera, Discover

Deborah Drum, ERM

Dave Anderson, PBCCC

Kathy Griffin, PBCCC

Vacant, TDC

Emanuel Perry, TDC

Joan Hutchinson, TDC

Vannette Youyoute,

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

Thursday, April 13, 2023 – 9:00 A.M.

2195 Southern Boulevard

West Palm Beach, Florida 33406

AGENDA

1. ROLL CALL*

2. MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS*

3. MOTION TO APPROVE FEBRUARY TDC MEETING MINUTES*

4. MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE CONSENT ITEMS FOR MARCH 2023 emailed to the Board and APRIL 2023 included under this Agenda*

MARKETING AGENCIES REPORTING

A. DTPB ACTIVITY REPORT*

B. CULTURAL COUNCIL ACTIVITY REPORT*

C. SPORTS COMMISSION ACTIVITY REPORT*

D. FILM & TV MONTHLY NEWSLETTER*

E. FILM & TV PRODUCTION REPORT*

PBC CONVENTION CENTER OPERATING REPORTS

F. CONVENTION CENTER INCOME STATEMENT & FINANCIAL OPERATIONS ANALYSIS COMPARED TO BUDGET & PRIOR YEAR*

G. CONVENTION CENTER MARKETING UPDATE*

H. CONVENTION CENTER “PACE” REVENUE REPORT*

OTHER TDC-SUPPORTED AGENCY/DEPARTMENTS REPORTS

I. ERM PROJECT STATUS REPORT*

J. PBI TRAFFIC REPORT*

K. CONTRACT TRACKING REPORT*

5. OLD BUSINESS – DISCUSSION ITEMS

A. TDC TOURISM PERFORMANCE METRICS

1. TDC DASHBOARD CURRENT MONTH & FY2023* - Emanuel Perry

a. Bed Tax Collections*

b. Report Out Metrics*

B. PBI UPDATE – Nicole Hughes

C. FY23 FORECAST & FY24 BUDGET* - MOTION TO APPROVE - Emanuel Perry

D. FY24 PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION BUDGETS* - MOTION TO APPROVE – Emanuel Perry

E. FY24 PERFORMANCE MEASURES* - MOTION TO APPROVE - Emanuel Perry

F. HB 5 & HB 7053 UPDATE – Open Discussion

G. DTPB PRESIDENT & CEO RETIREMENT* – Emanuel Perry

6. NEW BUSINESS – DISCUSSION ITEMS

A. TOURISM MASTER PLAN UPDATE – Emanuel Perry

B. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, & ACCESSIBILITY SUMMIT –Jennifer Sullivan

C. ERM

1. Sargassum Update*

2. Update – Deb Drum

D. DISCOVER

1. Tucan Media Marketing Agreement – Milton Segarra

2. Community Outreach Toolkit-Love The Palm Beaches - 5 Minutes/Milton Segarra & Beril Gutierrez

3. Between The Sessions Podcast – 5 Minutes – Jaimie Hart

4. Update – Jorge Pesquera

E. SPORTS COMMISSION

1. Update - George Linley

F. CULTURAL COUNCIL

1. Update – Dave Lawrence

G. FILM & TV

1. Update – Michelle Hillery

H. CONVENTION CENTER

1. OVG Venue Management

a. Update- Dave Anderson

2. OVG Hospitality

a. Update – Kathy Griffin

7. BOARD COMMENTS

8. PUBLIC COMMENTS

9. ADJOURNMENT

The next Meeting will be on May 11, 2023.

*Attachment included.

Tdc/tdcmtgs2023/Agenda 4 13.2023

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

Thursday, February 9, 2023 – 9:00 A.M.

MINUTES

1. ROLL CALL*

Present

Commissioner Sachs, Chair

Jim Bronstien, Vice Chair

Roger Amidon

Jim Mostad

Commissioner Adam Frankel

Don Dufresne

Davicka Thompson

Commissioner Christina Lambert

Staff

Verdenia Baker, County Administrator

Liz Herman, Assistant County Attorney/Videoconference

Joan Hutchinson, Tourist Development Council

Emanuel Perry, Tourist Development Council

Patricia Ramirez, Tourist Development Council

Vannette Youyoute, Tourist Development Council

Dave Lawrence, Cultural Council/Video Conference

Jennifer Sullivan. Cultural Council/Video Conference

Lauren Perry, Cultural Council

George Linley, PBC Sports Commission

David Fontanarosa, PBC Sports Commission

Michelle Hillery, Film & TV Commission

Jorge Pesquera, Discover The Palm Beaches

Milton Segarra, Discover The Palm Beaches

Kelly Cavers, Discover The Palm Beaches

Erika Constantine, Discover The Palm Beaches

Sergio Piedra, Discover The Palm Beaches

Evan Lomrantz, Discover The Palm Beaches

Deborah Drum, ERM

Matt Mitchell, ERM

Absent

Daniel Hostettler

Dave Anderson, Convention Center/Spectra Venue Management

Kathy Griffin, Convention Center/Spectra Hospitality

Nicole Hughes, PBI Airports

2. MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS*

Motion to approve TDC Board Meeting Agenda was made by Davicka Thompson and seconded by Jim Mostad. Motion carried 8-0 with Daniel Hostettler absent.

3. MOTION TO APPROVE JANUARY TDC MEETING MINUTES*

3.

Motion to approve January TDC Meeting Minutes was made by Jim Mostad and seconded by Roger Amidon. Motion carried 8-0 with Daniel Hostettler absent.

4. MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE CONSENT ITEMS FOR FEBRUARY 2023*

MARKETING AGENCIES REPORTING

A. DTPB ACTIVITY REPORT*

B. CULTURAL COUNCIL ACTIVITY REPORT*

C. SPORTS COMMISSION ACTIVITY REPORT*

D. FILM & TV MONTHLY NEWSLETTER*

E. FILM & TV PRODUCTION REPORT*

PBC CONVENTION CENTER OPERATING REPORTS

F. CONVENTION CENTER INCOME STATEMENT & FINANCIAL OPERATIONS ANALYSIS COMPARED TO BUDGET & PRIOR YEAR*

G. CONVENTION CENTER MARKETING UPDATE*

H. CONVENTION CENTER “PACE” REVENUE REPORT*

OTHER TDC-SUPPORTED AGENCY/DEPARTMENTS REPORTS

I. ERM PROJECT STATUS REPORT*

J. PBI TRAFFIC REPORT*

K. CONTRACT TRACKING REPORT*

Motion to Receive and File Consent Items for February 2023 was made by Roger Amidon and seconded by Commissioner Adam Frankel. Motion carried 8-0 with Daniel Hostettler absent.

5. OLD BUSINESS – DISCUSSION ITEMS

A. TDC TOURISM PERFORMANCE METRICS

1. TDC DASHBOARD CURRENT MONTH & FY2023*

a. Bed Tax Collections*

b. Report Out Metrics*

Perry

Bed Tax Collection – December 2022 collected in January was $8.2M compared to the same month last year at $7.9M, a 4% increase. Actual December was (5%) below budget and 31% above the prior month at $6.3M. Actual December was 47% higher than 2019, a new record for any December since reporting started.

FYTD 23 Collections at $24M, was higher than last fiscal year to date of $21M by 14%, reflecting a strong recovery from the pandemic. FYT collections at $24M are pacing 5% ahead of the Approved Budget and 56% higher than our record in 2019.

The Rooms sold for December were 407,308, 2% higher than last year. Rooms available for December at 586,055 are 3% higher than last year. Hotel Rooms Active today in the County

18,905

Occupancy for December 2022 was 69.5%, (1.4%) lower than last year. Occupancy for December 2021 was 70.5%. December 2018 was 73.7%. The average daily rate for December was $284.98 4.7% higher than last year, and 36% higher than in 2019. The Revenue/Available Room for December 2022 was $198.05 higher than the prior December by 3.3%.

Hotel room net sales FY23 year over year December increased 5% at $112M compared to $107M. Non-hotel room sales FY23 year over year December increased 13% at $25M compared to $22M. Hotel room net sales FYTD 2023 increased 17% at $334M compared to $285M. NonHotel room sales FYTD 2023 increased 15% at $64M compared to $56M. FYTD 2023 Taxable Revenues Fiscal Year over FY2022 increased 17% at $399M compared to $341M. FYTD 2023 Taxable Revenues Fiscal Year over FY2019 increased 60% at $399M compared to $250M.

Airport passengers for December 2022 were 679,545, 8% higher than in December 2021, and the Total Estimated Seat Capacity at (2%) lower than last December 2021 with 791,906 seats. PBI Passenger 12-month rolling is a 26% increase at 6,640,043 over last year.

Leisure & Hospitality Employment for December, at 98,700 increased 10% over the same month last year. Accommodation employment went up 12% higher over last year at 10,900 employees. F&B was up 16% at 67,400 employees. Arts & Entertainment employment is (6%) lower than last year at 20,400 employees.

B. PBI UPDATE – Nicole Hughes Hughes

In October 2022, we had 507,644 total passengers which was 8% above October 2019. Our seat capacity was less at 5,660,348 which was 5% below 2019.

Air carrier operations were 3,824, which is 4% below October 2019. General aviation was 9,112, which was 26% above 2019. Our total operations were 12,936, which was 15% above October 2019. We had an 8% increase in total passengers. General aviation operations were consistent compared with 2021.

In November we had 592,505 total passengers, which was 2% above 2019. Seat capacity was 680,677 which was 6% below 2019. Air carrier operations were 4,586, which was 4% below 2019. General Aviation was up again at 10,834, which was 47% above 2019. As a result, general aviation increases our total operations by 27% above 2019 at 15,420.

Weather and staffing shortages account for the travel decrease in December. We had cancellations and a 4% decrease in carrier operation, but in general aviation, for December we had 79,545 total passengers, which was 6% lower than in 2019. December 2019 was one of our highest travel years in recent history. Seat capacity in December was 906,000, which is 11% below 2019. Air carrier operations were 5,306, which is 9% below 2019. General aviation was 95% above 2019 at 11,900 and again, our total operations increased by 43% at 17,031. December passengers were 6% less than in 2019.

Avelo will be providing service from PBI to Raleigh Durham beginning on February 17th. Allegiant will be returning to Indianapolis starting February 16th and will be on a twice-

weekly flight schedule. Jet Blue is returning to LAX and that starts on February 16th with nonstop daily flights Most likely it will be seasonal.

We are going to be issuing an RFP for new concessions. We will be surveying to find out what kind of service people want. That survey should be up on our website tomorrow. We encourage all of you to take part in the survey so we can revitalize.

Dufresne

Why are we using 2019 at the base?

Hughes

It was our pre-pandemic numbers. Next time, I can use 2021.

Bronstien

As peopleleaveon aplaneto leavetown it seems likewe could do abetter job ofmarketing when you are going through the concourse to a plane about upcoming activities and events that are going on. Maybe people would think, we should go book another trip, if we were to report events, and do some marketing, use all that extra money that we just talked about to promote departing passengers, not arriving passengers, they are already here. That is a huge opportunity to give people a calendar.

Pesquera

We've had discussions with Laura on several initiatives that are happening, particularly as it pertains to new flights that are coming in and how we are promoting them.

Anything is possible, and Ithink that is a great idea. Many gates are not used because there is no flight and there is a board, those boards could be converted into a selling opportunity, whateverfestivalishappeningatMorikami,etc. Wecancertainlyexploreusingtheunused idle boards at all the gates as a communication device and work with the airport to make that happen.

There may be other places in the concourse where we could have regular activation to promote activities that are coming up in the future like SunFest, the boat show, and Honda Classic

Anderson

You use a third party to sell space. Are there any restrictions on that company?

Hughes

Clear Channel is our vendor for advertisements, but they do offer a rate.

Anderson

Are there any restrictions on putting additional screens in?

Hughes

I do not think the gate screens would be under Clear Channel, I am not sure about that. I'd have to check into that because they may be specific to that airline, and we may not have access to those as well.

Commissioner Sachs

We would like a report as to what we can and cannot do inside the airport.

Baker

I will reach out to the agency, along with Laura, and legal, and sit down and do a powwow and report back to the board in our next meeting.

Bronstien

Just to be clear specifically about departing people, advertising them about the future.

C. SUCCESS CONTINUATION PLAN* – Jorge Pesquera (5 min.)

Pesquera

Fromthe broadcast TVpoint ofview, we areoffto theraces since January16th,inChicago, Boston, Washington DC, and New York. We are talking about 1,200 DDIs, a lot of them on primetime slots, in shows like Jeopardy, which we are going to be on during March Madness and PGA Tour events as well.

The community outreach tool which was announced at our state of tourism event is to empower our community, our residents, and community leaders to use the power of a personal invitation and invite friends and family to visit, which is the number one reason people come to Palm Beach County. That toolkit includes many opportunities on social media, and so forth.

With TDC collaboration, we are already working on the Ultimate Week of Sports. As George mentioned before we are going to be working with Dave on the DEIA Summit as well. With our friends at Film, we now have a new videographer on staff. He has started to regroup on Studio Buildout. We've shared co-op marketing plans with PBI for these digital buys. And they are reaching out to us to do more on the social media front.

We are working with Avelo to launch the new Wilmington and Raleigh Durham flights, and also talking about LAX with online travel agencies. We've done this through a forecasting tool that Gustav developed, and we are pinpointing need periods within the

next 90 days and zeroing in with special offers for those particular sets of dates. We are seeing some very positive early returns on the use of that tool and with international strategies moving forward. We are determining opportunities in the UK with something called the Henley Regatta and in Toronto with the Apollo Club in Canada. On the digital side, we've launched phase one in Mexico, Colombia, and Toronto, and phase two will be in Montreal and Brazil, in French and Portuguese.

We've signed a contract with a company called Relic for the production of a unique, first group-related destination podcast, which will use thought leaders in the industry paired with local individuals to communicate that we are the cutting edge in terms of hosting meetings and events, and that should be launching in mid-March.

On family activation, our agency of record is exploring and approaching viable partners to work with us on launching a full-fledged family-related campaign. We are working on brand activations. In the Metaverse, we are exploring several proposals and RFPs, so we can secure the resources and the expertise to use that towards the end of the year.

Accessible travel. We've had calls with WheelchairTravel.org and Travel Mobility. We are just exploring how we can use this new very important effort to welcome everyone to enjoy the Palm Beaches.

On the sales side, we were just at PCMA, and we reaffirmed our availability to support qualified groups with additional incentive funds, particularly for need periods in the summer and fall. And the meeting planner community is getting the message that we now have incentive dollars. We've started the planning process to enhance participation in multicultural trade events and marketing partnerships.

We had in town this past week all our international representation firms from the UK, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. They made presentations to the industry, and we talked to them about expanding their repertoire of services to include the groups and meetings market as well, which was part of what we presented.

We are working on a couple of important transformational events that we can't talk about yet but would be targeting special needs periods. We will include this information as part of our regular monthly report and suggest that if there are any questions from the TDC board we can answer them so that we don't have to do this necessarily all the time.

Thompson

With the community outreach toolkit and those residents How are we selecting residents?

Segarra

The fact is that between 30% to 50% of our visitors use a resident as the final source to decide I'm going to go to the Palm Beaches.

We are providing openly through social media efforts, our digital tools, like photos, copy points and videos. They can enhance their social media when they target their family and friends. We are going to have it available through our social media which is going to start first. So, people will maybe click on a QR code, download it, or through our website and access all the digital kits and assets that we have.

It is not selecting this one or the other. It's going to be open to everybody that wants to follow us and be part of this effort.

Thompson

As a resident, then I have to know that I should go to your social media pages or to the website to participate.

Pesquera

Exactly. But we are going to promote it locally through community events.

We might do certain things to get the word out. Maybe billboards, I do not know. We have not gone to that level doing how we get the message out there to the people. But, in collaboration with our other agencies, I think we can get the message out to the residents.

Segarra

And at this point, we are just in initial conversations with one of the largest TV stations or newspapers in the area so they can join this effort and promote it.

Pesquera

One of the things we are using the special stimulus of the $5M for is the use of a mobile visitor information center. We will have, for example, at Sun Fest at the boat show, and the Honda Classic a visitor information center that we open up, and that will be another vehicle to tell the public that we have this toolkit whereby they can use their power of a personal invitation to bring their relatives from other states.

Segarra

The other option is that we are trying to do a partnership with the local chain of restaurants from our county, and we will provide a tent card at those tables. When locals go and have dinner, they just click on the QR code, and they can add all the information. Right now the initial launch will be through the database that we have in our social media feeds.

Thompson

Is there an update on the Tourism Master Plan? Where are we with that?

Pesquera

There was a meeting on the 27th of January with all the agency heads where we developed a first draft and a scope of work. There were excellent recommendations from the agencies and Ms. Baker as it pertains to the scoring mechanism for the selection of the consultants. The changes have been put into the RFP and we are almost ready to talk about this as an official launch at the April meeting.

Amidon

For accessible travel under marketing, do we know who has the best destination for maybe that segment?

Segarra

Tampa is at the cutting edge in this regard. There was another destination, one of the top destinations in the nation Mesa, AZ. They have one and they have created a certification program for the suppliers in the destination, plus certain guidelines on how to provide the solutions to the needs of this particular traveler. We spoke with them, and they said we are going to help you to move forward.

Tampa has a good program on this. Orlando has a very good one as well We want to make sure we are going to do this to the level that we think we can. When you have more than 50 million people with a disability who want to travel, we want to make sure we have it right and we present the destination at the same level as regular travel there as well.

Amidon

I know the Dive Association gets involved with wheelchair populations, they get out there diving.

Segarra

This is one of those opportunities, but that also requires a level of responsibility from the destination to provide the right type of access and services to this population.

Lawrence

Just an update for everybody regarding cultural organizations and accessibility Most of our Cultural organizations receive state funding. They have to complete accessibility assessments of their organization to receive those dollars. The organizations are ready and abled and are happy to welcome guests with mobility issues.

Commissioner Sachs

Are those Federal or State funds?

Lawrence

It is a combination of both, primarily State funds.

Commissioner Lambert

Is this report in response to the additional funding that we recently approved?

Pesquera

Yes.

Commissioner Lambert

You said that this will be included in a monthly report

Pesquera

Yes.

Commissioner Lambert

That then includes financial reports as well.

Pesquera

Every month, we are reporting on the activities that we implemented utilizing the funds. If there is an ROI component, I think that would come at a mid-year or end-of-the-year basis because you do not see the immediate effects of some of these actions until sometime later on. The impact has to be looked upon on a more long-term basis.

Commissioner Lambert

I appreciate the follow-up of what the activities are., but when we talked about the approval of it, we talked about ROI to make sure we have a plan for when we will see those financials

Pesquera

Do you want to include numbers?

Perry

They can include numbers going forward to identify what the ROI is.

Commissioner Lambert

Maybe at the six-month mark or the annual mark.

Amidon

They presented us with an approximate amount of investment of $250,000. That is when the discussion came up about the ROI

Commissioner Lambert

Maybe it is not the ROI yet, but at least the expenditure amount.

6. NEW BUSINESS – DISCUSSION ITEMS

A. ERM

1. Two Minutes Update- Deb Drum Drum

A quick follow-up on the accessibility point. Beyond Parks and Recreation, we do have certified autism-friendly trails. We have hiking opportunities and more nature-based experiences beyond the playground.

Palm Beach County received about $4M of damage, from the hurricanes in November. Half of the money will be reimbursed by the State, we expect reimbursement of about $2M. Our emergency dune restoration is complete at Coral Cove. We restored a mile of the dune from the county line to the south of the park.

And then the second of our two emergency dune restoration projects are underway on Singer Island. We have about 48,000 tons of sand being used to reconstruct 1.25 miles of the dune. Restoration will be complete and beaches ready for the next storm season and before the sea turtles’ nesting starts.

We had a very successful community planting event at Tarpon Cove with more than 70 volunteers and visitors. Planted 600 mangroves and 400 Spartan seedlings on the two newly created islands in Lake Worth Lagoon.

The Lake Worth Lagoon Fishing Challenge starts on February 11th. It is a free citizen science fishing tournament aimed at collecting fisheries information from our largest estuary here in the county.

I hope all of you will consider joining us at the Palm Beach County Natural Areas Festival. It will be held Saturday, March 4th at Winding Water's Natural Area. It is free, unless you want to sign up for the 5K or a 10K run the morning of that event, there will be guided hikes and kayak tours, a wildlife presentation in the kids’ zone, food trucks, and environmental exhibitors.

Amidon

Just a reminder clarification, do beach restoration and dune restoration have the same funding sources?

Drum

The same funding source, and the same protections. It is given based on how much space you have on the beach and what opportunities you have. Sometimes we can only do dune restorations. It is the best we can do given the different permitting challenges that we have on the beach.

Amidon

This is just to clarify, around public money, but taxpayers’ money now is tourists’ tax dollars paying for it, or is there a mix?

Drum

It depends. We try to leverage our funds. There are some pots of money from the State, we go for every single dollar that we can get. I can bring back to you the breakdown of the sources of funding for dunes, but it's a mix. But we bring as much money from the federal and state government as we possibly can.

Commissioner Lambert

I was out at Tarpon Cove last weekend. I wanted to share that it was a phenomenal experience. The coordinators from the county who were there were fabulous. And the other thing I noticed was I was talking to some of the other volunteers there, and some people who came had a two to three-hour drive to be there at 7:30 in the morning.

Drum

As part of the strategic planning discussion, we have been talking about those opportunities and that is part of the reason why some of the folks around the table are coming out to our event next week to kind of feel it and experience it firsthand so we can figure out the best way to market that sort of the environmental service sustainability part that Jorge just talked about. We think there are opportunities there. It is a special group of people that like to give back in that way. It is not everybody, but there are quite a few people that if they knew about the opportunities, I think would come here to do that.

And our Natural Areas Festival is one where we talk to people who attend. We have you know many thousand people attend and they come from far away and stay at hotels to go to this festival. It's a start.

Commissioner Sachs

Do you work with Mr. Pesquera on getting the word out, or how do you promote these activities that are special to Palm Beach?

Drum

We have a very close partnership with The Palm Beaches, and we work with them, also we have our own very active community on social media. ERM has social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook, and we get a lot of interest from that. It's a community of people that follow what we do at ERM.

B. DISCOVER

1. Two Minutes Update – Jorge Pesquera Pesquera

I want again to thank Emanuel and Joan for the progress on the Tourism Master Plan. We've had productive discussions and we are closer than ever. We are looking forward to the next discussions with the Facilities team on the hotel.

But I want to share some great news. We were at PCMA just a couple of weeks ago. It is one of the largest events in the meetings industry. We were there in full force, with 4,000 attendees. We used a local thought leader and artist, Amanda Perna, who I think is a fashion person. 500 attendees went to her session. She was a speaker that we sponsored. We raised $4,000 for the PCMA Foundation, from the items that Amanda Perna donated. PCMA likes us now, and that is an important thing because that's the community of meeting planners.

The Above and Beyond Foundation of which Kelly Cavers is one of the board members awarded 15,000 to three frontline workers during the event. We had an Orange Theory hit workout in the morning that was also sold out.

And the most important thing, 221 leads and 142,000 room nights were developed in the month of January, 80% of those leads emanated from this event that took place in Columbus, Ohio. You can see the impact that a well-orchestrated invitation to meeting planners can have, getting the word out that they come to a booth or activation with an attractive hook, really makes a big difference.

We hosted Visit Florida's Huddle. This is their big event of the year where they have one section of the trade show floor. Thank you, Dave, for a wonderful job. The Convention Center did a fantastic job, and all our friends here supported us 660 participants, representatives from all over Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, the UK, Germany, and Ireland 1,400 contracted room nights, three contracted hotels, and 40% of the attendees booked their hotel outside of the room block why is that? Visit Florida said to us, we can't come back until we have another hotel. They've been here a couple of times. We hosted them six years ago.

They did a fantastic job at the closing night, which is usually very poorly attended, and it was packed. We did it at the Croquet Center, with the support of our friends at the Cultural Council with the music, etc The comments were over the top. These people

were impressed, and I think we have a great opportunity to bring a lot of that business back.

Finally, there is an events and publications company called Dispatch and I want to share that we are now up for several major awards. Best City to Host a Meeting, for something called the Pink Retreat. Which is a group of ladies that get together and talk about all things Lily Pulitzer that has grown from 50 to 800 people. There might be some men who like that too. We are up for Best City to Host an Incentive Program, for the way we hosted the Site Classic last year at the Boca Raton. Thanks to Dan Hostettler and his team, they did a fantastic job. We are up for the Best Convention Center, congratulations Dave for hybrid events and experiences, and that was a recommendation by Permissionless by Blockbusters, which was the cryptocurrency event that was here, 6,000 people using 22 hotels around the county, and we've grown that event as well. I think we are going to get one of them at least. This tells you a little bit about how we have been able to grow the brand and get out there in a much bigger way.

Commissioner Lambert

You mentioned the closing night of the Huddle was packed. Is there anything that prompted that change in attendance?

Pesquera

I think the attendees saw the level of service and sophistication that was displayed throughout the event from the beginning, and they just opted to linger and see what it was that we had in store for them for the end. The comments from Visit Florida organizers were extremely positive.

C. SPORTS COMMISSION

1. The Category “G” Grant Agreements* - MOTION TO APPROVE

f. USTA Girls 12’s National Clay Court Championships (July 9-16, 2023) – Polo Club of Boca Raton

USTA Boys 18’s & 16’s National Clay Court Championships (July 9-16, 2023) – Delray Beach Tennis Center, Boca Swim & Racquet Club, Delray Swim & Tennis Club, Boca Grove Country Club, Boca West Country Club, The Oaks, Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center

$8,000 840

$15,000 1,000

$30,000 1,200 Total $271,000 25,009 Average Historical ADR - $185.29 ROI

-

2. Two Minutes Update - George Linley

I want to just bring to your attention the December event above. It will be an inspiring event, called the Miracle League All-Star Game in Palm Beach County's home, the two Miracle League fields. One in Palm Beach Gardens, and one in Delray Beach. It allows children with severe disabilities, and youth who are mentally challenged and physically challenged to participate in sports through the game of baseball. The Miracle League is an incredible organization, it's designed to allow kids to enjoy the game. We are hosting, and we've always been partners with the Miracle League. This was always a local effort, but there is an All-Star game that was launched four years ago, and it's called The Miracle League All-Star Game. We will host it from November 3rd through 5th, it will attract 600 youth from across the country. You have 600 kids, but there will be family and friends that come to watch these kids and they are coming from around the country. In addition to that, there are 300 miracle leagues around the nation, and there will be representatives from those Miracle Leagues coming here. There will be a significant hotel impact. There will be an opening ceremony at the Ballpark of The Palm Beaches, and there will be the Wellington International Palm Beach Equestrian Center as they are working with us to create a display and expose these kids to equestrian sports.

The Sports Commission from October through December 31st hosted 47 events, represented 14 different types of sports, and generated over 84,900 plus room nights. When you look at the average daily rate that was over $1.1 million in revenue

Linley

It was a big first quarter for us. We were up about 14%, which is about 10,000 plus room nights compared to that same timeframe last year and we hoped to continue to ride that momentum throughout the rest of the year.

We have a big event coming to Palm Beach County this April. A major international tennis event. It was formally called the Federation Cup and we hosted that in 2005, 2007, and 2013. But this is the first time that we are hosting it under the rebrand of the Billy Jean King name. She is arguably not only one of the greatest tennis players, but an iconic athlete both on and off the field. It is the United States vs. Austria. There is a rumor UTA has asked Serena if she would play. All I can tell you is she hasn't said no, doesn't mean she's going to play, but it was the Post that even did a little article on that. If she was to say yes and join Coco Gauff, then it would be quite a spectacle in Palm Beach County in April. Hopefully, we will see you out there.

Commissioner Frankel, I appreciate your help with all this and your enthusiasm. The City of Delray Beach is also putting in a significant amount of money, and in-kind services to allow this event to happen.

Commissioner Lambert

As you were talking about all that is coming up, we could advertise at the airport. It is impressive what we are doing here, and I hope that we can find space there other than the pictures of it.

Amidon

Is The Senior Baseball coming back?

Linley

Yes. The Men's Senior Baseball League is coming back. It was here this year, this past November. It was compromised severely during COVID until last year. That is the one event that is not high school age or college age. You have ages from the ’30s to 65, 70 plus.

Commissioner Frankel

Delray Beach Open Starts tomorrow, it is the only 10-day combined Champions and ATB tour event. We have the Brian Brothers this weekend, and then for the regular ATP draw the top eight seeds are all top 40 in the world. One of the strongest draws they've had. Hopefully, we will see you all in Delray in the next few weeks.

D. CULTURAL COUNCIL

1. Two Minutes Update – Dave Lawrence

2. Advocacy Platform for PBC Days*

Lawrence

The grant applications have been released today, for category B and category CII grants for our cultural organizations. I want to give a big thanks to Emmanuel and Joan for helping us.

We've honed the application materials and focused on marketing. These are going to be very impactful grants for cultural organizations. We've got several workshops lined up and Vicky Jackson, our director of grants, is doing a phenomenal job with that.

I will just point out that to support The Ultimate Week of Sport, our marketing folks came together with our other agencies to create a brochure that has all the cultural activities that are happening around the sports venues for the great 10 days of sports activities. This is a great example of collaboration at work between the agencies.

Our giant shades of culture are at Arti Gras, for the next weekend. There is a great selfie opportunity up there to promote culture. Finally, I just want to talk for a moment about our Art Basel campaign. All of the ads contain the logo that includes The Palm Beaches and our tagline, Discover Florida's Cultural Capital. This is an aspirational campaign designed to just make sure that people are aware of and hoping that they will come to attend arts activities in the Palm Beaches.

We worked very closely with Brightline. It included Brightline Station Digital Billboards, car wraps on ride-share cars, and co-op advertising with the Boca Museum of Art and the Norton Museum of Art in Miami. The team did a remarkable job of giving a lot of visibility to The Palm Beaches during the very busy weekend that happens with Art Basel every year. Congrats Jennifer and Lauren and the entire team on that.

Finally, the information about our legislative agenda. We participated in the Legislative Delegation Meeting on January 12th . I provided some testimony about the importance of arts and culture. We will be going up to Tallahassee for Palm Beach County days. We also worked with several cultural organizations to be there and share testimony as well. We've put together a legislative platform. We want to make sure that the grants are supported at the state level. These are important operating support grants outside of the marketing grants that the cultural organizations get through the TDC, these operating support grants help them stay afloat so that they can provide all the programs and services that they do, provide education, and opportunities to our county.

You have the legislative platform in your packet. I will say that it is not just because of our Cultural Council, because is a statewide effort, but last year the grants were fully funded, which is very important. These were major increases to cultural organizations, and I am proud and thrilled to say that the County legislative platform has included cultural pieces in the legislative platform for the first time. We will be having a strong show for us in Tallahassee during Palm Beach County Days.

Commissioner Lambert

I will be going to Palm Beach County Days, I will review what you put in here. But if you would like to meet and discuss this so that we can coordinate efforts, I would be happy to meet.

Lawrence

I'd be happy to do that. We are working with some cultural organizations that are also going up. We are getting ready to start setting up meetings.

E. FILM & TV

1. Two Minutes Update – Michelle Hillery

Hillery

We just had our board meeting yesterday in which we are kind of following Jorge's lead and Visit Florida’s lead with record-breaking numbers.

Our team takes on a very big survey at the end of the calendar year in addition to all the numbers that we collect every month, which includes our permits and projects that shot here in Palm Beach County that did not need a permit, but in some way, we touched, we also survey our indigenous production community which we know we have 168 identified production-related companies that live and work here. Of those 168, we were able to touch base with 98 of those. We had a pretty success rate and from that, we are very pleased to report a 17% increase over last year in production revenue. That's how much money was spent here in Palm Beach County as a result of Film and Television activities. We are at over $9M last year that was spent here in Palm Beach County as a result of those efforts. We handled 500 projects over the course of that year. That breaks down to 42 projects a month that our staff is facilitating and working with and these can be very complicated shoots. Sometimes it is a walk and talks down the street, and other times we have to get a little bit more involved with off-duty officers shutting down roads, etcetera. I want to thank our municipalities at Delray Beach and West Palm Beach and others who work with us every single year to facilitate and coordinate these very complicated permits at times to make sure that these activities happen. We work as a liaison between persons, organizers, these production companies, our clients, and our local municipalities. We want to make sure that they are handled, but also, we are protecting our community at the same time. It is a balance for sure.

Right now, we've got 15 projects on the table that the staff is working with. We just hired a new production coordinator that is going to help with those efforts and just a quick update on the Palm Beaches TV We are focusing on and growing the distribution of Palm Beaches TV, not only are we streaming on the Palm Beaches TV channel, but now we have a partnership with Channel 10, which is our education network. Many of the shows are now streaming on Channel 10 and we are also on a new app called Three TV, which is an additional distribution platform for those programs.

Speaking of the airport, we are very pleased with our collaboration at the airport. We too are inquiring about additional space and additional TV monitors that could be placed

there. We've created a new drive that better markets The Palm Beaches TV. When people are watching a program, they are not just watching a fishing show, but they see the branding of The Palm Beaches TV throughout. We are also meeting with the Cultural Council, and we are going to be meeting with the 12 visitor center coordinators and hopefully handing them that USB, which is a two-hour loop, and if we need to, we will even purchase some additional monitors if they don't already have a monitor.

Commissioner Sachs

How many visitor centers are there?

Hillery

12, if I am not mistaken.

And my last piece of business, I hope you will all reserve the dates of April 21st, which will be our 28th Annual Palm Beach Student Showcase of Films, which is the largest statewide film competition for high school and college students. We've given over $1.6M in scholarships and awards. It will be at the Jupiter Maltz Theater, which is a brand new renovated, beautiful theater, and again, record-breaking numbers in the number of student submissions that came in this year.

F. CONVENTION CENTER

1. OVG Venue Management

a. Two Minutes Update- Dave Anderson

2. OVG Hospitality

a. Two Minutes Update – Kathy Griffin

Anderson

Serena Williams, the latest Gatorade commercial was filmed in my back hallway. When you see her walking, you see this hallway behind her. It is just our back hallway where our tables and chairs are stored because they wanted it to feel like she's walking back house onto the court. That was filmed I think in November.

We are at 50 straight days of event activity to kick off the year. Amazing pieces of business. We started with Connection Live, which was a huge technology conference. Modernizing Medicine right after that. We hosted our first Art Show of the season It was a beautiful show, very well attended. Had several vendors from Los Angeles's Art and then some vendors from this show are being shipped to LA to do that show. Now there is this back-and-forth that we are going to start doing every year. It is only going to continue to grow.

Then right into February, as Jorge mentioned, we went right into Florida Huddle, which was fantastic. Hats off to Discover, very well received, as it relates to the building, the community, and the planners.

Right off of that, we went into Thermo Fisher. It is one of the leading producers of medical instruments in the world. We run them through Friday, and then starting tomorrow afternoon as they move out of the hall, our second art show of the season, Palm Beach Jewelry & Antiques starts to move in. This is the 20th year of the show. When they did the first show, they had never done a show before and now they are one of the leading producers of art, antique and jewelry shows in the United States, and it all started here. It runs over President's Day weekend

Then, Mark Splunk, who hasn't been with us for four years, they're coming the first week in March. They are doing a major event in our ballroom for multiple days, and it is great to have them back. And then we go into our third art show, which is Palm Beach Contemporary.

I know she just walked out but thank you to Verdenia and the County Facilities Department. As I mentioned before, we are trying to update the building in the middle of all this event activity. The County Facilities team has been so flexible with us because we pretty much are asking them to work with us during nights, weekends, and odd hours to replace systems. We are trying to replace a lot of our air conditioning flow units after 20 years, and we are doing it in the middle of peak season, but they only can work at specified hours in specified parts of the building. It is going well, but again, a thank you to Isami and the Facilities team.

Finally, Jorge, I know Kelly's not here, but again, between Kelly's team and Maria on our side, the leads that we are generating and the business that we are closing not only for FY24 but 25, 26, and 27.

I don't know if this is the management company or the county, but who oversees the garage?

I hosted an event for 150 people at the Hilton in January and I had people waiting in valet for 45 minutes who missed the whole beginning of the event. I know this is an ongoing discussion about the use of the garage, but the event started at eight o'clock in the morning and nobody was in the garage.

Anderson

No, the valet for the Hilton cannot use the garage. But we've had an agreement with the Hilton for three years now, where the Hilton, all they have to do is call us when they need the garage and we will open it for attendees. They should have more parking. But they don't, so the Hilton calls us, and we work on a per-show deal that let's say the hotel is sold out because they only have 275 spots in that flat lot across Rosemary. If the hotel is sold out, their parking lot is sold out, then if they have event traffic like yours, basically they have nowhere to park, they typically call us. We work it out, we open a lot for those events. My apologies if there was an issue. But again, we've been doing that with them for probably two or three years.

Commissioner Lambert

Commissioner Lambert

My concern wasn’t as much about the valet’s ability to use it. Because I thought that they could, or I don't know if they contracted it for that event or not, but it was just that individual attendees were going over there and being frustrated saying, this garage is empty. I can see in there, but they won't let me in, and it is not open to individuals

Anderson

All the Hilton has to do is call us for any event, we have a deal, we work out, and we open the garage for them. We've done it for individual guests, we do not allow valet parking in the lot, because of liability concerns.

Baker

The deal they worked with the city was that any overflow would go to their garage, to the north, because we tried to work with them early on and I want to put this on the record early on. They did not want to buy into the garage. That opportunity was given. They turned it down and they went back to the city to have the number of parking spaces reduced and they were going to stack cars on their flat lot because they were also supposed to build a two-level parking garage, and any overflow would go to their north garage Right now, we are working with them when they call us in advance and we are dark, but we can do it, some people are asking us for yearly contracts. We can't do that because we can't afford to impede the business that we're bringing in. We do work with them.

We want the business to come downtown. But again, we've been doing this all along. I am just wondering if your person is new.

Anderson

The protocol is really simple. The Hilton just needs to call us. The Hilton Operations Director calls us whenever they have an overflow potential situation and then we either open early or stay open late. All we do is bill them for labor to do that. We've been doing that for several years.

Pesquera

Every week for the last probably two or three months, the headline in the industry newsletters is that the meetings industry is back. It's exploded. The company Zoom announced that they were laying off 7,000 employees. It is for the reason people are not doing Zoom anymore. They want to meet in person. These issues with the garage and the facilities are going to continue to happen because the number of meetings is going to continue to increase

Anderson

I asked the head meeting planner for Thermo Fisher, “Where are you at on virtual”? She just looked at me and said, we are not anywhere on virtual. We are back to in-person and that is where we are staying. That is good for us and that is what I am hearing from the majority of the planners.

7. BOARD COMMENTS

Dufresne

I would like this board to consider renaming the two-minute update.

Bronstien

I presume the next meeting is on April 13th , not the 14th .

Perry

Yes. It is a holiday on the 13th April 14th which is a Friday.

Baker

Just for the record, this board can change the days if it wants, but for our calendars, we tend to avoid those days.

Commissioner Sachs

Do we have the authority to vote to change the date of the next meeting?

Motion to change April 14th TDC Board meeting to April 13th was made by Don Dufresne and seconded by Commissioner Adam Frankel. Motion carried 8-0 with Daniel Hostettler absent.

8. PUBLIC COMMENTS

No public comments.

9. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 10:50 A.M.

The is NO meeting in March. The next Meeting will be on April 13, 2023.

*Attachment included.

Tdc/tdcmtgs2023/Minutes

4. CONSENT ITEMS

TO: Tourist Development Council

FROM: Jorge Pesquera, President/CEO

DATE: March 31, 2023

RE: Discover The Palm Beaches Monthly Activity Report March 2023

The following is a summary of DTPB activities in support of TDC Performance measures for the month of March 2023. This report demonstrates positive trends relative to owned visitor digital footprint, advertising impressions, social media engagement, and booked room nights for the Month of February.

Occupancy and Demand

• Hotel Occupancy for February increased 2.7% to 83.4%, selling 3% more hotel rooms than last year.

• Shared lodging occupancy declined by half a percent to 77.2%, slowing the decline seen over the last few months due to a surge in inventory which has now leveled off.

• Total room nights sold increased 34% among shared lodging driving total room nights sold up nearly 11% to 579,000.

ADR and Revenue

• Hotel rates were up 5.7% to $364.

• Shared lodging rates were up 4% to $417, the per room equivalent was flat at $189 and $70 less than a midscale hotel.

• With total rates up 4.6% and selling 10.7% more room nights revenue was up 12.4% to $186M.

• Bed taxes are expected to be over $10M.

Key Performance Trends

• Occupancy in South PBC, Beach, Luxury and Boca markets were up 10% due to the Boca Raton being fully open compared to last year.

• Downtown WPB took a 3.9% hit on occupancy with a 15% increase in inventory due to the AKA opening in December.

• ADR at luxury hotels was down 6.8% or $68 while all other chain scales raised ADR by 9% or $19.

• Delray Beach had the highest occupancy at 88.6% with flat to down performance across all metrics.

• Occupancy along the beaches was at 78.9%, 4.5 points below the county but with a $432 higher rate.

Table of Contents

PERFORMANCE MEASURES TDC

ADVERTISING/PAID MEDIA IMPRESSIONS

OWNED VIEWS DIGITAL FOOTPRINT

CONSUMER & TRAVEL INDUSTRY DATABASE

EARNED MEDIA IMPRESSIONS - PR

SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT

MARKETING OVERVIEW BY MONTH

BOOKED ROOM NIGHTS - HOTEL LEAD PROGRAM

GROUP LEVEL BOOKED ROOM NIGHTS (CC SHARED)

CITYWIDE ACTUALIZED FY ROOM NIGHTS (CC SHARED)

DESTINATION REVIEWS

SITE PARTICIPATION

GROUP SALES & DESTINATION SERVICES OVERVIEW BY MONTH THE PALM BEACHES HOTEL PERFORMANCE - FEBRUARY

Performance Measures - TDC

DTPB OBJECTIVES 2022 – 2023

Leisure/Consumer

• Increase Consumer and Travel Industry database to 410,000

• Generate 14,000,000 in Owned Views Digital Footprint

• Generate 7,000,000 Social Engagements

• Generate 700,000,000 Advertising Impressions

• Generate 250,000,000 Earned Media Impressions

Meetings & Conventions

• Book 110,000 DTPB only room nights (Hotel Meetings Leads)

• Generate 50,000 Group Level Booked Room Nights Convention Center Shared

• Generate 40,000 Group Level Actual FY Room Night for Convention Center Shared

• Generate 80 participants in Destination Reviews

• Generate 110 Destination Site Participants

Group Level Booked Room Nights (CC Shared)

22.1%

50K

98.8%

98.8%

80

Success Continuation Plan

FY2023

PROJECT DATES LEAD MARKETS

Marketing

Broadcast TV Buy January 16 - April 16 Brand/Media

Chicago, Washington DC, Boston, New York

STATUS

• Ads started 1/16/23 through mid-April

• Ads have run during high profile events such as Super Bowl Kick-Off, PGA Tour events including the Honda Classic, and will continue in key March Madness bracket matches

• Currently delivering 4% above estimated impressions

• Chicago - NBC & CBS - 9.9M est. impressions

• Boston - NBC, CBS, ABC - 10.4M est. impressions

• Washington DC - NBC & CBS - 13.3M est. impressions

• New York - NBC & CBS - 16.1M est. impressions

• Finalizing media plans to promote campaign to PBC residents and beyond through radio, TV, out of home, print and direct mail

• Creating assets for digital toolkit to share on social media channels

Community Outreach Toolkit March 1 - June 30

TDC Collaboration: Signature Events JanuarySeptember

TDC Collaboration: Film Studio Planned Completion: March 31, 2023

Social/Brand

Palm Beach County Residents

Brand/PR/Social Varies

• Filmed LoveThePalmBeaches with (Nic Roldan and Damien LeRoy)

• Hosted influencers stephanie.t.marie, julesaron, tracynoire, pinklemontribe and kylesoto to create awarenes on the campaign and hashtag LoveThePalmBeaches

• Ultimate Week of Sports media and influencers hosted. 53 mentions on our social media channels. Total impressions 1.4 million. 9 influencers hosted, 8 blogs published

• Partnership with Sports Commission for any support with RFPs or events for FIFA World Cup and College Football Playoff 2026

Social/Digital/ PR/Brand N/A

TDC Collaboration: Airlift JanuarySeptember Digital/Brand/Medi a Fly Markets (TBD)

• Evaluating Studio Needs for Podcast; will potentially look to partner and build out additional assets in Film studio space

• Beginnig

• Working with Avelo on launch of new Wilmington, NC and Raleigh-Durham; promoting Breeze - Charleston route Destination OTA Co-Op JanuarySeptember Digital

• Continuing to customize creative with specific call to action to book within certain time frames with lower demand forecasted.

Chicago, Washington DC, Boston, New York, Philadelphia

• Launched incremental $150,000 covering April-June across Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Kayak.com, VRBO.com, and TripAdvisor.com to drive demand during summer. Finishing out April in fly markets and will shift to drive markets in May.

PROJECT DATES LEAD MARKETS STATUS

International Strategy: Incentives JanuarySeptember Brand/Sales/Media

Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, UK, Germany

• Finalized media plans across Toronto, UK, Mexico, Colombia and Germany

• Campaigns running in Mexico (Mexico City & Guadalajara), Colombia (Bogota, Medellin, Baranquilla), Canada (Toronto & Montreal), and Brazil (Sao Paolo). Evaluating markets to leverage for May-October summer campaigns.

Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, UK, Germany

• Hosted Brazilian influencers @vazaonde and @ines.lafosse, combined following of 576k followers.

• Placements include Robb Report & Forbes MX; Elle & InStyle Mexico; International Strategy: Digital JanuarySeptember Digital

• Hosted Toronto's top influencer and leading media @blogto (2.5 million followers) in partnership with Visit Florida

• Boosted posts in target markets, 47.5m reach YTD

Destination Podcast March 1 Launch Brand/Media

NationalTargeting Meeting Planners in Key Industry Segments

Family Activation May - September PR/Brand Florida Drive Markets, Key Fly Markets

Brand Activation August/September PR/Brand New York

Metaverse September Digital National

• Launched March 30 at Global Meetings Industry Day with Martha Sheridan and Stephanie Glanzer

• Press release issued to key trade and local PBC media

• Next Episodes: 2) PCMA Business Events Strategist and Economic Impact 3) F&B Trends with OVG 4) Maritz Event Design with The Pink Retreat 5) ASAE Driving Attendance, Sponsorship & Citywides

• Zimmerman secured initial interest from Play-Doh and presenting Play-Doh team visual representation that illustrates activation ideas

• Exploring additional partnership with Vilebrequin luxury swim wear and BruMate insulated cups and coolers

• In conversation with US Open and Visit FL regarding partnership opportunities

• PENDING APPROVAL.

• Plan approved for:

• Joining Travelability's Destination Ally Club

• Enter into Partnership with Travelability for writing an Accessibility Strategic Plan and for Travelability to work with The Palm Beaches in an advisory capacity

Accessible Travel JanuarySeptember PR/Brand/Social All Target Markets

• Confirming accommodation and non-accommodation partners for Wheel The World Assessments, to include 30 partners + PBIA and PBCCC

• Training agreement to become a Certified Autism Destination, and have staff go through accredited training

• Hosted accessibility influencer @justcpnotspecial with 63k followers. She also wrote 2 blogs for us, one in Spanish

Sustainability June - September

Brand/PR/ Community Engagement

Palm Beach County Residents; Drive Markets & Fly Markets

Sales Countywide Incentive Fund DecemberSeptember Sales Targeted Markets & Industries

• Finalizing Sea to Preserve campaign brief

• Opening job with TZA to begin concepting

• Launched marketing promotions to databased and additional distribution channels such as Cvent and 3rd party partnerships. Executed on PCMA and trad experience and received new lead opportunities and contracts to utilzing incentive dollars. Secured 40,000 plus room nights with incentive dollars and aquired two industry events - confidential and Smart meetings national meeting

•Introduced new convention center focused promotion to become more competitive Nationally.

PROJECT DATES LEAD MARKETS STATUS

Multicultural Market JanuarySeptember Sales/Marketing BIPOC, Hispanic, LGTBQ+

Expanded Representation Firms JanuarySeptember Sales/Marketing

Domestic, Canada, Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, UK, & Germany

• Commenced planning process for enhanced participation multicultural trade events and marketing partnership agreements. Signed marketing partnership with National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners ,LGBTQ's annual PROUD event in Los Angeles, and Connect Diversty, Faith and Specialty Markets

•Confirmed ConferenceDirect DEI Focused commitment$12,750.00

•Confirmed Proud Experience Summit and IGLTA Membership$10,720.00

• Initiated discussions with existing representation firms to determine capabilities and potential to manage MICE and other expanded sales/marketing responsibilities. Reviewing proposals from representation firms. Expanded presence and activation in Colombia with travel trade operators, tradeshow and golf activation

•Final stages in negotiations with VOX to firm up representation for MICE business from Canada. Invited group director to DR to extend better perspective with destination. Committing ranging from $35-40K annually.

•Seeking proposal from UK and Mexico for MICE segmentation.

Transformational Events DecemberSeptember Sales/Marketing Wellness, Culinary & Multicultural

Destination Servicing/Mobile Visitor Information Center

JanuarySeptember Sales/Marketing Group & Leisure Events

• Initiated discussions with major internationally acclaimed event organizers to secure a Palm Beaches launch in late 2023.

• Launched The Pink Retreat partnership for event in June 2023

Reviewing proposals from vendors to execute activation and working with locations and events for execution. Incurred additional expenses of $4K on GMID DR and $3K on Branding of Circuit Carts for PBCCC group.

March 2023

PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD

1 New performance indicators as of 10/1/22. Previous year totals were not measured.

HIGHLIGHTS

ADVERTISING

In March, planning continued for the Council’s annual MOSAIC campaign, and was on target for launch the first week of April. The Council increased participation to 25 organizations offering 27 discounts on admission and other special experiences. The final deadline for organizations to participate is April 15. The Council’s advertising agency, Push, finished the development of the campaign at the end of March and advertising will begin rolling out the first week of April to drive traffic to the MOSAIC web page (mosaicpbc.com). In collaboration with Discover, the web page will include a link to hotel discounts and special packages. The Council is producing an activation at the Hilton West Palm Beach, as well. New promotional materials, including T-shirts, posters and commemorative lapel pins, were sent to production and will be distributed in early April alongside existing promo items such as selfie spots and pool floats. A printed calendar promoting 31 Experiences in May was also created and will go to print in early April for distribution at Visitor Information Centers and hotel concierge desks. This year’s new MOSAIC program, Palm Beach County Open Studios on May 20, will include 65 participating locations around the county, and the Council designed a downloadable PDF for visitors to map out their journeys to local artists’ workplaces. The Council began planning a local social media influencer reception in partnership with The Square and Norton Museum of Art, which will be held on April 11, to promote MOSAIC to county residents.

The Council’s advertising campaign targeting cultural tourists in northeastern fly markets ended on March 31 to make way for the launch of the MOSAIC campaign in early April. While co-op ad placements at PBIA are ongoing, the Council turned its focus to fill the MOSAIC digital co-op placements by April 1.

Also in March, Push presented the Council with final photo selections and the final cut of a 60-second video for its new cultural tourism campaign. The new campaign inviting travelers to experience arts and culture in The Palm Beaches will launch this summer. Push and the Council continue to work on wire framing, design, and content for the Council’s new website, which is expected to launch in late summer.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Top Placements

● PR Global Newswire Distribution March 2, “Spring Has Sprung in The Palm Beaches”, Top 10 Placements Reach: 434,641,238

● Garden & Gun (UVM: 365,426) March 1, "Where to Sip Afternoon Tea in the South"

HIGHLIGHTS

● Travel + Leisure (UVM: 12,704,609) March 2, “The Best Places to Travel in May 2023”

National Media Outreach

The Council worked with its PR agency, Sharp, to gather information from arts and cultural organizations about their March events for a press release and national pitching effort focused on nature-related offerings in Palm Beach County. The press release, which was distributed on March 2, featured 6 organizations.

Media coverage in March included an article in Garden & Gun by Lia Picard. The freelance writer was hosted by the Council for a FAM tour in February, and her visit resulted in this feature about the Flagler Museum’s Gilded Age Tea Service. Sharp continues to work with the writer on additional placement possibilities. A March article in Travel + Leisure by Patricia Doherty also included recommendations by the Council to visit 3 cultural organizations in The Palm Beaches.

Sharp also conducted extensive research and outreach to secure a drive-market FAM trip timed to MOSAIC with an expected tour in April, and secured paid broadcast media in the Miami, Tampa, and Orlando markets with News Media Group, a vendor which facilitates such placements. Additionally, the PR agency secured strategic influencer support for MOSAIC, including rehiring Nick Mele as the Council’s MOSAIC Ambassador and securing regional partnership FAM trips for Stella @our.peachy.home (62.3k followers, Tampa-based) and Christine @ultimategirlmom (71.8k followers, Orlando-based).

PARTNER COLLABORATIONS

The giant Shades of Culture were installed at The Square on the corner of Okeechobee Blvd. and Rosemary Avenue on March 31 as part of a month-long activation with the property In addition to a photo of The Square’s Great Tree, the Kravis Center’s production of Broadway hit Ain’t Too Proud is featured in the sunglass lenses.

Council staff also attended Discover’s SMAC meeting on March 15, marched in the Palm Beach Pride Parade in Lake Worth Beach on March 26 with the teams from Discover and Sports, attended Global Meetings Industry Day at Arts Warehouse in Delray Beach on March 30, and recorded a Watch Party in collaboration with Film on March 17 to support TDC agency efforts.

In partnership with civic and cultural leaders from organizations such as the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum and the Historical Society for Palm Beach County, the Council embarked on a project to highlight Black cultural heritage sites in the county. A local writer was hired in March to research and identify 25 locations that would be of interest to tourists visiting The Palm Beaches. The project will include a

HIGHLIGHTS

web page on the Council’s website with a corresponding rack card for distribution in Visitor Information Centers. The goal is to complete the project in time to distribute the rack cards at the Arts & Tourism Summit on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (The Summit) in late August.

Planning continues for The Summit. The Council and Discover secured several speakers for the program and had initial calls with the Convention Center. The Council designed a Save the Date card that was printed and distributed to all TDC Agency partners to use at upcoming meetings and events.

The Council met with Discover to discuss a potential new wellness festival in The Palm Beaches next year. The Council provided some feedback and a proposal to include local professional artists and a multi-year sponsorship.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/SECTOR SUPPORT Institute for Cultural Advancement (ICA)

The Council continued its series of free professional development workshops for cultural organizations and professional artists with ”Complete Your Artist’s Statement in Five Steps” with Jan Rodusky of Venn There Grants Consulting on March 16.

Cultural Sector Support

The Council attended several events in March to capture social media content and to show support of the sector. These included the Festival of the Arts Boca, West Palm Beach Art District’s Next Big Thing, Biblioarte!, Palm Beach Pride, and performances at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and Lake Worth Playhouse.

ADVOCACY

The Council sponsored and attended Palm Beach County Days in Tallahassee on March 7 & 8, organizing meetings with legislators and representatives to advocate for key arts and tourism issues. Additionally, the Council sponsored a dance performance by Belle Glade-based choreographer Shanique Scott on the 2nd Level of the Capitol and Palm Beach Symphony also featured a quintet on the 1st Level.

Photo Caption (L to R): Taniel Koushakjian (Board Member, Palm Beach Symphony), Jennifer Sullivan (VP of Marketing and Programs, Cultural Council), State Senator Bobby Powell, Dave Lawrence (President & CEO, Cultural Council), Davicka N. Thompson (Board Member, TDC & Cultural Council), David McClymont (CEO, Palm Beach Symphony)

Sports Tourism Forecast

April 2023

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission’s event portfolio for April 2023 reflects a pace of hotel room night production that should best this same period in 2022. During the month of April, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission will host 27 events, consisting of 14 different sports. These events are projected to generate 26,673 room nights.

Sports Commission Tourism Impacts – April 2023

• 26,673 projected room nights

• $7,920,280 in projected hotel revenue (using FY 22 ADR for April @ $296)

• $475,217 in projected bed tax revenues.

During April, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission will host several major national and international events, such as the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Premier and Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Series, Billie Jean King Cup Tie (United States vs Austria), US Soccer Federation National Team Training Camp, Conference USA Women’s Golf Championship, and the Spartan Race. The 14 sports that are represented during the month of April include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, endurance race, equestrian showjumping, fishing, flag football, golf, ice hockey, karate, polo, soccer, softball, and tennis.

April Event Spotlight – Billie Jean King Cup Tie

The United States Tennis Association is partnering with the Palm Beach County Sports Commission in hosting the Billie Jean King Cup Tie, which will take place on April 14-15, 2023 at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. This Billie Jean King Cup Tie will feature the United States versus Austria, in the first round of the 2023 competition.

The Billie Jean King Cup Tie is a best-of-five match series with two (2) singles matches on Friday and two reverse singles matches and a doubles match will follow on Saturday, April 15. The Billie Jean King Cup, which was formerly known as the Federation Cup, was rebranded in 2020 to align with Billie Jean King, a global icon in sports – who also dedicated her life to fight against social injustice. The Billie Jean King Cup team is no stranger to Palm Beach County, having played at the Delray Beach Tennis Center three times when the competition was known as Fed Cup in 2005, 2007 and 2013. Team USA went 3-0 in those competitions.

Palm Beach County native, Coco Gauff, will lead Team USA in the Billie Jean King Cup. She made her Billie Jean King Cup debut last fall in the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals in Glasgow, Scotland, against Poland and the Czech Republic, but this is set to be her first official action on U.S. soil.

The Billie Jean King Cup is one of the most prestigious events for tennis on a global stage. The event represents an annual women's tennis competition that is promoted by the ITF as the most prestigious international team tennis competition in the world with 127 nations entering the competition in 2022.

The Billie Jean King Cup will be televised live on the Tennis Channel while creating significant tourism benefits for The Palm Beaches. With tennis participation rising significantly in the United States the tie will be a boon to the local economy as well. Last year’s qualifying event, held in Asheville, N.C., generated an anticipated $8 million for the local economy while substitanlly increasing hotel occupancy levels and bed tax revenues.

April Event Spotlight: United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)

Premier and Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Series

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission will partner with Equestrian Sports Productions (ESP) in hosting the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Premier and Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Series, which includes ten (10) days of showjumping events sanctioned by the sport’s national governing body and international federation. The 10-day stretch of FEI and USEF sanctioned events will take place on April 12-16 & April 19-23, 2023, at Wellington International (formerly the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center) and Equestrian Village in Wellington.

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission aligned with Equestrian Sports Productions for the third straight year to create a competition for participants of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) who were seeking to prolong their stay in The Palm Beaches. Many of the participants from WEF, who traveled from oversees or the northeastern states, were seeking additional FEI and USEF sanctioned events in Palm Beach County during April, due to Florida’s immense desirability that increased after the Covid-19 pandemic. The final day of the ESP Spring Series - USEF Premier “AA” and Jumper Level 6 & FEI 13 will be named the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Grand Prix CSI 3*.

In total, riders representing more than 30 different nations compete in the ESP Spring Series. Last year, this event attracted 4,990 participants, which includes riders, vendors, trainers, grooms, barn managers, exhibitors, and spectators. Additionally, the event generated 10,876 room nights and $9.8 million in visitor spending. The event will be streamed live on the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Network. The USEF Network features live-streaming and on-demand video from a wide range of equestrian events each year. US Equestrian members receive full access to over 2,000 hours of content. The USEF Network is distributed globally to more than 70 nations.

April Event Spotlight: Spartan Race

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is partnering with Spartan Race, Inc. to once again host the Palm Beaches Spartan Sprint Weekend on April 21 -22 at Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park in Boca Raton. Over 9,000 participants from across the Unite d States are expected to compete in the event.

Spartan Race is the world’s largest obstacle competition and endurance brand. T his event will feature Spartan’s signature “Sprint” style race, which encompasses 3.2 miles and 20 obstacles. Obstacles will include fire jumps, tall walls, monkey bars, rope climbs, and more. Runners have the option to enter one of three different divisions. For the most competitive racers, there is the Elite division, which is held first thing in the morning. Racers can also compete by age group (1417, 18 - 24, 25 -29, 30 - 39, 40 - 49, or 50+), or they can simply enter the open division for more recreational racers.

Consistent with Spartan events around the world, the Palm Beaches Spartan Sprint Weekend will feature a youth race, for tho se ages 4 -13 years old, where they are put to the test against ageappropriate obstacles and race distances. While some parents will compete while their kids are racing, many attend as spectators and cheer on the youth.

With an influx of visitors, the even t is expected to create $ 5 million in visitor spending for Palm Beach County while filling thousands of hotel rooms. Last year, the event generated over 4,000 hotel room nights.

The host venue for the event, Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park, has been home to the race since 2019 when the Palm Beach County Sports Commission won a bid to bring the event to Boca Raton. The facility is one of the most versatile sports venues in Palm Beach County.

Palm Beach County will be home to a Spartan Race for the fourth time in the last f ive years. Spartan is the world’s most prominent organization that promotes endurance sports that includes extraordinary challenges . Spartan participants have incredible brand loyalty and travel from all corners of the globe to ex perience these races.

April Event Spotlight: C-USA Women’s Golf Championship

Conference USA awarded its Women’s Golf Championship to the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and Florida Atlantic University (FAU) for the second straight year. This three-day, 54-hole tournament will take on The Champion Course at PGA National Resort, located in Palm Beach Gardens. The Conference USA Women’s Golf Championship will take place from April 12-16.

Conference USA is a 14-member intercollegiate athletic conference and is an affiliate of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Conference USA invites a total of twelve (12) golf teams to compete in its Women's Golf Championships. Prior to the 3-days of championship golf play, the event will have a single day for practice rounds.

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is a co-host with the Palm Beach County Sports Commission in overseeing the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Regional Championship. FAU will provide irreplaceable support by offering volunteers and operational assistance. FAU is a member of Conference USA, which is a Division I affiliate of the NCAA.

Over 300 collegiate golf players and coaches in addition spectators from across the nation will travel to The Palm Beaches. The tourism impact created by the Conference USA Women’s Golf Championship will be strong Moreover, hosting this event continues to strengthen Palm Beach County’s resume as a premier destination for collegiate golf championships.

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is on an unmatched pace of hosting NCAA Golf Championship events. Palm Beach County was home to the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf National Championship in 2019 and won the rights to host the 2020 Division III Men’s and Women’s Golf Championship before pandemic-related shutdowns forced the tournament’s cancelation. In 2021, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission organized the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Championship. In 2022, the Sports Commission produced the Conference USA Women’s Golf Championship and the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Regional Championship. In 2023, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission will oversee the Conference USA Women’s Golf Championship once again in addition to organizing the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Regional Championship.

Palm Beach County Sports Commission Sports Tourism Forecast

Palm Beach County Sports Commission Sports Tourism Forecast

Palm Beach County Sports Commission Sports Tourism Forecast

Events & Operations

Event Support

NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Regional Championship

 Participate in first regional specific call to discuss planning for regional championship

 Work with Florida Atlantic University to determine staffing needs

 Meet with PGA National Resort to discuss tournament logistics

 Meet with partner hotels to secure necessary room blocks

Conference USA Women’s Golf Championship

 Meet with C-USA and FAU to determine staffing needs

 Promote hotel blocks to participating teams

 Meet with PGA National to discuss tournament logistics

Wellington Memorial Day Soccer Tournament

 Meet with Village of Wellington to discuss details for new soccer tournament

 Meet with USPA National Polo Center to discuss hosting tournament

 Meet with Wellington Soccer Club about operating event

Finalizing Contract Obligations

• Columbus Day Discovery Showdown

• World Comes to the Palm Beaches

• Perfect Game WWBA World Championship

• USTA Columbus Day Open

• TimberTech Championship

• ClubCorp Champions Classic

• Men’s Senior Baseball League

• 3v3 Live National Championship

• Holiday Basketball Classic of the Palm Beaches

• Hardball 360 Fall Classic

• FYSA Palm Beach Gardens Classic

• Monster Mash Lax Clash

• USTA Men’s 50 Clay Court Championship

• USTA National Men’s 70,85,90 Clay Court Championship

• Delray Beach Pickleball Classic

• Okeeheelee Halloween Slam

• “Little Mo” Internationals

• EDP Soccer Playoffs

• NextStar Lacrosse

• The Junior Honda Classic

• CPI Horse Show

• American Youth Soccer Organization

• Eye of the Hurricane

• Wellington Soccer Shootout

• Winter Equestrian Festival

• Development Player League Winter Showcase

• APP Boca International Masters

• The Honda Classic

• Delray Beach Open

• Savanah Bananas World Tour

• Palm Beach Challenge College & International Baseball Festival

• ITF W25 Circuit

• Palm Beach Gardens Soccer Spring Classic

• Delray Beach Pickleball Open

• Wellington March Madness

• Palm Beaches Spartan Sprint Weekend

• Spartan Race Elite Series

• RUSH Spring Showcase

• Play at the Plate – Palm Beach Classic

• Hardball 360 Spring Training

• Delray Beach International Tennis Federation (ITF) Championships

• “Little Mo” East Regionals

• Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament Exotic Bass Roundup

Sports-Development

Sports Development Executive Summary

In FY 23, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission (PBCSC) is deploying an aggressive sales and sports development effort to grow the number of sports tourisms generating events taking place in The Palm Beaches. The PBCSC continues to cultivate relationships with event owners, as well as identify, solicit, secure, and retain sports events to grow room night actualization. Below is a recap of sports development efforts that have taken place during the start of FY23.

Event Bids & Development

A primary mechanism for event solicitation is through the Event Bid and Development process. To recognize potential bid opportunities, the PBCSC will be at the forefront of the industry and engage with event owners.

Bid submission is a highly effective tool to recruit sporting events. Attached is a comprehensive list of the bids that have been submitted in FY 23, and below is a breakdown of the development efforts over the past month:

• Ido Beach Tennis Summer Series

o May 5 - 7, 2023

o 100 projected participants

o 225 projected room nights

• Legit Ballaz 7 v 7

o April 21 – 22, 2023

o 300 projected participants

o 125 projected room nights

• US Soccer Men's Youth National Team Training U17

o April 17 - 24, 2023

o 40 projected participants

o 100 projected room nights

• US Youth Soccer Women's Youth National Team Training U20

o May 15 - 21, 2023

o 40 projected participants

o 100 projected room nights

• Women’s Flag Football

o June 11 – 12, 2023

o 350 projected participants

o 150 projected room nights

• AJGA TaylorMade Invitational

o May 25 – 28, 2023

o 78 projected participants

o 250 projected room nights

Event Site Visits

When trying to bring events to Palm Beach County, engaging event rights holders to conduct a site visit or familiarization tour is one of the most beneficial event development strategies. Site visits allow for an event owner to explore potential sports venues while experiencing Palm Beach County’s tourism assets, such as hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Attached is a comprehensive list of the site visits that have been conducted in FY 23, and below is a breakdown of site visits conducted over the past month:

• East Coast Championships – The SoFlo Championships - Palm Beach County Convention Center

• Northstar Meetings Group – TEAMS Conference - Palm Beach County Convention Center, Kravis Center, Norton Museum, Lake Frot Pavillion WPB, Drive Shack, Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, National Polo Center, Palm Beach Kennel Club, National Croquet Center, Grandview Public Market, Various Hotels

Palm Beach County Sports Commission Bid Calendar - FY23

Palm Beach County Sports Commission Bid Calendar - FY23

Palm Beach County Sports Commission Bid Calendar - FY23

Palm Beach County Sports Commission Bid Calendar - FY23

Palm Beach County Sports Commission Bid Calendar - FY23

Palm Beach County Sports Commission Site Visits - FY23

Palm Beach County Sports Commission Site Visits - FY23

Marketing & Promotions

• Stories written and published in the month of April

o Annual International Gay Polo Tournament to Boost Local Economy and Charitable Causes

o Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame Presented by Baptist Health to Honor 46th Induction Class on April 2

o Palm Beach County Tabbed as Home for 2023 Miracle League All-Star Weekend

o Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame Presented by Baptist Health Announces Annual Award Winners

Social Media & Digital Advertising

Social Media:

• Creating and publishing content across all Palm Beach County Sports Commission social media accounts which currently includes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok

• Managing HubSpot marketing software to schedule posts and track engagement across all platforms

Top performing social media posts:

• Palm Beach County is once again the Spring Training capital of Florida as it hosts four Major League Baseball Clubs at two premier venues. The Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals will play their home games at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals will again call Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium home. Games are underway now and will run until March 26.

• The Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame presents the Bud Newkirk Coach of the Year, Dusty May! @FAUMBB

Earned Media: The Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame

The 46th annual Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame induction class featured prominent figures and local legends in the sports world including Jim Arbogast, Jon Bostic, Sonja Friend-Uhl, Eric Moore, Alfred Morris, Brad Peacock, and Johnny Rutledge. The event received strong media attention with 17 total media placements which generated over $230,000 in earned media value.

Advertising – Spartan Race

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission will be highly visible when The Palm Beaches once again hosts the Spartan Race at Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park in Boca Raton the weekend of April 22. Before, during, and after the event, the Sports Commission will be featued in social media posts, banners throughout the race grounds (pictured below), and other signage.

Spring Training Boosts Palm Beach County Economy

Palm Beach County, FL — Palm Beach County is once again the Spring Training capital of Florida as it hosts four Major League Baseball Clubs at two premier venues. The Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals will play their home games at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals will again call Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium home. Games are underway now and will run until March 26.

Spring Training has long been a cornerstone for sports tourism in Palm Beach County and will once again boost the restaurant and hospitality industry. In a shortened 2022 Spring Training season, over $33 million in total economic impact was generated for Palm Beach County. Spring Training attendance across both venues in 2022 exceeded 63,000 and over 34,000 room nights were generated for Palm Beach County. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission projects the economic impact created from Spring Training will mirror that of the last full slate of games in 2019 which surpassed $70 million.

Designed with an elegant wrap-around concourse and inviting sightlines, the 160-acre complex features a fan-friendly 7,700-capacity stadium as its centerpiece, along with six practice fields per team. A total of 13 MLB fields and five 120by-80-yard multipurpose athletic fields are covered in beautiful Bermuda grass and cater to soccer, lacrosse, football, rugby, and more.

Since opening in 2017, the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches has been home to multiple World Series titles with the Washington Nationals winning in 2019 and the Houston Astros winning in 2017 and 2022. The Houston Astros' World Series trophy recently made a trip to The Palm Beaches to celebrate the historic feat.

The Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium seats 8,030, including box suites, a press box, a professional scoreboard, and JumboTron enhances the experience. In addition to the main lighted stadium field, the complex features 12 full-size baseball fields with MLB dimensions six of which are lit for night play on nearly 120 acres. The stadium is the only one in the country to host four minor league teams: the Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals of the Florida State League, and the Florida Complex League Marlins and Florida Complex League Cardinals of the rookie-level Florida Complex League.

Schedule of remaining Spring Training games:

Ballpark of the Palm Beaches

Houston Astros home schedule

Mar. 11 St. Louis Cardinals - 1:05 PM

Mar. 12 Miami Marlins - 1:05 PM

Mar. 14 St. Louis Cardinals - 1:05 PM

Mar. 17 Washington Nationals - 1:05 PM

Mar. 18 New York Mets - 7:05 PM

Mar. 21 Miami Marlins - 1:05 PM

Mar. 23 Washington Nationals - 6:05 PM

Mar. 26 St. Louis Cardinals - 11:05 AM

Washington Nationals home schedule

Mar. 10 Miami Marlins - 6:05 PM

Mar. 11 New York Mets - 7:05 PM

Mar. 13 Houston Astros - 1:05 PM

Mar. 16 New York Mets - 6:05 PM

Mar. 18 Miami Marlins - 1:05 PM

Mar. 19 Detroit Tigers - 1:05 PM

Mar. 20 New York Mets - 6:05 PM

Mar. 22 New York Yankees - 1:05 PM

Mar. 24 St. Louis Cardinals - 6:05 PM

Mar. 25 Houston Astros - 6:05 PM

Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium

Miami Marlins Home Schedule

Mar. 11 Tampa Bay Rays - 6:40 PM

Mar. 13 New York Mets - 1:10 PM

Mar. 14 Houston Astros - 1:10 PM

Mar. 15 Washington Nationals - 1:10 PM

Mar. 17 St. Louis Cardinals - 1:10 PM

Mar. 19 Houston Astros - 1:10 PM

Mar. 22 St. Louis Cardinals - 1:10 PM

Mar. 24 Houston Astros - 6:40 PM

Mar. 26 Washington Nationals - 1:10 PM

St. Louis Cardinals home schedule

Mar. 10 New York Mets - 6:05 PM

Mar. 12 Washington Nationals - 1:05 PM

Mar. 16 Houston Astros - 1:05 PM

Mar. 18 Detroit Tigers - 1:05 PM

Mar. 20 Miami Marlins - 1:05 PM

Mar. 21 Washington Nationals - 1:05 PM

Mar. 23 New York Yankees - 1:05 PM

Mar. 25 Miami Marlins - 1:05 PM

Annual International Gay Polo Tournament to Boost Local Economy and Charitable Causes

Palm Beach County, FL — The Palm Beach County Sports Commission will partner with the Gay Polo League (GPL) to host the annual International Gay Polo Tournament on April 6-9, 2023, at the National Polo Club in Wellington. The GPL, a 501(c)(3) charity organization, promotes polo as a sport that promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community. This tournament features four total polo teams, some of which are international and include high-goal players from professional polo leagues.

The tournament is a mix of serious competition and lighthearted fun all while celebrating the difference being made in the sporting community. The priority of the event since its inception has been to raise awareness and funds in support of diversity and inclusion initiatives for other LGBTQ+ organizations. The tournament schedule includes a VIP reception, a GPL Polotini party, final matches, and a brunch. The tailgating scene is just as competitive as the polo action, with spectators creating elaborate themed parties, such as pop-up salons and nightclubs.

The International Gay Polo Tournament is one of the most highly anticipated events of the equestrian season. It happens the very same weekend as the first round of the U.S. Open Polo Championship, the grand finale of Polo Season, and the culminating event in the Gauntlet of Polo. From the thrilling competition to the camaraderie, this is one weekend you'll want to attend year after year.

The Gay Polo League (GPL) is the only LGBTQ polo league in the world. The GPL strives to create a welcoming and inclusive community for all members, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or skill level. The GPL's mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment where LGBTQ+ individuals can learn, play, and enjoy the sport of polo. The GPL also supports LGBTQ+ causes and charities through fundraising. In 2022, the GPL raised $135,000 to benefit the OnePulse Foundation.

This event will provide a significant tourism boost to Palm Beach County in April, attracting national, regional, and drive market spectators. The event generated over $200,000 in economic impact for Palm Beach County in 2022 from athletes and spectators. In 2023, it is expected to draw even more attendees, further benefiting the local economy.

Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame Presented by Baptist Health to Honor 46th Induction Class on April 2

Palm Beach County, FL — The Palm Beach County Sports Commission will host the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame presented by Baptist Health as it honors the 46th annual induction class on Sunday, April 2 inside the Paddock Room at the Palm Beach Kennel Club. Cocktails will be served and the silent auction will begin at 4:30 p.m. The dinner and program will start at 5:30 p.m.

Coaches, athletes, and community leaders dedicated to helping others through sport will join family and friends to celebrate and honor the achievements of the inductees at the 46th Annual Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame presented by Baptist Health. The 2023 Hall of Fame Inductee class is Jim Arbogast, Jon Bostic, Sonja Friend-Uhl, Eric Moore, Alfred Morris, Brad Peacock, and Johnny Rutledge.

The Hall of Fame will honor the Annual Sport Awards: the High School Athlete of the Year - Female, High School Athlete of the Year - Male, Amateur Athlete of the Year, High School Coach of the Year, and Coach of the Year. The Hall of Fame will also recognize the Special Olympics Athlete of the Year Award and the Outstanding Sports Contributor.

Full list of inductees:

Jim Arbogast

Jim Arbogast began his coaching career in the 1970s at John F. Kennedy Middle School, where he led the basketball team, as well as baseball, swimming, and football. Arbogast's success on the basketball court would continue throughout his career with Cardinal Newman where he won two conference Coach of the Year awards and received a Coach of the

Year nod from both the Palm Beach Post and Sun Sentinel. He then moved to Palm Beach Gardens High School in 1985 as athletic director and head coach of various teams. Arbogast won four conference Coach of the Year titles in bowling, two in cross country, and two in volleyball. However, it was his work as the head coach of the Gators' boys’ basketball team that truly solidified his status as a coaching legend. His achievements include three district championships, two elite eight appearances, and a 1996 Sunshine State Championship. Arbogast's accomplishments earned him a well-deserved spot in the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame.

Jon Bostic

Jon Bostic is a standout linebacker with nearly a decade of experience at the highest level of football. He got his start at Palm Beach Central, where he excelled as both a linebacker and running back. Bostic was heavily recruited by major college football programs, but he chose to play for the Florida Gators, where he immediately made an impact as a freshman. During his college career, Bostic continued to impress, starting in 32 games and recording impressive stats. He was named a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection in 2012, and he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Education, and Behavior the same year. In 2013, Bostic was drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bears and has since played for several teams in the NFL. But Bostic's dedication to his community is just as impressive as his football career. He is committed to giving back to Wellington, where he got his start, and is currently developing a sports training complex to help young athletes in the area.

Sonja Friend-Uhl

Sonja Friend-Uhl is a highly accomplished athlete and fitness trainer with over twenty years of experience. She began her athletic career as a State Champion in High School and went on to set records as a runner at the College of William and Mary. Sonja has represented the USA in six world teams and was a 2000 Olympic Trials Competitor in the 1500m. After transitioning to Masters Running, she has set several world records and holds numerous American and World Masters Championships in various track and cross-country events. Aside from her athletic achievements, Sonja is a skilled fitness programmer, holding certifications in Fitness Training with ACSM and AFAA, as well as specialty certifications in Youth, Senior, and Pre-Natal Fitness. She is also USATF Coaching Certified and has served as a coach at the high school, collegiate, club, and private levels, including notable stints at Vanderbilt and Florida Atlantic. Sonja is passionate about using her experience and knowledge to train people of all ages and abilities.

Eric Moore

Eric Moore is a former football player who rose to stardom from Palm Beach County, Florida. He played high school football at Pahokee, where he became one of the most sought-after players in the nation. Moore was recognized as a USA Today All-American and a Rivals All-American for his outstanding performance on the field. After committing to play for Florida State, Moore played as a three-year starter for the Seminoles, earning all-conference honorable mentions and second-team All-ACC honors. His impressive college career caught the attention of NFL scouts, and he was drafted by the New York Giants in 2005. During his seven-year career in the NFL, Moore played for several teams, including the New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, and New England Patriots. He made significant contributions on the field, racking up 45 tackles, six sacks, an interception, and 10 forced fumbles.

Alfred Morris

Alfred Morris is a former football player who had an illustrious career both in college and in the NFL. He attended Florida Atlantic University with a dream of finding his place in Howard Schnellenberger’s offense, and he achieved just that. Morris was a dominant force on the field, setting numerous school records, including an incredible 733 rushing attempts. He was a two-time 1,000-yard rusher and the first FAU running back to break the single-season double-digit touchdown mark. Morris finished his college career with 26 touchdowns and 3,529 career yards, earning him induction into the FAU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019. In 2012, Morris was drafted by the Washington Commanders in the NFL Draft, and he quickly proved himself as an exceptional talent. He broke the franchise rushing record in his rookie season, earning him two Pro Bowl trips and second-team All-Pro honors. Morris went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, and the New York Giants, amassing a total of 35 touchdowns and rushing 1,429 times for 6,173 yards across nine NFL seasons.

Brad Peacock

Brad Peacock is a former baseball player who began his career in Wellington, Florida, where he excelled in the Babe Ruth League and became an All-Star high school baseball player for Palm Beach Central. He transitioned to pitching and attended Palm Beach State College to further develop his skills. After going 8-0 as a starter, Peacock turned pro and continued to hone his craft in the minor leagues before getting the call up to the big leagues in 2011. Peacock played for the Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, and Houston Astros during his career, where he became an extremely effective reliever for the team. In 2017, Peacock played a significant role in the Astros' World Series title, helping the team to 101 regular-season wins. He made history during the playoffs by finishing one game and starting the next with no rest, a feat not seen in 95 years. In game three of the World Series, Peacock pitched a hitless performance, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 series lead. Peacock went on to win another American League Championship with the Astros in 2019.

Johnny Rutledge

Johnny Rutledge is a former football player who made his mark on the sport from his hometown of Belle Glade, Florida. He played high school football for the Raiders of Glades Central High School, where he quickly earned recognition from college football powerhouses. Rutledge committed to play for the University of Florida, where he shined from 1995 to 1998. During his time at the University of Florida, Rutledge played a key role in the Gators' back-to-back Southeastern Conference championships. He was also a member of the 1996 Gators' team that won the Sugar Bowl and the Bowl Alliance national championship. Rutledge was recognized as a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection as a junior in 1997 and a first-team selection as a senior in 1998. After college, Rutledge continued his football career at the professional level with the Arizona Cardinals and later the Denver Broncos. Over the course of his career, he made 46 appearances before retiring.

Annual award finalists:

High School Athlete of the Year - Female

Luna Curran - Oxbridge Academy, Softball

Carli Fleisher - American Heritage School-Delray, Lacrosse

Mya Quinn - Spanish River Community High School, Flag Football

High School Athlete of the Year – Male

DeeJay Holmes Jr. - Pahokee High School, Football

Jayden Hylton - Palm Beach Gardens High School, Baseball

Micah Mays - The Benjamin School, Football and Track & Field

Amateur Athlete of the Year

Marques Burgess - Keiser University, Football

Jillienne Cangelosi - Florida Atlantic University, Beach Volleyball

Todd Centeio - James Madison University, Football

High School Coach of the Year

Andrew Immler - Spanish River Community High School, Flag Football

Tony Seaman - Saint Andrew's School, Lacrosse

Kevin Thompson - Palm Beach Central High School, Football

Coach of the Year

Adam Epstein - Keiser University, Swimming and Diving

Dusty May - Florida Atlantic University, Basketball

Doug Socha - Keiser University, Football

Outstanding Sports Contributor

Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation

Special Olympics Athlete of the Year Award

Keith Porges

TELEVISED SPORTS IN THE PALM BEACHES IN THIS ISSUE

WHAT’S POPPIN’ PBC

FULL SWING ON NETFLIX

FILM FLORIDA TURNS 25

ONE CHARGE CHALLENGE

THE SPY WHO LOVED ME

GARDENS IN PBC

The 2023 Honda Classic put the spotlight back on golf in The Palm Beaches. The tournament, played at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, was broadcast across the globe through NBC’s Golf Channel. This year’s event competed with the season opener of LIV Golf. Still, the Honda Classic’s ratings dominated, drawing nearly nine million viewers over the tournament’s weekend versus LIV’s less than 600,000 viewers. Officials have confirmed that the PGA Tour event is set to get a new title sponsor, will be back for 2024. Meanwhile, Pickleball - America’s fastest growing sport – is heating up in Palm Beach County. Earlier this year, Patch Reef Park was home to the 2023 Boca Raton Masters International Pickleball Championships. The USA Pickleball sanctioned event was live-streamed to more than 50,000 fans. Highlights from the event were also featured on Inside World Pickleball, a program airing on Amazon Freevee’s Pickle TV channel. The show can also be seen on FOX Sports, CBS Sports Network, and YouTube. In May, the Delray Beach Tennis Center will host the 3rd annual Delray Beach Pickleball Open. Then, in November, The World Pickleball Open is coming to the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis & Pickleball Center.

Sporting events in The Palm Beaches provide for countless hours of TV coverage year after year. The TimberTech Championship tees off later this year from October 30 to November 5, with the Golf Channel providing live coverage that reaches millions of households. Then, it’s bowling season when the annual Boca Raton Bowl returns to Florida Atlantic University in December. Visit the PBC Sports Commission website to learn more about world-class sports in The Palm Beaches.

MAJOR LEAGUE TV COVERAGE BIG GAME, BIG NAME, BIG PRODUCTION

Spring Training came to a close last month, but not before millions of fans tuned in to The Palm Beaches to watch their favorite teams take the field. While the preamble to baseball season isn’t as hard-hitting as the regular season, spring training is a chance for fans to get an early glimpse of baseball.

The Miami Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals played their home games at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, with televised games airing on Bally Sports Florida and Bally Sports Midwest respectively. Meanwhile, ESPN and AT&T SportsNet televised games for the 2022 World Series Champions Houston Astros. And MASN (Mid-Atlantic Sports Network) broadcast games for the Washington Nationals. Both the Nationals and Astros play at The Ballpark of The Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach. International teams also played in The Palm Beaches ahead of the World Baseball Classic. Discover world-class baseball in PBC

Scenes for Remy Martin’s Super Bowl commercial, featuring tennis legend Serena Williams, were shot at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens

The 30-second spot aired during the highly-anticipated game, which drew more than 113 million viewers. According to Nielsen ratings, it was the second most-watched game ever. In the commercial, Serena Williams, recites part of the “Inch by Inch” speech given by Al Pacino in the film Any Given Sunday. Scenes were shot throughout different areas of PGA National’s resort, including The Butcher’s Club. Jerry Blohm, the ad’s production designer told The Palm Beach Post that “PGA National Resort was a perfect combination of elegance and sophistication,” adding that the resort “allowed us to build the sets and at the same time shoot their existing properties.” Discover this and other locations through our digital database at pbfilm.com.

Newsletter of the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission | April 2023

YOUR PASSPORT TO THE PALM BEACHES FILM FLORIDA CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

Take luxury and leisure to the next level with Passport to The Palm Beaches

Currently in production of its fourth season with host Jacqueline Journey, sharing the very best of Palm Beach County. AA Video crew visited the PalmBeach County Convention Center for South Florida’s premier and most prestigious art fair, Art Palm Beach, interviewing several key people, including artist, actor, writer and filmmaker, Jordi Molla

Also highlighted is Riviera Beach’s own non-profit, Sounds of Success Marching Band. The group’s goal is to advance music education by encouraging the study and making of music. The show follows the musicians practicing and fundraising for a trip to London to represent Palm Beach County and compete internationally at London Band Week More information and raffle tickets with terrific prizes are available here.

MOSAIC MEANS CULTURE $AVINGS

It’s time to celebrate the many shades of culture in Palm Beach County! The Palm Beaches is home to some of the most magnificent music, art, shows and cultural events in the world. And, during MOSAIC month, you’ll get a chance to enjoy all of it at up to half off! That’s because May is MOSAIC month, which stands for Month of Shows, Art, Ideas and Culture. This is the sixth year that the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County has sponsored MOSAIC, featuring discounted admission and special experiences at up to 50% off at participating organizations such as the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, the Cox Science Center and Aquarium, and the Boca Raton Museum of Art -just to name a few! Bring your family and friends along to enjoy this month of shows, arts, ideas and culture. Visit MOSAICPBC.com for more details and information.

Film Florida, the state’s only trade association that represents all sectors of film, television, production and digital media industries, is celebrating a major milestone. Over the past 25 years, Film Florida has spread the message that Florida is open for business and welcomes the high-tech, wage -driven jobs that grow and diversify the state’s economy.

The not-for-profit, membership-driven organization provides members a network to engage with and a platform to help reposition Florida as a major production entertainment destination and tourism generator.

Recently the organization produced a FAM Tour of Florida in partnership with the Location Managers Guild and the Florida Office of Film and Entertainment that invites viewers to go beyond the beach and experience the wide array of locations that Florida has to offer. Watch Palm Beach County’s video.

WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL

Nature enthusiasts looking for a night out under the stars will enjoy The Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour April 8 bringing a showcase of awe-inspiring short films that celebrate the beauty and resilience of the natural world while highlighting the need to preserve it for future generations. The events take place at the Jupiter Lighthouse & Museum and promises to be an unforgettable experience, featuring a range of documentaries, animations, and experimental films that explore pressing environmental issues, as well as inspiring stories of conservation and activism. The festival will also feature local vendors, food trucks, and live music. So, bring your beach chairs to kick back, enjoy the music, food, and films. Tickets are only available online, gates open at 6 pm.

To find out about other film festivals happening in Palm Beach County check out the Local Film Festivals page on our website.

The latest episode of On the Town in The Palm Beaches with Frank Licari takes a look at the many different European and Asian cultures found throughout The Palm Beaches. From traditional costumes and Greek dancing at St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church, to incredible artwork at the Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens, to the fine pastries of Finland and the friendly fellowship at the American German Club, you’ll experience world-class travel without ever leaving your couch. In fact, you can watch the Around the World episode of On the Town in The Palm Beaches with Frank Licari anytime, on demand, at The Palm Beaches.TV.

ON THE TOWN CELEBRATES THE PALM BEACHES CULTURAL “MELTING” POT

The eight-episode Netflix series, Full Swing, debuted in February and has given viewers incredible access and a behind-thescenes look into the lives of professional golfers. The documentary walks a fine line between professional and personal lives and all the intersections that viewers can relate to. Several of the tour players were filmed at their private residences in Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens.

The Box to Box and Vox Media film crews were embedded with the players during filming. Chad Mumm, Executive Producer and Chief Creative Officer for Vox Media pitched the idea to the PGA Tour since 2010, and when he got the green light, he told the players that “whatever is important to you, is important to us, - we just want to show up and become flies on the wall, disappear, and see what their lives are like and the drama of LIV that unfolded was incredible, we couldn’t have written this script.”

HERTZ “ONE CHARGE CHALLENGE”

Gabi Powell, a World Long-Drive competitor, had some fun around The Palm Beaches when she took the Hertz One Charge Challenge to the streets of her hometown and shared some of her favorite spots. Gabi’s first stop was a new coffee place called Pumphouse Pouratorium West Palm Beach. From there she headed to Jupiter’s Abacoa Golf Course for a little work on the driving range. Then, she headed over to Loggerhead Marinelife Center for a visit with the sea turtles, and decided to dine waterside for lunch at the Dive Bar After that, she drove to Jupiter Inlet and then finished the day back in West Palm Beach, practicing her golf swing at Drive Shack.

The Hertz One Charge Challenge is a new campaign that aims to show off all the places you can go on one charge in their new electric vehicles. Watch the video on YouTube.

FOCUS ON FILM

WHIPPED CREAM SWIMWEAR

The production team of Spectrum Innovations chose several locations across the area for Whipped Cream Swimwear’s 2023 Spring Campaign including the Town of Jupiter and City of Riviera Beach. The art department set up a stylized vehicle near the beach and decorated it with flowers for their models to pose against. The swimsuit company is located in South Florida and became a viral sensation in 2022, generating over 20 million social media views. Since then the company has taken off.

Whipped Cream’s founder, Michelle Pieroway has been crafting swimsuits for many years and is also an actress, model, TV personality as well as a designer and an artist who just happens to be featured in a Cultural Council for PBC’s Where Culture Always Shines campaign that is currently welcoming visitors to The Palm Beaches.

OSPREY GOLF COURSE IS FEATURED

The Eric Cogorno Golf team selected the beautiful Osprey Golf Course in Boca Raton as the location for their current production. As a leader in golf instruction, Eric Cogorno has gained a massive following of subscribers eager to improve their game. And what better place to do so than in Palm Beach County, where the grass stays green all winter and productions are welcome. It’s no secret that PBC has become a hub for golf production, with an incredible 160 sun-soaked golf courses to choose from.

Florida has more golf courses than any other state in the country, and The Palm Beaches has more golf courses than any other county in the country. The sheer number of golf options and the undisputed quality of the courses, thanks to famous designers, have made the County a premiere golf destination. Up your game by subscribing and checking out Eric’s latest video at Eric Cogorno Golf - YouTube

Get ready y’all! What’s Poppin’ PBC?, the new high-energy series from Kitty Lundan, is airing Sundays at 9 am, beginning April 2nd in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale market on WSFL Channel 39, the CW South Florida. You’ll have a front row seat as Kitty and the What’s Poppin’ PBC? crew travel around The Palm Beaches in search of great family-friendly food, fun and adventures. Examples include Kitty dancing at the Fred Astaire Studios, creating delightful pastries at Café Sweets, taking a chartered boat around Peanut Island, getting an up-close look inside a and so much more. “Poppin’ up on these businesses and meeting great people was absolutely amazing!” Kitty said. After the premiere on WSFL, What’s Poppin’ PBC? will air on The Palm Beaches TV.

THE WAIT IS OVER! WHAT’S POPPIN’ PBC? DEBUTS ON THE CW SOUTH FLORIDA IN APRIL

FILM FLASHBACK 1977: THE SPY WHO LOVED ME

The Spy Who Loved Me is arguably Roger Moore’s best James Bond film and featured a Lotus Esprit that turned into a submarine! Producers sought the help of Perry Oceanographic in Riviera Beach and ended up using several cars but only one was made to go underwater, which meant that the inside of the car was full of pipes, levers, cabling, motors and batteries to propel the car through water, and keep it from hitting the coral reef just out of frame. Roger Moore never actually drove the car when it was underwater. In fact, the car was designed and driven by the late, retired Navy SEAL, Don Griffin of Port St. Lucie. The film was United Artists highest grossing movie at the time, grossing $184.5 M worldwide.

LOCATION SPOTLIGHT GARDENS AS BACKDROPS

Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach is the oldest and largest at 20-acres, of living plant vistas with 25 unique garden settings for filmmakers and photographers to utilize. Currently a delightful stickwork sculpture is on the great lawn. The garden is closed to the public on Mondays, making it a perfect day for productions to take place.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach offers six distinct gardens inspired by the gardens of Japan with a mile of paths to stroll, bridges to cross, and water features that give a sense of peace in our hectic world. There is also an authentic tea room, outdoor café, a world class bonsai display with exceptional vistas in every direction. The property is expansive with plenty of room for basecamp and production vehicles.

Pan’s Garden in Palm Beach is an exceptional example of a botanical garden that is entirely made up of plants that are native to Florida. The Casa Apava wall from the 1920’s is a historically significant feature that has been the backdrop to many moments and celebrations throughout the years. Brick hardscaping, pond lilies and a gazebo create a lovely setting for photography and low impact productions. Find the perfect location for your production in our locations library at pbfilm.com.

EDUCATION CORNER SSOF FINALISTS ANNOUNCED!

After receiving a record-breaking, 528 eligible submissions from 75 schools, this year’s finalists for the 28th annual Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films (SSOF) have been announced.

The judging panel of entertainment industry experts have agreed that there is undoubtable talent found in our Florida school system. Previous SSOF winners can be found acting, producing, and directing in many feature films, television series and documentaries that we love, today – and even return to volunteer their time and expertise to SSOF.

Returning for another year, stage and screen actor, producer Frank Licari, will host this year’s 90’s themed show. Joined by surprise guests and presenters, this year’s finalists will have their projects showcased as they come together to network with other high school and college student filmmakers from across the state.

On Friday, April 21, at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre in Jupiter, Florida, winners in each category will be celebrated at our live red-carpet award show where we will present $20,000 in cash prizes and awards.

Every year, the SSOF award show attracts more than 650 students and their families, along with celebrity presenters, industry professionals, media, state and county dignitaries, performers and more. Learn more by checking out the full list of finalists. And be sure to RSVP by April 7th.

To be included in this newsletter, please email ajordat@pbfilm.com or call 561.233.1000

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Gregg K. Weiss Mayor | | Maria Sachs Vice Mayor Maria G. Marino | Michael Barnett | Mack Bernard | Sarah Baxter | Marci Woodward Verdenia Baker County Administrator

PALM BEACH COUNTY FILM AND TELEVISION COMMISSION

Film Commissioner Michelle Hillery Director of Operations Alberto Jordat | Production Designer Kelly King Production Coordinator Brandon Perry | Social Media and Events Developer Vanessa Cadet

Contributors: Vanessa Cadet, Penelope Douglas, Alberto Jordat, Kelly King, Brandon Perry

Production Activity Report

For February 2023

Variance Explanations

Percentage change variances of ± 10% in perf ormance statistics are explained in this section

1. Total Production Revenue: A 14% YTD increase in Total Production Revenue is due to a few highbudget projects that helped production get off to a strong start in the new year. Those high-impact productions - including a Super Bowl commercial featuring Serena Williams, a TV series for Amazon Prime and TV series for Paramount+ - set the stage for a noteworthy increase in production revenues.

2. Total Production Days: A 10% YTD decrease in Total Production Days is due to crews having to work within budgetary limits, which means capturing footage in a shorter period of time. One reason for this is inflation and the high average daily room rates for hotels in The Palm Beaches. As a result of the growing cost of doing business, visiting companies are shortening their production schedules.

3. Total Leads: A 11% decrease in Total Leads can be attributed to available technology. Looking back at data, we’ve seen Leads from the state film office decline sharply over the years. Still the 11% decrease represents just six fewer Leads this year when compared to this time last year.

4. Website Unique Visitors: A 213% increase in Website Unique Visitors is due primarily to a spike in website visitors over a three-day period in February and a five-day period in January. The spike in February was largely driven by social media traffic that was shared by groups with large audiences. Meanwhile, the spike in January was largely driven by traffic to pages on the website related to the Student Showcase of Films, which had a record-breaking number of entries this year. These two months of unusually high website traffic are a great start towards meeting and exceeding our goals of website traffic for the year.

Palm Beach Convention Center FINANCIAL OPERATIONS ANALYSIS REPORT-BUDGET COMPARISON

Palm Beach Convention Center

FINANCIAL OPERATIONS ANALYSIS REPORT-PRIOR YEAR COMPARISON For the Five Months Ending February 2023

TDC Marketing Report – April 2023

April Events

Social Media

Social Media Followers

Facebook – 8,755 (February) to 8,770 (March)

Instagram - 2,821 (February) to 2,869 (March)

LinkedIn - 504 (February) to 516 (March)

Instagram Monthly Total

Interactions – 264 (February) to 178 (March)

Impressions – 7,456 (February) to 4,930 (March)

Reach – 1,288 (February) to 1,043 (March)

Generate Profile Visits – 776 (February) to 441 (March)

Facebook Monthly Total

People Reached – 2,328 (February) to 2,155 (March)

Post Engagements – 21,615 (February) to 16,808 (March)

Page Likes – 29 (February) to 15 (March)

LinkedIn Profile Views - 71 (February) to 57 (March)

Engagements - 90 (February) to 122 (March)

Impressions – 3,901 (February) to 4,970 (March)

Connections - 386 (February) to 394 (March)

Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary Returns [google.com]

Palm Beach Illustrated

The sixth edition of the prolific art fete will take over the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach March 2326.

Lynn University selects Joel Podolny as 2023 Commencement speaker [google.com]

Lynn University

D., will serve as keynote speaker during its annual commencement ceremony at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on Thursday, May 4. Joel Podolny

Watch: Tucker Carlson goes on delusional Jan. 6 rant arguing that there was never an insurrection [google.com]

Alternet.org

Fox News Tucker Carlson speaking at the 2020 Student Action Summit, hosted by Turning Point USA at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West

Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary art fair to showcase more than 500 artists - WPTV [google.com]

WPTV

More than a hundred galleries from 15 countries are moving artwork into the Palm Beach County Convention Center for the Palm Beach Modern +

Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary art fair opens Thursday [google.com]

Palm Beach Daily News

... edition Thursday, bringing museum-quality art and important works from the 20th and 21st centuries to the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary Art Returns For Its Sixth Edition - Haute Living [google.com]

Haute Living

Showcased at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, PB+C yet again brings world-class, investment- quality works from the 20th and 21st century

DEFINITE Room Rental by Month

March 2023 Project Status Report

Department of Environmental Resources Management

Sawfish Island Restoration Project: The project, located in the Loxahatchee River-Lake Worth Creek Aquatic Preserve in Jupiter across from Sawfish Park, is close to completion The completed project will include picnic tables and two coves connected by a paddling trail, accessible by kayak or paddleboard, for the public to enjoy. The project also includes the removal of 2 5 acres of non-native, invasive vegetation and the restoration of over 6 acres of mangrove and hardwood hammock habitats The additional wetlands and uplands will provide habitats for fish, birds, and wildlife, as well as recreational opportunities for the public. The project is the result of a partnership between the Florida Inland Navigation District, Loxahatchee River Preservation Initiative, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and Palm Beach County

Prescribed Burns: ERM’s Burn Crew successfully burned 248 acres of pine flatwoods habitat over two days in Pine Glades Natural Area The goals of the prescribed burns are ecological management and reduction of invasive hardwood species Over the past two years, land managers completed pine thinning and fuel reduction projects in this area, and the addition of prescribed fire has further enhanced the restoration progress Overall, all prescribed burn goals and objectives were met PRESCRIBED BURN

Dune Planting Project: Palm Beach County ERM partnered with Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation, Loggerhead Marine Life Center, and The Institute for Regional Conservation (IRC) on a beach and dune planting project at the boundary between Loggerhead Beach Park and Juno Dunes Natural Area. Staff and volunteers participated in planting a number of dune species: yellow joyweed, seaside joyweed, beach ragweed, beach creeper, beach morning glory, inkberry, baycedar, sea lavender, and sea oats. IRC provided the plants, equipment, and expertise needed to make this project a success. The plantings will add to the biological diversity and erosion protection of our coastal dune ecosystem

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners

Gregg K. Weiss, Mayor, Maria Sachs, Vice Mayor, Maria G. Marino, Michael A. Barnett, Marci Woodward, Sara Baxter, Mack Bernard

SAWFISH ISLAND

DUNE PLANTING

Sea Turtle Nesting Season: March 1st marked the beginning of the annual sea turtle nesting season in southeastern Florida This year, the first nest in the entire state was discovered on February 16th in Palm Beach County! ERM’s Listed Species Program has begun conducting nighttime lighting surveys throughout all opt-in municipalities across the County to proactively work with beachfront properties and ensure all are in compliance with coastal lighting regulations

FIRST 2023 SEA TURTLE NEST IN PBC

WEEDING FOR THE BIRDS

Artificial Reefs Fieldwork: With artificial reefs slated to go in the water offshore of Delray Beach, Palm Beach, Juno Beach, and potentially Jupiter this summer, there’s no shortage of underwater fieldwork to be done ERM staff have been hard at work completing benthic resource surveys since January While the purpose of these dives is to scout out open, sandy sites for artificial reef projects, divers have been surfacing with much more than photos of sandy bottom, soft corals, or seagrass Over the last few months, ERM divers have encountered a great hammerhead shark, red grouper, several bull sharks, a flying gurnard, and an unidentified siphonophore!

GROUPER

Weeding for the Birds: ERM staff and volunteers have been busy removing trash and vegetation from all five of the Lake Worth Lagoon bird nesting areas to ensure open sandy nesting habitat is available for our three local species of threatened shorebirds: American Oystercatchers, Least Terns, and Black Skimmers The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has posted signs around the islands to notify recreational users that the islands are closed to the public during shorebird nesting season.

Mission Grass Survey: For this year’s National Invasive Species Awareness Week, the Treasure Coast and Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) joined forces for the 2nd Joint CISMA mission grass (Cenchrus polystachios) survey in Palm Beach County. This non-native, invasive grass has the potential to outcompete native grasses and expand rapidly The survey revealed that mission grass has only expanded slightly since 2018 and not as aggressively as feared Although this news is positive, it serves as a reminder that timely response to infestations, continuous rotation of treatments, and prudent decontamination practices are integral to achieving containment and inhibiting this species’ ability to spread

Adventure Awaits: Register NOW for a FREE event at PBCERM.EVENTBRITE.COM!

UPCOMING ERM EVENTS

• April 14: SUNSET AT THE ROOST at Pine Glades

• April 16: FIVE MILE TRAIL RUN at Royal Palm Beach Pines

• April 22: BIRDING W/O BINOX at Pondhawk

• April 25: MORNING PADDLE at Winding Waters

• April 26: BIO-BLITZ at Juno Dunes

• April 29: BUTTERFLY HIKE at High Ridge Scrub

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners

Gregg K. Weiss, Mayor, Maria Sachs, Vice Mayor, Maria G. Marino, Michael A. Barnett, Marci Woodward, Sara Baxter, Mack Bernard

RED

PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TRAFFIC REPORT

for the period ended February 2023

(1) Estimated Seat Capacity; Adjusted Innovata/OAG Scheduled seats, actual capacity may vary

(2) Percentage Change in load factor is stated in absolute difference (3) Freight plus mail in US Tons (4) Landings plus Takeoffs, includes cargo carriers

PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TRAFFIC REPORT

AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL

** In metric tons as required by ACI reporting standards includes Mail plus Freight

* Per FAA Tower

FY2023 CONTRACT TRACKING REPORT

SUBCONTRACTS OVER $100,000

O:TDC/Tdcmtgs2022/ContractTrackingReport/Tracking Report Feb.

5. OLD BUSINESS

To: Tourist Development Council

Fr: Emanuel Perry EP

Date: April 7, 2023

Topic: TDC Dashboard April Report–Activity February and FYTD 2023

Bed Tax CollectionsFebruary 2023 collected in March @ $11.2M compared to the same month last year @ $9.9M was an increase of 13%. Actual February was 20% above Budget and 21% above the prior month @ $9.2M. Actual February was 60% higher than 2019, a new record for any February since reporting started.

FYTD23 Collections @ $44M, were higher than last fiscal year to date’s $38M by 15%, reflecting a strong recovery from the pandemic. Fiscal Year to Date collections at $44M are pacing 10% ahead of the Approved Budget. FYTD collections of $44M, 55% higher than our Record 2019. Highlights

Tourist Development Council Dashboard

Current Month 2023 vs. 2022 Fiscal Month 5.A.1

February 2023 Net Hotel Sales increased 9% over Last Year, Non-Hotel Sales increased 18% over Last Year

March Collections for February 2023 increased 13% over L.Y. Over last Month increased 21%; 20% above Budget

February 2023 Hotel Room Nights Sold increased 5% over the same month Last Year.

February 2023 Hotel Room Nights Available for Sale increased 2% over Last Year. 18,853 Rooms Open.

February 2023 Passengers through PBI increased 15% over the same month Last Year.

February 2023 Est. Seat Capacity at PBI increased 16% over the same month Last Year.

Tourist Development Council Dashboard

Fiscal Year 2023 vs. 2022 5.A.1

FY2023 Net Rental

FYTD 2023 Hotel Net Sales increased 16% over Last Year, Non-Hotel Sales increased 14% over Last Year

FYTD 2023 Collections increased 15% over Last Year, compared to FYTD Budget higher by 10%

FYTD 2023 Hotel Room Nights Sold increased 10% over Last Year

FYTD 2023 Hotel Room Nights Available for Sale increased 2% from Last Year

February 2023 Passengers Through PBI is up 18% over Previous 12 Month Rolling Actuals

February 2023 at 95,400 up 6% over Last Year ; F&B at 61,800 increased 6%; Arts & Entertainment at 22,100 increased 5%; Hotels at 11,500 up 11%

Tourist Development Council Dashboard

Current Month 2023 vs. 2019 Fiscal Month 5.A.1

Month- Net Rental Revenue Net Non-Hotel Room Revenues Net Hotel Room Revenues

February 2023 Net Hotel Sales increased 48% over Year 2019, Non-Hotel Sales increased 168% over Year 2019

March Collections for February 2023 were 60% above February FY19.This was a Record, the highest FY February of Collections ever, 13% above February FY22.

February 2023 Hotel Room Nights Sold increased 8% over FY 2019 for the same month.

February 2023 Hotel Room Nights Available for Sale increased 11% over Year 2019. 18,853 Rooms Open.

February 2023 Passengers through PBI increased 7% over FY 2019 for the same month

February 2023 Est. Seat Capacity at PBI increased 10% over FY 2019 for same month

Tourist Development Council Dashboard

Fiscal Year 2023 vs. 2019 5.A.1

FY2023 Net Rental Revenue

FYTD 2023 Hotel Net Sales increased 49% over 2019, Non-Hotel Sales 124% higher than FYTD 2019

FYTD 2023 Collections increased 55% over FYTD 2019, and 15% higher than FYTD 2022

FYTD 2023 Hotel Room Nights Sold increased 8% over FYTD 2019

FYTD 2023 Hotel Room Nights Available for Sale increased 11% from same period 2019

February 2023 FYTD Passengers Through PBI increased 5% over FYTD 2019 12 Month Rolling Actuals

February 2023 at 95,400 up 0.3% over 2019 ; F&B at 61,800 up 1%; Arts & Entertainment at 22,100 down (1%); Hotels at 11,500 down (3%) over

GROSS COLLECTIONS

NET COLLECTIONS

PALM BEACH COUNTY

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FY 2023 BUDGET FORECAST

Cultural Council Program Admin Budget

Cultural Council Program Admin Budget

Sports Commission Program Admin Budget

Sports Commission Program Admin Budget

Film & Television Commission Program

Admin Budget

Film & Television Commission Program Admin Budget Continued

Cultural Council for Palm Beach County Performance Measure

Performance Measures

Film & Television Commission Performance Measures

Discover The Palm Beaches President and CEO Announces Retirement

Travel and tourism veteran, Jorge Pesquera will step down as President and CEO at end of the year

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (February 17, 2023) – Discover The Palm Beaches, the official tourism marketing organization for Palm Beach County announced that its leader, Jorge Pesquera will retire at the end of this year. A 45-year travel and tourism industry veteran, Pesquera joined Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB), formerly the Palm Beach County CVB, in 2007 taking over after a challenging period in the organization’s history. His experience, advocacy for travel and tourism, and commitment to the Palm Beach County community have been a leading force behind the consistent growth figures in The Palm Beaches. During his 16 years of leadership, Palm Beach County’s bed tax collections have increased by 190% (from $26.8 million to $78 million), DTPB’s budget by 231% (from $8 million to $26.5 million), and the tourism industry’s economic impact by 76% from $5.5 billion to $10 billion. A recordbreaking 9.1 million visitors visited The Palm Beaches in 2022. Palm Beach County is the largest county in Florida and one of Florida’s most tourism-intensive regions.

“Jorge has done a remarkable job leading the tourism marketing efforts for the county over the past 16 years. The impacts of his efforts and commitment have been enjoyed across the tourism and hospitality industries and will continue to be felt well into the future,” said Jason Emmett, chairman of DTPB’s board of directors. “The initiatives he spearheaded throughout his career have positioned Palm Beach County as a premier destination across the world. We should all be grateful to Jorge for his contributions to the prosperity of our county, and I hope this next chapter allows him to spend more time enjoying everything Palm Beach County has to offer.”

Pesquera is a well-respected leader in the community and is known for being passionate about economic development as well as educating others about The Palm Beaches’ unique history and vast appeal. Understanding the destination’s unique offerings and potential, Pesquera’s passion and knowledge have led to the development of key campaigns and destination initiatives that have triumphantly paved the way for The Palm Beaches to achieve positive results, even through unprecedented crises including COVID-19, Zika, Blue-Green Algae, Red Tide, and tropical disturbances.

During his tenure, Pesquera was a member of the board of Destinations International (DI) and its Foundation. He has also served on the boards of Destinations Florida, Visit Florida, the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, and Florida TaxWatch. Pesquera was also a founding member of the Accreditation Board at Destination’s International. Discover The Palm Beaches became one of the first 100 DMO’s to be accredited by the Destination Marketing Association International (now DI) and has been recognized by the Board of County Commissioners through multiple proclamations since 2009.

Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International said, “It is with great pleasure to comment on the incredible body of work that Jorge has done on behalf of Discover The Palm Beaches during his distinguished career. He has been a visible and active leader, not only on behalf of the Palm Beach community but in the overall tourism industry across the globe. This, no doubt, has served the destination well and has raised its profile. We have been very fortunate to have Jorge serve in multiple capacities on our Board of Directors and Board of Trustees and in other volunteer leadership roles over the years. Because of his great work and that of the team at Discover The Palm Beaches, they are in a great position to move forward.”

Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Brand USA added, “Jorge has been a trusted advisor, colleague and mentor over a distinguished 35-year career. His leadership has helped some of most recognized lodging brands and iconic destinations to achieve best in class status. Words do not recognize or thank him appropriately or enough for his invaluable, individual contributions to our collective successes. He will be missed.”

Prior to joining DTPB, Pesquera was president and CEO of the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association and was recognized as the Hotel Association Executive of the Year at the annual Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference (CHIC). He spent ten years as president of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, spearheading the construction of the $450 million Puerto Rico Convention Center and surrounding district and repositioning the destination in the meetings marketplace. He has also held senior executive positions with Hilton International and Conrad Hotels in New York, London and Beverly Hills

"As I reflect on my tenure, without question, my top professional accomplishment is the team we have assembled at Discover The Palm Beaches," said Pesquera. "They are second to none, coming up with strategies, initiatives, and technologies that would be the envy of much larger ‘gateway’ destinations. It has been the greatest privilege in my life to lead the official tourism marketing organization for this community for nearly 16 years - it has been my greatest joy as well as my greatest challenge,” said Pesquera.

Once the succession process is completed by early fall, Pesquera will transition into a strategic advisory role until the end of 2023 or early 2024. He will focus on the continuation of the Tourism Master Plan RFP launch process, continuing advocacy for the development of a second headquarter hotel at the Convention Center District and advising the Chair and CEO on governance, organizational, and contractual matters.

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 inthe-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

6. NEW BUSINESS

Issue Sum mary: Sargassum Accumulation on County Beaches

Prepared for: Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners

By: Environmental Resources Management (ERM) and Park and Recreation (Parks) March 14, 202 3

Commissioners are often contacted by their constituents in the summer months regarding concerns over accumulations of floating sargassum (seaweed) and associated beach management practices. The summary below presents a brief introduction to the issue, ERM’s management principles an d various resources available for general information and education.

Introduction to Sargassum

Sargassum is a type of brown algae that drifts on the ocean surface, often accumulating in large, dense mats formed by wind and currents. Sargassum, commonly referred to as seaweed, blooms in the Atlantic Ocean and is spread throughout the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida and beyond primarily by the Gulf Stream. As sargassum blooms and is spread by currents, very large and dense mats may be brought ashore by prevailing winds and currents. When significant amounts of sargassum are present, persisting conditions can form large accumulations along beaches and coastlines throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Texas and Florida, including Palm Beach County. Sargassum itself is not harmful to human health, but tiny organisms that live in it can irritate skin with direct contact.

Ongoing Issues

Sargassum represents a critical part of the beach, dune, and oceanic ecosystems. Seasonal and annual sargassum abundance is affected by numerous physical and climatological factors, but remains a cyclical component of our local coastal and offshore ecosystems. Technological advances have improved the knowledge base and have provided additional data that has increased the general awareness of sargassum. Satellite tracking advances have also improved the ability to track both sargassum abundance and movement, serving as a general forecast. This information has been shared widely in the media since 2018, with recent reports suggesting high levels sargassum abundance and potential for significant accumulation in the coming summer months.

Large accumulations of sargassum, while temporary in nature, can be considered a nuisance or potentially harmful to public safety in that they can cover large stretches of beaches, blocking access to the water. Significant accumulations can also impact tourism in destination areas where beaches are a primary attraction to visitors These accumulations may result in unpleasant odors caused by decaying material or may trap harmful waste and human generated debris. These factors have driven many different management strategies throughout the regions and destinations most often impacted by significant accumulations.

Sargassum in Palm Beach County

In Palm Beach County, accumulations are most common in the summer months when seasonal onshore winds blow concentrations of sargassum from the Gulf Stream towards shore. Given the shape of the County’s coastline and proximity to the Gulf Stream, south c ounty beaches are typically more impacted. North of Lake Worth Inlet, the distance between the Gulf Stream and the coastline progressively increases, reducing the frequency of large accumulations on north county beaches.

Palm Beach County maintains a very long and successful program of coastal management directed at maintaining healthy beach and dune systems for sea turtle nesting habitat, storm protection, recreational use, and to support the positive economic benefits from tourism. The County’s efforts include direct management and nourishment of various beaches, dunes and inlets and as a project partner to cost-share with various municipalities who manage their own coastal programs.

Sargassum Management

Palm Beach County maintains a “hands-off” management approach to sargassum accumulations on County- owned beaches for various reasons:

• Sargassum is a naturally occurring algae that represents a critical component to the County’s beach and dune ecosystem, providing food and shelter for native wildlife and nutrients and stability to dune plants.

• Moderate accumulations capture wind-blown sand which help naturally built the beaches and make them more resilient to erosion from storms or high wave events.

• Significant accumulations typically coincide with peak sea turtle nesting season during summer months. Three species of endangered sea turtles nest on Palm Beach County’s beaches, which are federally-designated as critical sea turtle nesting habitat. The numbers of sea turtle nests in the County can exceed 40,000 in a single nesting season, often representing the highest nesting density in the state and country. Any active physical management of the sargassum can introduce unintended impacts and is strictly avoided during the nesting season.

• Removal of accumulations can be costly and offer limited benefits as seasonal winds continue to drive f loating sargassum onto the coastlines.

• Parks and Recreation staff and volunteers daily remove human generated debris and litter from sargassum on County beaches.

While the County does not actively remove sargassum from our beaches, there are multiple existing and emerging alternatives being implemented to manage significant accumulations of sargassum. These alternatives are based on site-specific conditions in various geographic locations, but come with significant operating or capital cost, logistical difficulties and regulatory challenges. The alternatives list below are not considered suitable for use locally or are not consistent with the County’s ecosystem based management objective.

• Beach raking is the most commonly used mechanical management practice and consists primarily of the physical removal of accumulated sargassum along the beach using tractors and other vehicles on the beach to remove the sargassum and other debris. Beach raking is regulated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), with permits issued to public and private applicants that include various conditions designed to minimize potential impacts to the beach and natural resources such as sea turtles and shore birds. When a beach is raked it does not remove sargassum in the water. Therefore, sargassum will often deposit on the beach with the next tidal cycle. Palm Beach County does not contract for routine mechanical removal of sargassum. It is left in-place and allowed to remain a part of the ecosystem benefiting both the environment and lowering operational costs. Multiple municipalities and private entities do contract for routine mechanical beach raking. When significant accumulations block recreational access to the water or impede ocean rescue operations within County Parks, the Parks and Recreation Department may conduct hand raking of sargassum on the beach to clear paths and facilitate access to and from the water. In the very rare instance that accumulations grow to an amount that no longer dissipates with multiple tidal cycles and can no longer reasonably be hand raked to create paths, Parks and Recreation may seek a permit for a one-time mechanical removal with wildlife monitoring in place.

• Floating barriers are becoming a more common management practice in areas impacted by accumulated sargassum. These systems include various sizes and lengths of floating materials that serve as deflection booms to prevent floating sargassum from reaching a beach or designated swim area. These systems may include various anchoring systems to hold the barriers in place and can be effective along beaches with low wave energy. Currently, Palm Beach County does not support the installation of floating barriers due to the local high-energy wave climate and potential risks to nearshore coral resources and sea turtle populations.

• Composting and re- purposing of accumulated sargassum is a newer practice where material is collected and transported for various uses. The accumulated material can be used to support and build existing dune systems, or be utilized specifically as a compost, where the material is spread out, tilled and left to become a soil alternative Palm Beach County does not utilize mechanical management measures for the removal and repurposing of accumulated material.

ERM recognizes there are various perspectives and opinions on the potential impacts to public health and safety, recreation and tou rism from the accumulation of sargassum along County beaches. ERM and Parks work cooperatively to ensure coastal management practices represent a balance of safe recreational use, coastal resiliency and the protection of natural resources Both Departments maintain that sargassum is a natural and critical component of our coastal ecosystem and is best left in- place unless extreme accumulations impede ocean rescue operations. ERM’s coastal program will continue to coordinate with Parks to monitor accumulation on area beaches and evaluate emerging management alternatives as they are developed.

Available Resources:

Share the Beach: Guidelines for Beach Cleaning during Sea Turtle Nesting season.

https://myfwc.com/media/3157/seaturtle-sharebeach-cleaning.pdf

Palm Beach County Guidelines for Beach and Dune Management

https://discover.pbcgov.org/coextension/horticulture/PDF/commercial/urbanforestry/beac hdunemanagement09_updated.pdf

Florida Department of Environmental Protection -Removing Dead Fish and Seaweed from Florida Beaches

https://floridadep.gov/file/26755/download?token=d47iHe7K

Florida Department of Health Sargassum Fact Sheet

https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental- health/beach -waterquality/_documents/sargassum-factsheet-appr-final.pdf

University of South Florida Satellite- based Sargassum Watch System (SaWS)

https://optics.marine.usf.edu/projects/saws.html

For More Information

Staff Contact: Michael Stahl, Deputy Department Director, ERM 561-233-2433 or mstahl@pbcgov.org