2. MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS*
Motion to approve Agenda was made by Jim Mostad and seconded by Don Dufresne. Motion carried 5-0 with Jim Bronstien, Daniel Hostettler, Davicka Thompson absent and Seat 6 vacant.
3. MOTION TO APPROVE JUNE 13TH TDC MEETING MINUTES*
Motion to approve the June 13th TDC Minutes was made by Jim Mostad and seconded by Don Dufresne. Motion carried 6-0 with Jim Bronstien, Daniel Hostettler absent and Seat 6 vacant.
4. MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE CONSENT ITEMS JULY 2024*
MARKETING AGENCIES REPORTING
A. DTPB ACTIVITY REPORT*
B. CULTURAL COUNCIL ACTIVITY REPORTS*
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/DEPARTMENT REPORTS
I. ERM PROJECT STATUS REPORT*
J. PBI TRAFFIC REPORT*
K. CONTRACT TRACKING REPORT*
Motion to receive and file consent items for July 2024 was made by Jim Mostad and seconded by Davicka Thompson. Motion carried 6-0 with Jim Bronstien, Daniel Hostettler absent and Seat 6 vacant.
5. OLD BUSINESS – DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. TDC TOURISM PERFORMANCE METRICS
1 TDC DASHBOARD CURRENT MONTH &FY2024* - Emanuel Perry a. Bed Tax Collections*
Perry
Bed Tax Collection – April 2024 collected in May was $8.3M compared to the same month last year at $8.1M, a 3% increase. Actual April was 10% above budget and (41%)below the prior
month at $14.2M. Actual April was (3%)lower than in 2022. Revenue from non-hotels continues to support bed tax collection
FYTD24 Collections at $66M, were higher than last fiscal year to date at $65M by 3% FYT collections are 7% above the Approved Budget and 14% higher than 2022 collections
The Rooms sold for April were 410,532, (2%) lower than last year. Rooms available for April at 574,170 are 1% higher than last year. Hotel Rooms Active today in the County, 19,139
Occupancy for April 2024 was 71.5%, (3%) lower than last year. Occupancy for April 2023 was 73.4%. April 2022 was 75.5%. The average daily rate for April was $280.30,(3%) lower than last year, and (1%)below 2022. The Revenue/Available Room for April 2024 was $200.49 lower than the prior April(6%)
Hotel room net sales FY24 year over year April decreased (4%)to $112M compared to $117M. Non-hotel room sales FY24 year over year April increased 33% at $24M compared to $18M. Hotel room net sales FYTD 2024 decreased (2%)from $886M to $902M Non-hotel room sales FYTD 2024 increased 22% at $206M compared to $169M. FYTD 2024 Taxable Revenues Fiscal Year over FY2023 increased 2% at $1.09B compared to $1.07B. FYTD 2024 Taxable Revenues Fiscal Year over FY2022 increased 13% at $1.09M compared to $963M.
Airport passengers for April 2024 were 790,110. (0.2%)lower than in April 2023, and the Total Estimated Seat Capacity is 7% higher than last April 2023 with 1,010,3050 seats. PBI Passenger 12-month rolling is a 12% increase at 7,977,288 over last year.
Leisure & Hospitality Employment for April, 97,800, increased 0.3% over the same month last year. Accommodation employment (3%) is lower than last year at 11,600 employees. F&B was flat over last year at 62,300 employees. Arts & Entertainment employment is 3% higher than last year at 23,900 employees.
Our Tourism Master Plan-Steering Committee met with our subject matter experts, CSL, Conventional Sports and Leisure. They were here for a site visit and are visiting over 75 attractions, destinations, and areas while here. They were in the north part of the county and South County, the Island, as well as the Glades area to get a feel and a flavor of who we are as a destination to help produce a robust Tourism Master Plan. My team member, Mr. Hearn, helped produce a resident engagement flyer.
We are going to have these included in the Commissioner's newsletters We are also going to have them in libraries, and at our parks and recs facilities, to grab the attention of the residents, to get feedback as to how they see us, see our county, what they think about tourism, and even enlighten them about and educate them on the importance of tourism.
B. PBI UPDATE–Nichole Hughes
1. PBI Report Update* - Nichole Hughes
Hughes
We were ranked third in the U.S. for travel and leisure, the world's best airport. We were behind Minneapolis and Rhode Island.
We continue to see growth. We surpassed 8M passengers year over year. We also received an FAA grant for airport infrastructure, $17.2M This will help us rehabilitate and reconstruct some
6.
of our runways and taxiways. We now have 15 air carriers. Porter announced that they will be traveling nonstop to Toronto four times a week on November 14th , and daily flights starting December 12th
We also have Air Canada returning, flying to Montreal two times a week starting October 29th , and Toronto daily starting October 29th
American Airlines, Chicago O'Hare will be going once daily starting October 7th, and then two times daily starting November 5th LaGuardia will be two times daily starting November 5th New York LaGuardia on Delta will be five times daily between January to March.
JetBlue has added Providence, two times daily starting October 24th. LAX is returning once daily starting October 27th Hartford will be twice daily between November to March. Boston will be seven times daily in March. And Westchester will be six times daily in March.
Silver is supporting Nassau four times weekly, and Tampa twice weekly from December through February, and then three times daily between March and April. United Airlines is offering Denver service between December 19th , and January 6th daily, and then Saturday-only service through March. They are trying to capture the winter travelers and also the spring break travelers. United will be servicing Newark daily, nine times Washington two times daily beginning December 19th . Houston will be returning two times daily beginning December 19th .
Mayor Sachs
Porter Airlines. Is it Canadian?
Hughes
It is a Canadian airline, and its planes have two seats on each side. It is an upscale service. They have free alcoholic beverages, a higher-end catering menu, and very nice snacks You can order a full menu.
Segarra
The importance of this is adding additional seats to the main source of business that we have from Toronto and some of the other cities, which are our most important source of visitors. That will bring additional components.
Hughes
The number of seats that will be available for PBI is 15% higher. We are higher than most other airports in the area with the number of seats. Some other carriers have lowered their seat numbers in Fort Lauderdale, but PBI is increasing in number. Air Canada is going to compete with Porter, bringing in larger planes than they used last year. That helps with the number of people who can get down here.
NEW BUSINESS – DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. ERM
1. Update – Deb Drum
Drum
Our next big restoration project for the lagoon officially started this week. It is called Bonefish Cove. It is down between Palm Beach and Lake Worth Beach. It includes over 30 acres of
habitat restoration in the lagoon. It will be built almost entirely using sand material that is currently stored on Peanut Island. We had to excavate and stockpile the sand. The first barges arrived on the project this week to begin creating the first island. We expect over 500 barge trips over the next year to complete the project, just to give you an idea of the scale.
As part of our regular biological monitoring of Lake Worth Lagoon, we complete lagoon-wide seagrass mapping as an exercise every five years.
We are really happy to report an increase of 500 acres of seagrass, totaling over 2,000 acres. To give us some perspective on what 2,000 acres of seagrass is, it is greater than 3.2 square miles, which is larger than some of the municipalities in our county. From an ecological perspective and water quality perspective, which is related to tourism, seagrass is an important indicator, and it is good for the visitors, the residents, and the lagoon itself.
On the sea turtle front, we wrapped up our annual sea turtle walks. I hope some of you were able to join, as part of our Adventure Awaits series. We had successful nesting interactions at four out of six events. We hosted about 130 people, both residents and out-of-town visitors.
ERM recently completed coordination with Public Affairs on a short video clip documenting our recent coral restoration with the Reef Institute. Shanna is in the audience today. It is great to see you and she is an interested stakeholder with our corals. The video is about four minutes long and it is going to be shared on social media and Palm Beach County television. It has some topside and underwater footage documenting our recent coral planting event where corals that were grown here locally in a nursery on land were planted on natural reefs in the county. Diving is a big tourism draw for the county. It is great to have our efforts documented and shared with both local and visiting members of the dive community.
Commissioner Lambert
Is there a specific area that we are seeing people come from out of the area or is most of it from the region?
Drum
We have international visitors from all over We have been keeping some data when we have the 50-mile runs on some of our natural areas. They come from every state that you can imagine in the United States as well as internationally, for the diving community we have people from all over as well
We are world-renowned for that kind of visitor. We are poised through the Tourism Master Plan, that ecotourism is a topic, and have a great opportunity to lean into some of the resources that we have available We have been willing partners for a long time on the beaches, but ecotourism is something that we are ready for when you are.
B. CULTURAL COUNCIL
1. MOSAIC and Open Studios Recap – Lauren Perry
L. Perry
I wanted to share some photos for the Palm Beach County Open Studios We hired KBL to go out and shoot different studio locations across the county and are going to be used for next year's promotions.
The advertising campaign ran in conjunction with Mosaic. 112 artists participated this year. The event ran for two days, and we sent out a survey to the 112 artists, and 59 responded We are estimating over 4,000 visitors. For advertising and marketing, we had over 4M advertising impressions, which is 1,800 email sign-ups, and 3,500 downloads. Almost 30,000 people came to Open Studios site.
This year we launched a Google map. We had over 54,000 subscribers. Hundred views of that Google map. We are estimating about 4,000 visitors.
We would not have achieved all of these results without working with our sister agencies and partners. Thanks to the Film & TV Commission who does Watch Parties, gave us exposure to the Daily Television Show. They had two banding pages, three blog posts, four email newsletters, and over 50 mentions on social media. Also, put out two press releases that all mentioned Mosaic and Open Studios.
Dufresne
How many heads and beds this is going to have?
Sullivan
There is no way to count other than looking at the collection data here and seeing that the bed tax was up in May. There are a lot of factors that contribute to a bed count, but what we can count is redemptions, visitor engagement, and then looking at the whole picture of what the bed tax collection was and the occupancy rate. We are hoping that Mosaic is helping to contribute to that.
The idea of Mosaic was a shoulder season time. We had a couple of holidays in May that we wanted to capitalize on engaging the community to visit. Take a long weekend, use the holidays to stay, and engage with the cultural community, and the results we can track are all digital. It all contributes to that bed tax number we see growing.
Dufresne
We do not know if the 80% of it is successful. What I do not know is if we are getting 10 room nights from this promotion, see if they are staying in hotels, and get some data to go along with it.
Sullivan
We have information about where people come from. We are having a lot of talks about hotel room nights and how to track them. This is probably a deeper dive discussion, but for a sporting event, for instance, there is a tool that Sports is using to plug in numbers, and then it spits out how many room nights a specific event is having.
Dufresne
It is a little different because there is actual registration too.
Sullivan
We are correlating it to the digital impact and the traffic that we are creating for exposure. This is a larger discussion about hotel bed nights and how we are all tracking it. Our role right now for Mosaic is for cultural capital, but also, there is value in branding and value in exposure and connecting arts and culture with the destination's brand. We are up in that top funnel. We are building awareness about what we have here in the market, and they are coming for a sporting event, to go to the beach, and to visit a cultural attraction.
There is a loose correlation between this event and the bed tax collections and hotel occupancy rates. I am hoping to drive that demand. There is a lot of demand. But we are having those conversations right now, and you are on the list of people we want to talk to, because I think we have to find some solution that everyone aligns with
Dufresne
These are tax dollars that are supposed to be spent to increase heads in beds. I see no data supporting what this program does. But we have a responsibility to have some kind of metric that we know that this is generating heads in beds, or is it all local?
Mayor Sachs
What Ms. Sullivan is talking about is that this adds to what people come to see in the Palm Beaches. She will probably, next time we meet, have some idea of people who came to see a baseball game, and, in the meantime, they found out that we have Open Studios.
I do not think people may come from Canada to do an Open Studio but this adds to the whole culture, that is why it is called Mosaic, because it adds to the whole tapestry of what Palm Beach County is all about.
Maybe at September’s meeting, you will have some statistics on how many people who came for another event and enjoyed some of our cultural events. Or maybe, some statements from our artists. I mean, somebody walked in there and bought all his art.
Mostad
The timing of this is outstanding. And it is shoulder months February and March, $26M and it falls off a cliff. From a timing perspective, having this during that time frame is excellent.
Palm Beach County, as every year there is a period frame where there is some value-added incentive and benefits to come down. It is in a shoulder month. Rates are not quite as high in all the resorts. We all know that there is an opportunity here to kind of be known as a cultural center.
Unfortunately, we are never going to sit here and have every agency give us a complete metric on where it is at. I am going to stand here and say I support Mosaics in a very big way, and I think it is something that we can build upon going forward, building and putting even more teeth behind it. It is known every year out in Palm Beach County, this is the time when it is culture. There is some value added. This is a tremendous effort.
Dufresne
We do not know what we are getting from it. If only 10% of participants and visitors are from out of town, is that enough money to look at? If it is 80% are coming from out of town, then we know it is a big hit, but we have no idea what it is. I would just try to get a handle on what the money is being spent on it. I like the program.
Mostad
It is not just about overnights, it is about all these agencies being structured to support these agencies and to get them promoted out there, every single entity that is out there, North, South, East, and West. There is an awareness concept that helps the residents of Palm Beach County.
Perry
I want to bring to everyone's attention that the groups and organizations are just following the directions of our strategic plan. When we came out of COVID, we had a strategic plan that talked about resident engagement. That is following the shoulder season and the off-season We can evolve this program to include surveys that capture how many people are attributed to heads in beds, but they are following the strategic plan.
Segarra
That is a very good point, Don. We try on every single investment to have an estimate of room nights that are going to be generated. But on the other side of the equation in which this type of activity will help is an important metric that needs to keep an eye on brand awareness, which will trigger potential demand for visitation.
This type of event generates brand awareness metrics, which you cannot correlate with 100% room nights generated, but also how we are perceived and how we position the destination, or the brand will trigger some demand.
Dufresne
I am asking what kind of impact that would have on our room nights.
Sullivan
We can add surveying. We do not do surveying right now. This is how we are going to educate ourselves about room nights. Then we can gather that and then it becomes a formula to estimate a room night. It is very hard to track the room nights accurately, but surveying will help
Thompson
While we have no concrete data unofficially. Jim, are you hearing from your guests, is it just in May that they are visiting specifically for this event? Or what are you hearing?
Mostad
No, I cannot quantify that completely, the more awareness there is about cultural activities and things, it makes the destination even more compelling to not only come here one time but there are lots of things to do there. This is an accumulative effect.
We are not just marketing room nights. We have dollars going toward sports, film, towards culture. It is an all-encompassing effort, and accumulatively. Without Mosaic, there is less awareness and less opportunity. This 60-day stretch is where you want to go down to a little more of a value season in Palm Beach County and have some tremendous venues and opportunities to experience.
That is my two cents, but I would say that our guests are out there visiting all these destinations, which is critical to our success.
Fisher
When the resorts or the hotels embrace the activations we did with Push Iron over the Wildlife, we incorporate all that helps you grow. It drives return, repeat visits, and then even potentially people moving to the destination. There is an overarching awareness that helps support that.
Mayor Sachs
And in the hotel lobbies, you have a whole platform, the whole groupings of what is going on with Mosaic for the month while the people visit the hotel. That circulates people around the county who are here.
Hillery
With The Palm Beaches TV it is difficult to identify anyone who watches programming on the Palm Beaches TV, how many of those people book a hotel room? But it is an investment to create more awareness of all of the activities that are around this table and with our small businesses and the offerings that they have We are telling our own stories through this investment.
Dufresne
We should be tracking. We are responsible for this $83M we are spending and want to see what results we are getting.
L. Perry
Because of our partnership with Discover, we do have a little bit of a funnel to their host couches. We do include that as part of our campaign. You can probably go back and just see how many people are going from clicking through to those sites. And that might give us a little bit of an idea. For those of you who are interested in host couches, it might just be harder for us to see if they work.
Mayor Sachs
We do not have a signature event like Miami does with Art Basel But if we could, it sure would be great. And I know we have a lot of sports events and huge convention events, but one day it would be nice to have something great going on at the Norton or one of our other art venues
Sullivan
I would argue that Sunfest is a signature event. And is also the largest in the country. Mosaic is in May. It starts with Sunfest and leads to the rest of the month.
2. Update–Jennifer Sullivan
Sullivan
After Mosaic, we are starting back in the Northeast. We also have a Canada-specific campaign translated into French and English in Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto.
We received a good placement in AARP for the best museums to visit with the grandkids, with the Flagler Museum being showcased, and that was a result of a FAM trip that we hosted in February.
The governor vetoed all of the state arts grant funding out of the budget next year. He vetoed two items One was $26M and the other $6M That is $32M in arts grant funding. That would have impacted Palm Beach County. We would have received $3.1M which would have benefited 50 organizations, up to 51 grants. We have been meeting, talking, and putting a strategy together to come back and try to restore the funding next year
He was quoted as saying that some fringe festivals received funding and he did not like the programming that they were doing. Why use taxpayer dollars to pay for fringe festivals?
The Cultural Council is taking a position to be the advocate for Palm Beach County We created the landing page, if anyone is interested, I can share it. And then we convened about 50 cultural leaders on Tuesday to start planning on what we are going to be doing this year to help restore the
funding. The state funding is how the local arts agencies get funding from the states, through that grant program. The data says that these grants have a 91% return on investment
Our organizations are thankful for the TDC, and the county's leadership. Because we have a robust tourism grant program. The Cultural Council also has some private grant programs that are benefiting our organizations.
We are starting to formulate a plan that will include a cultural tour for the delegation in September. We are asking if the Tourist Development Council would do a letter of support for the state grant funds a request our CEO has asked in addition to some of the chambers to just reiterate the value of the state program and how it benefits the tourism sector here.
Mayor Sachs
I like the idea. Don, will you draft it?
Dufresne
You have got to be very careful in how you are dealing with these issues at the state level. It is not a good idea for us, as a Tourist Development Council, to send a letter like that. It could backfire in many respects. It could harm Tourist Development Agencies because they are already under attack.
Mayor Sachs
Why don't we invite the Governor to come down to see one of our cultural events here? To see what we do here
The entire board must be aware that as part of the Travel, in which our airport for the eighth consecutive year was selected, a few of our properties as well were selected.
We share with them the plans that we have to get from them, some feedback, and recommendations about what we should be doing for the upcoming season. And we discussed international markets, groups, and a couple of initiatives, and ideas.
Also, we discussed and shared with them the goals of the Master Plan
Gustav Weibull continued with Discover The Palm Beaches Updates.
Commissioner Lambert
About our inventory as far as luxury hotels versus group hotels? Around the Convention Center and central Palm Beach County. Inventory of hotels. Do we see a demand and the need for one hotel that is not luxury?
Weibull
Right now the demand is to upscale the full-service hotels that have you know, food and beverage and all those amenities.
Fisher
There is a certain level of availability. They want the ability to go to restaurants and a spa.
Anderson
It might be a little different because when we do Art Basel, they are in 32 hotels. Some of the hotels are 15 miles away. They do not care where staying because they are going to spend most of their time either at the Convention Center or at Art Basel
Mostad
About that slide you showed, the rates going back from 2019. Big sigh of relief when you look at three consecutive years of retaining the pricing increase levels, which were staggering for Palm Beach County, and it is almost over.
Your properties are less concerned about occupancy and more concerned about rates. The old days of just thinking you could sell anything because there is a math equation that they have done that, but three years in a row, it is not just a short-term trend, this is sustainable, and after three solid years We should feel good about the third consecutive year of retaining the adjustment that was made from a pricing perspective and solid going forward.
Segarra
It is a fact that over the same period, we have added several rooms. And the absorption rate of those new rooms into the market has been very positive, maintaining and growing the rate. New inventory, which normally has an impact on the rate. We have been able to go over that, absorb the new rooms, provide, sell, and on top of that, increase the rate of those rooms.
Dufresne
One other important factor is I do not think we can factor in how many people who used to be visitors are now condo owners. They have bought places, which affects the rate. That is why the airport is up, you know, but maybe it does not correlate to visitors.
Anderson
Interestingly, the groups that started working in January and February are kind of priced out of the SNL, but they are not leaving us. They are just moving to March, April or May. And now we have new groups in January and February.
More pharmaceutical, and medical They are used to paying $350, or $375, they do not have an issue with it. And their spending is much lower here. It is the destination that has a pull. We have been running for 12 months now We run summer conferences and events throughout the summer months, which we have been looking forward to.
Kelly Cavers and Erika Constantine continue with the DTPB updates.
Dufresne
Are you expecting a downturn in the Brightline ridership because of the new pricing?
Constantine
I cannot speak specifically for their forecasting. We talked to them about it when that article came out and kind of the news was broken.
Some of the computers weren't as profitable, but also, it was also creating more strain on things being sold out. People couldn't do the long hauls because of the short-haul computers.
D. SPORTS COMMISSION
1. MOTION TO APPROVE The Category “G” Grant Agreements*
a.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Men’s Golf National Championship (May 18-23, 2025) - PGA National Resort, Champion Course
$30,000 1,758
1,758
Average Historical ADR - $227.32 ROI - $23,977.71
Motion to approve Category “G” Grant Agreement was made by Commissioner Christina Lambert and seconded by Davicka Thompson. Motion carried by 6-0 with Jim Bronstien and Daniel Hosteller absent and Seat 6 vacant.
2. Update – George Linley
Linley
This grant is for next spring in May. It is the NCAA Division II Men's Golf National Championship. Thanks to PGA National, which is the host not only from a hotel perspective but obviously from the world-class golf amenities, including the Champions Course, which will be the venue.
For the Copa America semi-final last night. I will say I am disappointed; I was hoping that Uruguay would get to the finals. Because Uruguay made Palm Beach County its home for a training camp. It was a collaboration between PGA National, the Gardens North County District Park, and our Sports Commission. They were preparing for Copa America. But it is a good stage for what will be coming in 2026 with the World Cup.
Team Uruguay did tell Palm Beach Gardens, Parks and Rec, those fields that we have at the North County District Park, which is a Palm Beach County Parks and Rec facility, that hey are one of the best soccer fields you will find in the state of Florida. Could we be a training site?
PGA National also hosted The Junior Tour National Championships, which is sponsored by Under Armour. It is 400, 500 junior golfers. Over 1,500 room nights. A powerful event, appreciate Joseph, and the partnership over the last month.
We look back from October 1 through May 31 and tracked through those first three months, 286,000 plus room nights, which puts us ahead of last year's pace. And our room nights, as I have mentioned before, do not include all of spring training, baseball, and the entire equestrian landscape.
Yesterday, we hosted our annual Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches at the South Florida Fairgrounds. A community event, but we utilize a lot of tourism partners. We had over 1,600 youth from across the county. Many Title I camps were from the underserved areas and were out
there. It is a touching event because the mission is to encourage our youth to embrace sports and when they leave the facility, they've had a chance to participate in the sport in some way to get a taste of the sport.
We had a few national organizations and a lot of our local partners from golf, tennis, baseball, softball, soccer, pickleball, our local BMX club in Okeechobee Park, fitness clinic, cricket, croquet, hockey, football, beach tennis, and, and over 20 different sports. We partner with Baptist Health to sponsor it and we have other local partners to fund the cost of the venue. But it makes us a well balanced sports commission. It touches a lot of kids who get a chance to be exposed to sports that otherwise would not have that opportunity. So, I will have more in the monthly report come the next TDC board meeting. Just to give you some of the sights and images of the annual Kids Fitness Festival at the Palm Beach event.
There will be 30 different national events. Half of them in June and July. Delray Beach Women's Racquet Club and several other facilities in South County for the United States Tennis Association, Boys 18 and 16's National Play Court Championships is happening consistently been a 2,000-plus room night event.
We just had a seven-day event, the Perfect Game, Prospect Select, and Prospect Wire Baseball.
Florida State Golf Association has landed about six events over the next two months. And finally, August 1st – 4th, will be the first national event of this sport that we are hosting. This is just coming up in about three weeks, the World Wake Board Association (WWA) is hosting cable wakeboarding. It is at 561 Wake Park, which is a cable wakeboarding facility that Greg Norman's son manages. A collaboration with our Parks and Rec Department.
E. FILM & TV
1. Student Showcase Highlight Video – Michelle Hillery
2. Update – Michelle Hillery
Hillery
We do have a signature event, which is the largest statewide film competition for high school and college students. Hosted here in collaboration with the Maltz Jupiter Theater. This is a program that we have utilized over the years to retain the talent that is coming out. We have a competition with Georgia, where they are recruiting our kids to go work in Georgia. The Student Showcase of Films is our platform to try to retain that talent. We will do a study of how many, and where the kids are now. We did one five years ago. We want to update that study to see how many of those students are still working in the industry, where they are, and what they are doing. We were happy to discover that 100 percent of those that we had surveyed were still actually in the industry.
I have a two-minute Promo piece that highlights the sights and sounds and sort of gets a feel for what this event is all about. This year was the first time that we partnered up with Discover to do the first Palm Beach County Tourism PSA award which Discover sponsored. Commissioner Lambert's son was placed in the Burt Reynolds scholarship as a finalist and won one of the awards. We secured 50 judges from around the globe who use these students' projects and we had 529 entries this year from around the state.
Production is going well. We are up 18% in the total productions that we saw this year. We permitted 32 projects. We saw an additional 33 shots that did not require a permit.
We are about flat in production revenue, with $18M being spent here in Palm Beach County. And year over year, $91M has been spent in film and television production in Palm Beach County. In total leads over the past five months, 109 leads that generated, and we converted 80 of those into actual productions that took place here.
You can read the Focus on Film newsletter which has a lot of information about the production that is taking place here. One of those came from the Student Showcase of Films. A student that back in 2003 was the third-place winner. His name is Wes Ball. He is known as the director of the Maze Runner trilogies, and he also directed Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. He is one of our gems who came up through the ranks of the Student Showcase of Films.
Lastly, we have been putting together the programming that is going to support our sponsorship and development program that has an original distribution platform. And then that programming lands on the Palm Beaches TV channel, and then we repurpose that programming through our weekly watch parties, and for the South Florida Daily Show as well.
In June we had a sponsorship meeting in which we had nine shows that were pitched to our selection committee. Six of them were returns, and three of them were brand-new shows. A brand-new kid's show, that will be hosted by a ten-year-old boy, providing perspective of where he would like to go to visit in the Palm Beaches. And as we know, where kids want to go, usually the families follow. We also have two fishing shows that will be coming on board. And an outdoor adventure show that we will be sponsoring as well. In August, we will have our second Sponsorship and Development Committee meeting planned.
We have two returning shows, two of them with Burt Wolfe. An international show with a 120M potential reach and viewership.
And we have a film festival show that is going to showcase and tune into the various festivals from all of us here, in a three-part episode. Health and Wellness is also another new show coming up. And also, a fashion show to showcase the various fashions stemming from the Palm Beaches.
Commissioner Lambert
I planned on going to film showcase event and sneaking out after our son's name, and I stayed the entire time. It was phenomenal. I would encourage it if you haven't been, for you to go.
Hillery
I have been fortunate to retain Frank Licari who has been our host for close to 20 years
Commissioner Lambert
Does he do all of the planning for the lights and the decor and everything?
Hillery
Yes, he does. The opening film was all his creation The choreography, the choreographing of the dancers was all him. We work together year after year. The concept was AI this year, and that was our 29th anniversary.
The Palm Royale has been renewed for Season 2. While that is not filming here, a project like that is bringing exposure to the Palm Beaches. We have had tours of people who are coming here to see or think that they are looking at the sites and places they are seeing in that show.
Mayor Sachs
Where are they filming?
Hillery California.
I am getting calls about the funding that was cut from the governor asking if it is affecting the film and television industry. It does not directly affect our industry, we were sort of on the cutting board last year, with our state film commission. While we have not had incentives for the State of Florida, we are one of 15 states that do not have any type of film or television incentive program. Last year, our state film office was shoved in the Department of Commerce, and renamed, and while they are still administering our sales tax exemption program, our locations database, and production directory, they no longer can market. Our Trade Association of Film Florida was ahead of the curve. They are already stepping up to the table and knowing that they are going to have to take the reins on any kind of state, marketing, and promotion for that. And the state's numbers are already reflecting close to 50% declines in the interest that is coming in through the state film office. We have sort of expanded our portfolio and we are doing a lot more to increase production here.
F. CONVENTION CENTER
1. OVG Venue Management
a. Update - Dave Anderson
Anderson
We have been involved with Art Basel for 15-16 years. It was created and then all the proofing stuff was created around it. In this situation, it is a good idea, now that Mosaic is created, you have everybody going down the same stream.
The other thing is when we are submitting RFP responses, a lot of times the planners want to know what is going on in the community. Now that we are 12 months a year, it is great to have this stuff. It is as simple as that. The Kravis is running The Infinite Show, Diane sent me a note and said you know, is there any help you can give us with it? So we worked with them. They made a QR code. We blew out to every summer event coming into the building. They know in advance and go right across the street and do it.
As it relates to business things continue to be good. The 4th of July was here, and we did not book an event over the 4th of July, which was nice, the staff got a little time off. After that, we run most of the summer hot with events, mostly conference, and room night types of events.
We have Mr. Robbins coming back next week. For the first time, he is bringing a private event to us with a couple thousand people. And then they come in August, and again in December. In between all the conferences that we are booking with Discover.
In the convention industry, a lot of times you have even years and odd years. If it is an off-year, revenue can be down quite a bit. When we came into the year, I think we were 18% off top-line revenue coming into the year versus last year's record. We are only 5% off right now, and we are probably going to exceed last year's record. Credit to the sales team and all the events team for driving revenue while the clients were here.
Last but not least I just wanted to thank my staff one more time. When you are doing conferences that are running for a week and running for a lot of hours, you have a lot of staff shifts. And
clients can get fidgety because they count on the people they have been working with in advance before they show up.
You have managers and certain people, but the event managers, we do not want them to stay there for 24 hours a day for 12 days. We have been doing this nonstop since December, and I have not heard one comment from one client about, like, it fell off on the second shift or third shift, or whatever. We want to keep this person on all the way through, and it is just a credit to everybody at the building, and everybody being on site. Sometimes you take that stuff for granted, but when you are running that smoothly and you just do not notice it is a pretty cool thing.
2. OVG Hospitality
b. Update - Kathy Griffin
Griffin
I would be piggybacking on what Dave said, with the little break we had, about our 10-day break, a few of my staff did slip in some vacations, but then we have been working on projects.
We have been so busy trying to get projects done, and the rest of our Capex construction deployed. We have to slide into these windows and do things in little pockets. I introduced Lacey two months ago, but I want to reintroduce her Lacey Sprague is the operations manager.
She is the boots on the ground for the front of the house. When you come out, all of the service staff, everything you see out front is a result of Lacey's work.
I have my OVG corporate fiscal year that runs from July 1st , through June 30th . And I have the county we just finished, OVG’s year, and we finished record numbers up for top line and bottom line.
Anderson
Isami, you could just pass this along to the facility staff. There is much work now that needs to be done infrastructure-wise. And we made the decision not to do it because we did not want to be offline. And my thank you to the county facility staff because we are asking to do things at midnight, on the weekends, and at 5 in the morning. And these are not small projects and extended projects over time. A project that usually is a week, maybe two or three weeks. We are doing it in spurts, but everything is going great.
Mayor Sachs
I just want to say that we had the first-ever Mayor's Symposium at the Convention Center on June 24th, and everything was perfect. The food was excellent. We had 39 municipalities. Where all the mayors sat around a table and discussed issues like homelessness and housing. We had almost 40 nonprofits outside that room ready to help with issues of funding and finding land where we could house our homeless We are going to have a second one in August. Thank you very much for that. That is a county-run event, and that is a county convention, and everything was just perfect.
7. BOARD COMMENTS
Mayor Sachs
I would like to bring up the issue with the possible letter to the governor, presented by Ms. Sullivan. Are there any comments about that so that we can resolve that before we adjourn today?
Sullivan
And just a point of clarification, it does not have to be to the governor directly, it just could be a letter of support, that is somewhat apolitical about the vote. The importance of the state grant programs and how they interact with our county, support for arts, and how it builds tourism. That letter would go on our landing page that we are using as our place to send people for information. And we would also bring a letter up to Tallahassee this session to use as a point of support we have. And community support for the program as we could look to try to restore the funding next year.
Mayor Sachs
I could suggest Ms. Sullivan, would you like to draft the letter and send it to everybody since it will come from this board, that may be an interesting idea, and it would help you support arts funding for the next session in March.
Dufresne
I might suggest we make a motion to ask the County Commission to draft that letter. I think it will have much more impact, and I am not sure how my County Commissioner would feel about it. Again, I do not think it is appropriate for us to do it, but maybe make a motion in support of a letter coming from the County Commission.
Mayor Sachs
It may be sort of like a letter of what we've done, our success. It would be a lot helpful if we had a state grant. My suggestion is to draft something and let everybody see it. It impacts the particular work that you do in your department. Ms. Sullivan would probably be the best person to write it because it is in your department.
Thompson
I support Mayor Sacks' position, and I believe it's important to strike a delicate balance in the wording of the letter. We would like to see your input regarding the verbiage and consideration for supporting what will be placed on the website if it gets approved. Tentatively, I agree with the idea of a letter of support from the TDC.
Fisher
I think Ms. Sullivan was asking others for our support. Would it be interesting to know who else participates in doing the letter? If we are one of the few, we could draw a bigger target. You might want to know who else is also participating in the latter. If there is a group of 30 or 40 maybe has only one or two, we could put ourselves out there a little bit more.
Mayor Sachs
We are looking at impacts to money that have been jeopardized because of these cuts. If we do not speak up, who should? But in a way that does not denigrate it, but that says, look, these cuts have resulted in some possible loss of tourism money.
Dufresne
Everybody needs to be reminded that we are Palm Beach County. But the state has a very different opinion, and the legislature has consistently gone after the bed tax dollars and agencies and their existence, and they could abolish these agencies if they chose.
Sullivan
We have this request that came from the roundtable that we hosted with the different CEOs around the county. They also asked us to approach chambers. We started with Palm Beach North Chamber, who said that they would write a letter of support. We reached out to the Island of Palm Beach Chamber. Doug Evans is a former arts leader of an arts organization. We are waiting for him and the Chamber of the Palm Beaches; we will approach them with their leadership change. 8.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:58 A.M.
There is no meeting in August 2024.
The next meeting will be on September 12, 2024, and will feature marketing plan presentations.
*Attachment included.
4. CONSENT ITEMS
TO: Tourist Development Council
FROM: Milton Segarra, President/CEO
DATE: August 30, 2024
RE: Discover The Palm Beaches Monthly Activity Report August 2024
The following is a summary of DTPB activities in support of TDC Performance measures for the month of August 2024. This report demonstrates positive trends relative to owned visitor digital footprint, advertising impressions, social media engagement, and booked room nights for the Month of August
July 2024 Performance
Overall lodging performance was down 6.9% in terms of room night revenue at $85.9M. ADR was down 4.8% to $198 with total room nights sold down 2.3% to 533k.
Competition was fierce in South Florida. The Palm Beaches had the highest rates at $178 as Miami and Ft Lauderdale continue to discount.
Overall hotel room night demand in Florida was down 0.8%, The Palm Beaches was down 1.7%, Ft. Lauderdale was down 1.2% and Miami was up 0.2%
Room night revenue was down 3.0% for the State, The Palm Beaches was down 2.6%, Ft. Lauderdale down 4.4% and Miami down 0.2%.
Boca Beach Club and Seagate renovations slow down south PBC performance. Hotel room nights were down 6% and revenue down 5.4%
North PBC slower with less events. Hotel room nights were down 5% and revenue down 14.4%
Central PBC grew 1.2% in room nights and 1.1% in revenue with increased groups in downtown WPB which was up 14% in room nights sold and 10% up in revenue.
Alternative lodging saw its first month of declines since January with room nights down 3.4% and revenue down 17% (led by a 12% drop in ADR). Room inventory among this segment has increased 58% since 2021.
Key Lodging Performance Numbers for July
o Room demand
▪ Hotels: 364k (-1.7%)
▪ Alt. Lodging: 169k (-3.4%)
▪ Total Lodging: 533k (-2.3%)
o Room Night Revenue
▪ Hotels: $64.9M (-2.6%)
▪ Alt. Lodging: $21M (-17%)
▪ Total Lodging: $85.9M (-6.9%)
o Occupancy
▪ Hotels: 61.5% (-1.4%)
▪ Alt. Lodging: 56% (-8.7%)
▪ Total Lodging: 60.5% (-1.4%)
o Average Daily Rate (ADR)
▪ Hotels: $178 (-0.9%)
▪ Alt. Lodging: $291 (-12%)
▪ Total Lodging: $198 (-4.8%)
o Revenue per Available room (RevPAR)
▪ Hotels: $110 (-2.3%)
▪ Alt. Lodging: $163 (-20%)
▪ Total Lodging: $120 (-6.2%)
Discover The Palm Beaches
Monthly Executive Dashboard
Discover The Palm Beaches Monthly Executive Dashboard
Research compiled and published by Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB), can only be reproduced through expressed written approval from the DTPB Research Department. The underlining methodologies, algorithms, formulas and data used are considered a TRADE SECRET. For questions please contact research@thepalmbeaches.com.
Discover The Palm Beaches Monthly Executive Dashboard
Discover The Palm Beaches Monthly
Executive Dashboard
Definitions:
Hotel Rooms The number of hotel rooms that are available on any day of the week. This number increases as new properties open.
Hotel Room Nights Available The number of hotel rooms multiplied by the number of nights in a given period a room is available to sell, such as a month or week. This number represents the total available hotel lodging capacity for The Palm Beaches.
Hotel Room Nights Sold The number of rooms sold over a given period. This is the total demand for hotel rooms in The Palm Beaches.
Shared Lodging is described as any accommodation other than typical hotels and resorts without front office staffing
Shared Lodging Rooms The number of shared lodging properties multiplied by the number of rooms per property. This number represents all the alternative lodging options competing with hotel rooms.
Shared Lodging Room Nights (RNs) Sold The number of shared lodging listings booked multiplied by the number of nights and number rooms. This is the total demand for alternative lodging options in The Palm Beaches.
Total Room Nights (RNs) Sold– The sum of Hotel Room Nights Sold and Shared Lodging Room Nights Sold. This is the total demand for overnight lodging in The Palm Beaches.
Room Nights (RNs) Market Share-The percentage of hotel room nights sold within the state of Florida. This indicates the size of The Palm Beaches hotel market and relative performance.
Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) - Total room revenue divided by the total number of available rooms. See Room Revenue, Rooms Available. Room Revenue/Rooms Available = RevPAR.
Total Lodging Revenue The number of room nights sold multiplied by the average daily rate (ADR)
12 Month Moving Average (12MMA) - The value of any given month is computed by averaging the value of that month and the 11 preceding months. This is used to eliminate seasonality
Rolling 12 Months The sum of the current month and 11 preceding months. This is used to eliminate seasonality
Average Daily Rate (ADR) - A measure of the average rate paid for rooms sold, calculated by dividing room revenue by rooms sold. ADR = Room Revenue/Rooms Sold. This indicates a travelers willingness to pay for lodging in The Palm Beaches
Occupancy Percentage of available rooms sold during a specified time period. Occupancy is calculated by dividing the number of rooms sold by rooms available. Occupancy = Rooms Sold / Rooms Available. This indicates the health of the lodging market in The Palm Beaches
Rank The placement of The Palm Beaches versus 14 Florida markets (Palm Beach, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Collier, Lee, Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Brevard, Volusia, Orlando (Orange/Osceola), Jacksonville (Duval, St. Johns), Panhandle)
Website User The total number of unique individuals accessing ThePalmBeaches.com in a given month. This is a leading indicator of interest and intent to visit The Palm Beaches as a result of DTPB promotional efforts
Research compiled and published by Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB), can only be reproduced through expressed written approval from the DTPB Research Department. The underlining methodologies, algorithms, formulas and data used are considered a TRADE SECRET. For questions please contact research@thepalmbeaches.com.
Performance Measures - TDC
DTPB OBJECTIVES 2023 – 2024
Leisure/Consumer
• Generate 1,000,000,000 Advertising Impressions
• Generate 4,000,000 in Website Users (New Metric)
• Increase Consumer and Travel Industry database to 420,000
• Generate 255,000,000 Earned Media Impressions
• Generate 10,000,000 Social Engagements
Meetings & Conventions
• Book 121,000 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 90 participants in Destination Reviews
• Generate 100 Destination Site Participants
This
Marketing Overview by Month FY 2022 - 2023
Group Sales & Destination Services Overview by Month FY 2022 - 2023
August 2024
PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD
1 The Cultural Council starts FY24 above goal on these aggregate performance measures (which were conservatively estimated mid-fiscal FY23) due to effective tactics and additional stimulus funds employed before FY23 closed.
2 New performance indicators as of 10/1/23. Previous year totals were not measured.
HIGHLIGHTS
ADVERTISING
In August, the Council’s cultural tourism campaign was adjusted to target audiences who are starting to plan their travel itineraries during the winter holidays. Focus shifted back to our FY24 fly markets, specifically New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Houstin, Austin and Cincinnati. The summertime sub-campaign targeting Canada (Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal) in both French and English also remained active in August.
The sub-campaign placements focused on digital channels (Google, CTV, social media). The cultural tourism campaign placements in August included print ads (The New Yorker and Metropolitan magazines, both of which were co-op), OOH (Brightline, PBIA), radio, digital and CTV.
The Council completed its FY25 Marketing Plan in August with the help of our agency partners. The plan will be presented to the TDC Board in October. Also, our FY25 media insertion plan was finalized based on the Council’s FY25 budget and performance measures, and the Council distributed its FY25 co-op packages to our local cultural partners. The Council is offering over 100 co-op placements for FY25, including placements at PBIA and in national magazines and newspapers. By the end of August, 21 cultural partners had already reserved 56 co-op packages.
The Council attended the 2024 Governor’s Conference on Tourism presented by Visit Florida in Tampa where we were awarded three Flagler Awards for recent marketing campaigns: a first place Henry trophy in the Internet Advertising category for our “So Much Culture, So Little Time” :30 second commercial, a second place Silver Award in the Out-of-Home category for our “So Much Culture, So Little Time” billboards in New York City’s Time Square and in the Newark and LaGuardia airports, and a Silver Award in the Niche Marketing category for our “Go Beyond Basel” campaign. During the conference, the Council presented a Spotlight Session on cultural tourism with colleagues from Visit Miami and the Florida Cultural Alliance.
PARTNER COLLABORATIONS
The Council and Discover The Palm Beaches continued to collaborate in August to support the upcoming Eudemonia event. Council staff attended meetings and a kickoff party with Eudemonia organizers and met with community partners to explore activations for The Palm Beaches stage and booth.
HIGHLIGHTS
The Council also continued to collaborate with the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce on its new ArtiGras podcast hosted by local artist Sarah LaPierre. CEO Dave Lawrence recorded the first episode as the featured guest, and the Council provided suggestions for featured guests from The Palm Beaches for future episodes. The podcast is scheduled to debut this Fall.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Top Placements
- August 1, Florida Weekly (UVM: 81,516; Circulation 10,500): “All Aboard with Art”
- August 8, Modern Luxury Palm Beach (UVM: 9,257; Circulation: 30,000):
o Online - “Discover Our Ultimate Guide to Luxury Living in the Palm Beaches”
o Print – “Palm Beach Best of the City by Modern Luxury: Florida’s Finest” (August/September issue)
- August 11, Mommy Poppins (UVM: 962,964): “Meet the Animals at These 10 Great Miami and South Florida Petting Zoos and Animal Farms”
- August 18, Happy Travels (UVM: 445,000): “THE INFINITE: Virtual 3D Space Station Tour in West Palm Beach”
National Media Outreach
In August, the Council’s PR agency of record, Sharp Think, secured additional coverage of the Kravis Center’s summertime experience called “Space Explorers: The Infinite” by Miami-based blogger Liz Amore of Happy Travels. Amore returned to The Palm Beaches on August 18 with her family so she could write about the experience firsthand. Due to prior outreach by Sharp, local cultural organizations including the Norton Museum of Art and the Palm Beach Zoo were featured by Modern Luxury Palm Beach and Mommy Poppins in August.
In preparation for FY25, the Council finalized Sharp’s scope of work, budget and KPIs for the new fiscal year based on the Council’s budget and performance goals. The Council also worked with Sharp to identify social media influencers from our fly markets and to cultivate “hot tips” from local cultural partners about upcoming programming this fall and winter that may interest visiting influencers.
A date and location were secured for the Council’s FY25 New York City media event highlighting two world-premiere exhibitions on loan from the Hispanic Society of America (HSA) coming to The Palm Beaches. The reception will take place on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at the HSA's headquarters, which has agreed to waive facility use fees in exchange for being a partner in the event. Sharp and the Council facilitated planning meetings with the Boca Museum of Art, Norton Museum of Art, and HSA on August 14 and 27. Discussions so far have included travel plans, floor plans, reception programming, giveaways, attendees, and budgets. Media lists were
HIGHLIGHTS
requested from the event partners to supplement Sharp’s media guest list, and the Council began to develop a “save the date” graphic.
Local Media Outreach
As a result of a Council press release in July detailing the Brightline train wrap collaboration with Discover and local artist Lisa Kaw, the Council continued to achieve local editorial (Florida Weekly) and social media coverage in August for The Palm Beaches. The Council itself was also in the news upon the completion of a new mural on its building in downtown Lake Worth Beach. Local artist Craig McInnis and his artwork were featured locally on WPBF-TV (ABC) on August 13 and 27, as well as in Florida Weekly’s August 22 issue, highlighting the Council’s headquarters as a must-see destination in The Palm Beaches.
SECTOR SUPPORT
As a precursor to the 2025 Arts and Tourism Summit, the Council and Discover hosted a “Brandscaping” workshop at the Norton Museum of Art on August 22. The workshop was led by marketing expert and strategist Jessika Davidson (a 2023 Summit speaker), and included networking, brainstorming, and opportunities for participants to explore potential partnerships. More than 45 professionals from across the arts and culture and tourism sectors attended.
In support of the cultural sector in August, members of the Council’s staff attended exhibitions, performances, and special events at the Lawrence E. Will Museum in Belle Glade, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Palm Beach Zoo, Norton Museum of Art, Cox Science Center and Aquarium, and Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.
TDC Board Monthly Activity Report
September 2024
Sports Tourism Report
October 1, 2023 – July 31, 2024
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission’s collection of events surpassed the 300,000-room night benchmark for the second consecutive year. The 3rd quarter of this fiscal year came to an end on June 30th During the first three (3) quarters of FY 24, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission hosted 183 events, which spurred 329,945 room nights.
Over the final three months of FY 24, the Sports Commission will host 18more events, which will attract sports-related visitors from around the state, nation, and globe. Based on the room night projections for the final three (2) summer months, the Sports Commission is expected to approach the 340,000room night benchmark.
Indicator
Sports Commission Tourism Impacts: October 1, 2023 – July 31, 2024
• 329,945 tracked room nights
• $86,620,460 in projected hotel revenue (using ADR from October – July @ $262.53)
• $5,197,228 in projected bed tax revenues.
The sports tourism impacts do not include several events with outstanding hotel room night data
The MLB spring training spectator room nights are not included in this report.
SPORTS TOURISM EVENT CALENDAR
September 2024
• Prospect Select - Skinner Strong Invitational
Date: August 31 - September 2, 2024
Sport: Baseball
Venue: Cacti Park of The Palm Beaches
• Prospect Select Fall Classic
Date: September 6-8, 2024
Sport: Baseball
Venue: Cacti Park of The Palm Beaches
• Hurricane Junior Golf Tour - PGA National Fall Junior Open
Date: September 7-8, 2024
Sport: Golf
Venue: PGA National Resort- The Estates Course
• Bash at the Beach (NCAA D2 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament)
Date: September 13-14
Sport: Volleyball
Venue: Lynn University & Palm Beach Atlantic University
• Prospect Select World Invite
Date: September 13-16, 2024
Sport: Baseball
Venue: Cacti Park of The Palm Beaches, Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium & Santaluces Athletic Complex
• United States Tennis Association (USTA) Sunshine State Open
Date: September 14-16 , 2024
Sport: Tennis
Venue: Delray Beach Swim & Tennis Club, Boca West Country Club, & Boynton Beach Tennis Center, & One Tennis Academy
• Delray Beach Pickleball Open (USA Pickleball)
Date: September 18-21, 2024
Sport: Pickleball
Venue: Delray Beach Tennis Center
• USTA National Men's 70, 85, 90, Clay Court Championships
Date: September 23-28, 2024
Sport: Pickleball
Venue: Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center
• Hardball 360 Fall Classic
Date: September 25-29, 2024
Sport: Baseball
Venue: Cacti Park of The Palm Beaches
• Florida Women’s Hockey League September Tournament Weekend
Date: September 27-29, 2024
Sport: Ice Hockey
Venue: Palm Beach Skate Zone
• Florida Junior Tour Pam McCloskey-Brosnihan (13-18)
Date: September 28-29, 2024
Sport: Golf
Venue: Quail Ridge Country Club
Sports Tourism Projections (September
2024)
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission will conclude this fiscal year (FY 24) by hosting 11 events in September. These 11 events will take place at venues located throughout all regions of The Palm Beaches. This collection of events will attract visitors from across Florida and the nation.
The Sports Commission’s event portfolio in September includes:
• Projected Hotel Revenue = $725,593 (using $161.53 ADR for Sept. 2023)
• Top room night generators include
o Prospect Select World Invite (high school age baseball showcase) taking place at Cacti Park of The Palm Beaches and Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium
o Delray Beach Pickleball Open (USA Pickleball sanctioned event) taking place at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.
FAU Men’s Golf Invitational
Events & Operations
Event Support
Meet with FAU Golf to finalize staffing plans for event
Work with award company to design custom awards and get pricing
Finalize details with PGA National as host venue
International Tennis Federation (ITF) Senior World Championship
Meet with BallenIsles Country Club and TrioSports International to finalize plans for World Championship in May 2025
Discuss funding support with each organizer, as events will be run simultaneously
Boca Raton Bowl
Finalize agreements with activity service providers (luncheon, transportation, golf outing, beach party)
Work with ESPN Events on any other necessary details for successful bowl week
Team Australia playing in Perfect Game October WWBA
Coordinating lunches and dinners
Team practices before tournament and exhibition games
Think Pink Invite
Sending hotel RFP for January 2025 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
• Men’s Senior Baseball League
• I Do Beach Tennis ITF Open Singer Island
• Battle Youth National Championship
• “Little Mo” Internationals in Florida
• 5v5 Soccer Tour National Championship
• Garden of Life Palm Beaches Marathon
• World Pickleball Classic
• World Pickleball Open
• Delray Beach Pickleball Classic
• National Pickleball Expo and Tournament
• Equestrian Holiday and Horses
• Winter Equestrian Festival
• Florida RUSH Hockey
• Boca Raton International Masters
• CPI Horse Show
• AYSO Florida Nationals
• FYSA Palm Beach Gardens Classic
• Invited Champions Classic
• Hardball 360 Fall Classic
• EDP Soccer
• Wellington Soccer Shootout
• Paradise Puck
• Florida Exposure Cup
• Delray Beach Open
• Gauntlet of Polo
• Florida State Golf Association amateur tournaments
• East Coast SoFlo Championships
• Little Mo East Regionals
• Think Pink Invite
• Palm Beach Challenge College Baseball and International Festival
• Les Grande Dames
• Delray Beach Riptide Lacrosse tournaments
• Florida State Golf Association Junior Tour
• International Tennis Federation (ITF) W25 Pro Circuit
• Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) Vlasic Classic - Delray Beach
• American Cornhole League Kickoff Battle
• Palm Beaches Spartan Sprint Weekend
• Florida Shine Classic
• South Florida Collegiate Baseball League
• Gateway Marathon Ocean Cup 2024
• Battle in the Village Flag Football Tournament
• PBGYAA Swamp Classic
• Cal Ripken T-Ball and Rookie (8U) State Championship
• South Florida Collegiate Baseball League
• Prospect Wire Southeast Championships
• First Responder Games
• Prospect Select Summer Series
• Perfect Game Summer Series
• Ocean Cup - Gateway Marathon
• USTA Boys 18’s & 16’s National Clay Court Championships
• Junior Tour Powered by Under Armour Summer National
• World Wake Associations Wake Park Nationals
• Sailfish Marina Big Dog Fat Cat Shootout
• Briana Marie Cox Memorial Tournament
1. Category G Grants
Grants
a) I Do Beach Tennis ITF World Tour 2024 (November 1-10, 2024) – Riviera Beach Municipal Beach Park - $35,000 Cat. G NEW
b) 2024 Fizzle Racing Hydrodrags Nationals/World Championships (November 22-24, 2024) –Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park - $10,000 Cat. G NEW
c) Winter Equestrian Festival (January 1 - March 30, 2025) - Wellington International- $125,000 Cat. G
d) Paradise Puck Series (January 2-5, 2025) Palm Beach Ice Works and Palm Beach Skate Zone - $15,000 Cat. G NEW
e) Boca Raton International Masters (January 9-12, 2025) – Patch Reef Park Tennis Center$25,000 Cat. G
f) Florida Rush Hockey (January 17-20, 2025) - Palm Beach Skate Zone & Boca Ice- $25,000 Cat. G
g) Florida Exposure Cup (January 30 - February 2, 2025) – Palm Beach Ice Works and Palm Beach Skate Zone - $15,000 Cat. G
h) Delray Beach Open (February 7-16, 2025) – Delray Beach Tennis Center- $35,000 Cat. G
i) Gauntlet of Polo (February 7 - April 20, 2025) – National Polo Center– $50,000 Cat.
j) Junior Tour Powered by Under Armour Winter National Championship (February 14-17, 2025) - PGA National Resort- $25,000 Cat. G NEW
k) East Coast Championships SoFlo National (February 22-23, 2025) Palm Beach County Convention Center- $25,000 Cat. G
l) Palm Beach Challenge College & International Baseball Festival (March 1-31, 2025)Santaluces Athletic Complex- $25,000 Cat. G
m) Development Player Leage (DPL) Summit (March 27-30, 2025) - The Gardens North County District Park & Joe Russo Athletic Complex- $40,000 Cat. G NEW
n) James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational (March 31 - April 6, 2025 - Old Course at Broken Sound - $100,000 Cat. G NEW
African American Golf Expo & Forum
August 24-27, 2024
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission brought the 4th annual African American Golf Expo and Forum to The Palm Beaches on August 24-27, after a 2-year bid process and planning sessions. The African American Golf Expo and Forum is a sports conference that brings together golf industry executives, consumer and industrial buyers, golf event rights holders, and golf suppliers for a unique and informative experience. The African American Golf Expo & Forum aims to address the needs, concerns, trends, and issues faced by African Americans in golf. According to the National Golf Foundation, only 3% of the 24 million golfers in the United States are people of color. This event seeks to increase diversity in golf by fostering greater inclusion within the sport.
The event attracted approximately 250 attendees from across the United States. Additionally, there were over 70 exhibitors, which include golf merchandise and retail outlets, event organizations, golf instruction companies, golf course representatives, and other golf industry representatives.
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission and Inner-City Youth Golfer’s Inc. served as co-hosts for the African American Golf Expo and Forum. In addition to generating an influx of visitor spending and bed tax revenues, this event promoted inclusion and diversity for a sports market that is vital for Palm Beach County’s sports tourism economy. Moreover, the African American Golf Expo and Forum represents the 3rd sports event related conference hosted by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission over the last year.
African American Golf Expo & Forum - Event Schedule:
• Expo Community Project: On August 23, join the inaugural expo community project at the Riviera Beach Heights Community Garden.
• Golf Clinic: The event will kick off on August 24 with a Golf Clinic for youth and adults at John Prince Park at 9:00 AM, followed by an Opening Reception at Bear Lake Country Club at 5:00 PM.
• Diversity Scramble: On August 25, attendees can participate in the Diversity Scramble at Martin Downs Country Club from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. This club is notable for being one of the few black-owned golf clubs in Florida.
• Expo & Forum: From August 25-27, the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott will host the Expo & Forum, featuring seminars, conference sessions, and a trade show where industry executives, buyers, and suppliers can connect and showcase their products and services.
• Networking Opportunities: A Networking Session and Cocktail Hour will be held on August 26 at the Riviera Beach Marina Village - Event Center from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Communications-Digital Marketing
Marketing & Promotions
August newsletter
The August Newsletter featured several exciting stories including:
• Summer Smash Open Served Up Elite Tennis Talent in The Palm Beaches
• African American Golf Expo & Forum Wraps Up Successful Event in The Palm Beaches, Florida’s Golf Capital
• Save the date! The Lou Groza Award Celebration Returns December 9
Social Media
Across all social media platforms that the Palm Beach County Sports Commission operates, the audience increased 0.72% month-over-month and now stands at 24,379. The sports commission’s platforms published 124 posts which drove over 60,652 impressions.
Top performing social media post:
This morning, Palm Beach County's tourism leaders joined a panel discussion at the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce Trustee Luncheon.
Dave Lawrence, President & CEO of Cultural Council for Palm Beach County
Milton Segarra, CDME, President & CEO of The Palm Beaches
George Linley, Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission
Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center
Learn more about sports tourism in The Palm Beaches at PalmBeachSports.com
Earned Media: African American Golf Expo
The African American Golf Expo and Forum, held in The Palm Beaches, garnered significant earned media coverage, showcasing its impact and reach within both national and local markets. This coverage reflects the event's success in attracting attention and engagement, crucial for both the event's reputation and the broader visibility of The Palm Beaches as a premier destination for sports and cultural events.
Key Metrics:
• Total National TV Audience: 108,680
• Total Local TV Audience: 108,680
• Total Radio Audience: 23,700
• Total Online + Print Audience: 4,714,594
• Total Publicity Value: USD $64,844
o National TV Publicity: USD $29,003
o Local TV Publicity: USD $29,003
o Online + Print Publicity: USD $35,808
Earned Media: Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List
The release of the Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicker Preseason Watch List generated significant media attention, underscoring the event's influence within the sports community. This coverage is vital in promoting the Lou Groza Award and reinforcing The Palm Beaches as a hub for prestigious sports events.
Key Metrics:
• Total Online + Print Audience: 21,300,145
• Total Online + Print Publicity Value: USD $365,436
• Total Number of Clips: 42
Palm Beach County Sports Commission
Marketing Impressions
ThePalmBeachCountySportsCommissionplaysapivotalrole in promotingthesignificance of sportsand recreationalevents in ThePalmBeaches,therebygeneratingsubstantialmarketingimpressions. By attracting andhostingadiverserange of sportingevents,theSportsCommissionnotonlyshowcasesthevibrantsports culture in PalmBeachCounty but alsobrings in athletes,fans,andmediaattention.Theseeventscreatea wealth of marketingimpressions,capturingtheinterestandenthusiasm of abroadaudience.These impressionsextendbeyondthesportingeventsthemselves,contributing to thecounty'seconomic developmentthroughincreasedtourism,localbusinessexposure,andaboost to ThePalmBeaches'reputation as asportingdestination.ThePalmBeachCountySportsCommission'scommitment to showcasingthecounty's athletic prowess underscores its role in boosting marketing impressions
July 2024 Total Marketing Impressions
Website Impression:
Social Media Impressions:
Advertising Impressions:
Earned Media Impressions: 3,000 3,850 0 1,700,000
Total Impressions this Period: 1,706,850
Fiscal Year-to-Date Total Marketing Impressions
Website Impression:
Social Media Impressions:
Advertising Impressions:
Earned Media Impressions:
Total Impressions Fiscal TYD:
ThePalmBeachCountySportsCommissionutilizesimpressiondata to refinemarketingstrategy. By analyzing impressionsfromvariouspromotionalactivitiesandevents,insights are gainedintowhichcampaigns are resonatingmostwithwhichtargetaudience.Thisdata-drivenapproachenablestheeffectiveallocation of resources,optimization of messaging,andoverallenhancement of promotionalefforts to attractmoresports visitors to Palm Beach County.
Sports-Development
Sports Development Executive Summary
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission (PBCSC) is deploying an aggressive sales and sports development effort to increase 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 FY24
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 24, and below is a breakdown of the development efforts over the past month:
• All-Star Cheerleading Florida Challenge
o January 19, 2025
o 1300 Participants
o 100 Projected Room Nights
o Palm Beach County Convention Center
• 7 v 7 Sandlot Pro/Am Challenge
o March 28 - 31, 2025
o 1,800 Athletes, 2000 spectators
o 1,500 Projected Room Nights
o Village Park/North County District Park - TBD
• USA Florida Regional Golf Croquet Championship
o February 13– 16, 2025
o 70 Athletes, 450 spectators
o 220 Projected Room Nights
o National Croquet Center
• United States Croquet Association Golf Croquet Open
o January 6 – 11, 2025
o 32 Athletes, 200 Spectators
o 450 Projected Room Nights
o National Croquet Center
• World Wake Association World Championships
o September 2025
o 650 participants, 2500 spectators
o 9000 hotel room nights
o Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park and Shark Wake Park
• USA Shooting – USA Shotgun Selection Match
o March 2025
o 240 participants, 100 Spectators
o 2200 hotel room nights
o Palm Beach County Shooting Sports Complex
• Lynn University Men’s Hockey
o October 5th – 6th, 2024
o 4 teams, 128 participants, 400 Spectators
o 150 hotel room nights
o Skate Zone – Palm Beach
• 2024 – 2025 Palm Beach State Men’s Basketball
o 17 Teams from 5 States and Florida
o 150 Room Nights
o 600 expected Spectators
o Palm Beach State College
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 24, and below is a breakdown of site visits conducted over the past month:
• World Wake Association, WWA World Championships, Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park and Shark Wake Park
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission took the World Wake Association on a site visit August 29th to Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park. The PBCSC and WWA are working on bringing the WWA World Championships to Palm Beach County in 2025. This event has the potential to produce over 9,000 room nights and enormous amounts of economic impact for the local community. The site visit conducted was a success and we are hopeful that this event will find a home in Palm Beach County in 2025.
Florida Recreation and Parks Association Annual Conference
The Palm Beach County Sports Commissions primary purpose for attending was to support the City of Palm Beach Gardens, which has been honored with the prestigious Excellence in Sports Tourism Award in the mid/large market category. This award recognizes exceptional contributions to sports tourism, highlighting Palm Beach Gardens' commitment to promoting and enhancing sports activities and facilities.
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission has played a significant role in collaborating with the city to achieve this milestone. Our joint efforts in organizing and hosting numerous sports events have significantly boosted local tourism and economic development. The award is a testament to our successful partnership and dedication to excellence in sports tourism.
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission participated in the FRPA conference sessions and networked with other professionals to gain insights and best practices that can further our mission. We look forward to taking this opportunity to celebrate our achievements and strengthen our collaborative efforts in promoting sports tourism in Palm Beach County.
Dribble Drive Basketball, LLC August 13th – 14th, 2024
On August 13th and 14th, Dennis Kelly visited Palm Beach as a consultant for the Holiday Basketball Classic of The Palm Beaches. During his visit, we toured potential high school playing sites, including The Benjamin School, to evaluate venues for the event. Kelly's primary responsibilities were to recruit two nationally ranked high school teams and secure sponsorships ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. His efforts are crucial for enhancing the tournament's profile by attracting top-tier teams and financial backing, ultimately increasing the event’s appeal and fostering greater community engagement and economic benefits for Palm Beach County.
National
Battle of The
Bands –
NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas | August 24th – 26th, 2024
The Palm Beach Sports Commission development office recently visited Houston, Texas, to attend the Pepsi National Battle of the Bands at NRG Stadium. The Sports Commission is evaluating the event in consideration for a 2026 bid. FAU Stadium would serve as the anchor venue for this bid. The event was a huge success, drawing an impressive 52,000 attendees and spectators. Eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) marching bands participated, including Jackson State University, Southern University, Miles College, Bethune Cookman University, Tuskegee University, Tennessee State University, and Texas Southern University. The performances showcased the vibrant culture and talent that make this event unique and significant to the HBCU community.
Scouting the trip was James Taylor, Director of Sports and Development, and Gillian Constable, Sports Event Manager. Our goal was to observe the event's operations, fan engagement, and overall logistics, which provided valuable insights into how this could be successfully hosted in Palm Beach County. The experience strengthened our understanding of the event's requirements and potential impact on our local community.
Palm Beach County Sports Commission Bid Calendar - FY24
Palm Beach County Sports Commission Bid Calendar - FY24
Palm Beach County Sports Commission Bid Calendar - FY24
Palm Beach County Sports Commission Bid Calendar - FY24
Palm Beach County Sports Commission Bid Calendar - FY24
Palm Beach County Sports Commission Bid Calendar - FY24
Palm Beach County Sports Commission Bid Calendar - FY24
Palm Beach County Sports Commission
Fam Tours with Event Rights Holders
October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2024
Fam Tours with Event Rights Holders
October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2024
Fam Tours with Event Rights Holders
October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2024
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT SPENDS A WEEK IN THE PALM BEACHES IN THIS ISSUE
In collaboration with the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission’s sister agency, Discover The Palm Beaches, CBS Media Venture’s Entertainment Tonight (ET) recently flew out from Los Angeles to film at The Colony Hotel. Over a course of three days of filming in July, the iconic hotel hosted a series of high-profile interviews and produced segments that captured the timeless elegance of ThePalm Beaches.
“As Florida’s Most Stylish Vacation Destination, the show was an ideal fit for us, as The Palm Beaches has attracted celebrities, barons, billionaires, presidents and even royalty since its inception, to visit our luxurious resorts and legendary beaches,” Discover The Palm Beaches President and CEO Milton Segarra said. “With the popularity of new shows like Palm Royale, a new audience is noticing and interested in our area.”
This thrilling venture brought a star-studded lineup to the area, starting with Amber Chardae Robinson from Apple TV+’s Palm Royale. The momentum continued with an appearance from Tyler Cameron, the beloved Jupiter native, The Bachelorette alum and star of Prime Video’s Going Home with Tyler Cameron also filmed in Palm Beach County. One of the standout moments was a tour of The Colony’s Goop villa, led by Gwyneth Paltrow. It was also a special visit for ET hosts Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner. The successful collaboration supports Palm Beach County’s growing appeal as a prime location for high-profile media productions.
The FTC is announcing the upcoming launch of The Palm Beaches TV’s new YouTube channel, along with Facebook, Instagram and X pages. These platforms will offer exclusive show segments, teasers, air dates, and more. Viewers can watch highlights from Travels & Traditions with Burt Wolf, explore the local scene with On the Town in The Palm Beaches with Frank Licari and join host Cindy Hing on Day Tripping in The Palm Beaches. Discover hidden gems with Jacqueline Journey on Passport to The Palm Beaches, stay in-the-know with Kitty Lundan on What’s Poppin’ PBC?. Additional series Parks in The Palm Beaches with Donnell McCant, Pets in Paradise with Ana Espinosa and Denise Sawyer, The Equestrian Life in the Palm Beaches with Theo Dorsey, The Bright Life of The Palm Beaches with Linda Bright, and Hooked on The Palm Beaches with James Currie, and much more.
Film Florida hosts a primetime industry event at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The Film Florida TIFF reception is a well attended networking event with industry leaders from around the world.
Film Florida President Sandy Lighterman says, “We look forward to welcoming the worldwide screen industry to our event and promoting Florida’s natural assets, experienced crew, diverse locations and robust local incentive programs.” The FTC is a sponsor of the event and is represented by Director of Operations Alberto Jordat, Jr., who is attending to promote The Palm Beaches as a world-class filming destination.
This year marks the 49th edition of TIFF, taking place September 5-15. Closer to home, there are countless film festivals throughout the state of Florida. To learn more, visitpbfilm.com
FILM FLORIDA HOSTS TORONTO FEST EVENT
PERRY NAMED TO SFBJ’S 40 UNDER 40
Emanuel Perry, Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council, was named to the South Florida Business Journal prestigious 40 Under 40 Class of 2024 The list honors influential professionals across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, business acumen and community involvement.
FTC SUPPORTS MASTER TOURISM PLAN
Perry says, “I am excited and humbled to be selected. It feels great to have the opportunity to represent Palm Beach County and showcase the amazing things our County has to offer.”
Under his leadership, the County welcomed a record 9.5 million visitors in 2023, generating an economic impact of $10.3 billion. This in turn resulted in a record $84 million in Tourist Development Tax collections in FY23 and supported 96,000 jobs throughout The PalmBeaches.
The Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council (TDC), in collaboration with the Film & Television Commission (FTC) and the other TDC agencies, are preparing to develop a 20-year roadmap for tourism growth.
With input from tourism partners and the community, the plan will establish a long-term vision that helps maintain and enhance the County’s travel market position, addressing tourism-related product development needs for The Palm Beaches. As this initiative continues to unfold, the FTC will keep the entertainment production industry informed and engaged. In recent years, several studies have determined that film-and-television-induced tourism has increased in the last decade. Film, television and digital media professionals interested in participating in the development of the Master Tourism Plan should send an email to admin@pbfilm.com or call our office at 561.233.1000.
Goldi Films recently wrapped production of their short film, Baby Production began in 2023 and included filming in Delray Beach and Lake Worth Beach. Following the story of a child experiencing homelessness, several Palm Beach County locations are featured, including: Silverball Pinball Museum, Delray Municipal Beach and Lake Worth Beach Public Library
When asked about why The Palm Beaches was chosen for the primary location, the films’ director Lexi Goldi said, “Palm Beach County offered a wide variety of locations that were more affordable and had the most amenable property owners. Every place we chose was within a 30-minute drive or less, which made it even more appealing, since it allowed us to film more scenes per day.” Visit our locations database to scout your next project in The Palm Beaches.
Formagination, a leading international TV format competition, is now accepting entries for its 12th edition. The deadline to submit innovative TV format ideas is Sunday, September 15, at 12:00 p.m. EST. For over a decade, Formagination has turned exceptional ideas into global television successes. It has been a launchpad for groundbreaking TV hits, including popular shows like Sex Tape, Marry Me Now and Date in Reverse. The competition takes place in February 2025 in Miami during the crossover day of Realscreen Summit, the largest and most influential global gathering for the unscripted industry, and NATPE Global, North America's premier content marketplace. With the chance to pitch ideas to a panel of top TV executives, finalists also get the chance to work closely with the Armoza Formats Development Team to improve their idea and pitch. For more information and to submit entries, head here
The Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission (FTC) has renewed its partnership with WFLX FOX 29 for another year of South Florida Daily (SFD), a lifestyle program hosted by Megan Hayes and Kate Monahan that spotlights must-see events and businesses to more than 900,000 homes throughout the immediate drive market. SFD reaches audiences across Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee, Indian River, and St. Lucie Counties. Now with two daily airings every weekday at 6 a.m. and 12 noon EST, the show features engaging content from The Palm Beaches TV (PBTV) produced in-house by FTC Staff. PBTV segments are carefully curated with key community events in mind to support tourism marketing, such as promoting MLB Spring Training, highlighting eco-tourism and other initiatives in collaboration with TDC funded agencies. For details on upcoming events and local business covered in the show, visit southfldaily.com.
BABY FILMED IN THE PALM BEACHES
FOCUS ON FILM
OLYMPICS
FEATURE PALM BEACHES FLARE
SUBTROPIC TO OPEN AT NORTON MUSEUM
The 2024 Summer Olympics just wrapped in Paris, and there was Palm Beach County flare throughout. The Games featured former Jupiter Island resident Celine Dion's showstopping performance atop the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony and the participation of several athletes with ties to Palm Beach County.
Superstar Coco Gauff (Delray Beach) advanced to the fourth round in the women's singles tennis competition, while equestrian jumpers
McLain Ward, Beezie Madden and Kent Farrington, who all train in Wellington, helped the U.S. team win a silver medal in the team event.
At home, the Film & Television Commission brought the spirit of The Games to screens across The Palm Beaches and beyond by mirroring timely sports-related content from sponsored The Palm Beaches TV shows on social media and South Florida Daily broadcasts on WFLXFOX 29
PICKLEBALL PANDEMONIA IN PBC
JC FilmsProduction Club recently worked with the FTC to secure permits to complete production on their latest project titled Pickleball Pandemonium.
The comedy stars Dean Cain and Kevin Sorbo, and follows the story of a washed up tennis player and a group of pickleball enthusiasts who enter a Palm Beach pickleball tournament in hopes of keeping their pickleball courts in their community from being torn down to build an office highrise.
The FTC assisted by securing permits for the pickleball courts at Lake Lytal Park in West Palm Beach. Written and directed by local filmmaker Dominic Giannetti, Pickleball Pandemonium will soon be available on the JC+ app from Roku and other streaming platforms.
The Subtropic Film Fest, a West Palm Beach based festival, will kick off October 18 with an opening night party at the prestigious Norton Museum of Art. “Attendees are in for a treat,” said Noelia Solange, who, along with José Jesús Zaragoza, co-directs the festival. “We will open the festival with short films focused on stories elevated by their cinematography. We will cohesively activate the [Norton’s] Korman Room with a display of stills from those films along with film cameras and some of the cinematographers who operate them. [We’ll also have] a Vinyl DJ party in the museum’s historical entrance, where filmmakers, artists and film enthusiasts can come together to celebrate this cinematic takeover.” The Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission is a proud sponsor of the festival, which continues October 19-20 at Afflux Studios. This year’s event will feature a diverse range of independent films, Kodak Film workshop, panel on artificial intelligence’s impact on the film industry, and much more. For details, visit pbfilm.com
PBTV CHANNEL AT AKA HOTEL – WPB
The Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission is excited to announce a new partnership with AKA West Palm Beach, a film friendly boutique hotel now streaming The Palm Beaches TV in all 215 of its resident and guest suites. This collaboration broadens PBTV's reach and provides guests with access to local tourism content. The AKA West Palm Beach’s amenities are perfect for production crews, include the AKA Pet Spa powered by D is for Dog, are prominently featured on PBTV’s Pets in Paradise This program, produced by local company Apex Productions and globally distributed by Travel Channel, highlights the hotel’s pet-friendly offerings. This partnership not only enhances PBTV’s visibility but also further integrates the FTC’s local programming into the vibrant hospitality scene of The Palm Beaches
ON THE TOWN IN THE PALM BEACHES SEASON 8 PREMIERES ON SOUTH FLORIDA PBS
On the Town in The Palm Beaches with Frank Licari returns to South Florida PBS this September for a highly anticipated Season 8! The season premiere, “Frank Goes Retro in The Palm Beaches,” takes viewers on a nostalgic journey through the County's vintage treasures. Frank gets groovy as he skates through a local roller rink, shops for vintage threads and checks out classic cars, showing how what's old is new and hip again. The season also offers three other exciting episodes: “Live in The Palm Beaches” (December) exploring diverse living options, from historic neighborhoods and luxurious mansions; “Work in The Palm Beaches” (February) dives into the booming job market, showcasing everything from agricultural contributions to cutting-edge scientific opportunities; and “Play in The Palm Beaches” (April) highlights The Palm Beaches’ endless recreational activities, from water sports to cultural attractions. Watch the Season 8 sizzle reel here or go to ThePalmBeaches.TV’s on demand section to watch all full episodes.
FILM FLASHBACK — HARRY & SON
The 1984 Orion Pictures film Harry & Son revolves around construction worker and widower, Harry Keach (Paul Newman, director and co-writer). Harry is a no-frills kind of guy, but his artistically inclined son, Howard (Robby Benson), wants to be a writer, causing a rift between the two. Although Howard makes attempts at finding a regular job, he can't help but return to his daydreaming tendencies. The film also features then-rising-star Morgan Freeman.
Much of the film was shot in Lake Worth Beach, which provided a mix of picturesque waterfronts and working-class settings. The construction site backdrops in the movie were captured at the local demolition of The Inn, a sister hotel to the historic GulfstreamHotel Time Out London described the film as “well-acted and elegantly photographed.”
LOCATION SPOTLIGHT STAIRS IN THE PALM BEACHES
Mizner Park in Boca Raton offers stairs in and around the parking garages and throughout the property. The sharp angles make for an interesting scene, while the pink color brings a fresh look for fashion.
Looking for an outdoorsy rustic stairway? The Hypoluxo Scrub Natural Area has two multi-level observation towers that overlook the vast 97 acre natural area that is home to native wildlife.
A wide exterior staircase that leads to the parking garage in Main Street at Midtown has become a favorite staircase for celebrations of all types and would be a great option for any scene that needs a staircase. It is located off-street between The Family Church and Care Dental in Palm Beach Gardens.
Evernia Parking Garage in downtown West Palm Beach has become a cultural hot spot with two, seven-story galleries of street art at the corner of Dixie Highway and Evernia Street. Inside, the stairways, walls and ceilings are covered with designs and waves of color that carry you from the sidewalk to the roof. Find more filming location options in the FTC’s locations database here
included
EDUCATION CORNER
KIDS FIRST FILM CRITIC ORGANIZATION
KIDS FIRST! Film Critics is a media review initiative of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, a 33-year-old nonprofit dedicated to teaching children critical viewing skills and increasing the availability of quality children’s media.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critics is looking for passionate young film enthusiasts, ages 9 to 16, to join its team of youth reporters. If you are a kid who loves films, loves sharing your opinion about films and digital media, and would love to interview celebrities on the red carpet, then this might be for you.
As part of this exciting volunteer opportunity, reporters get to watch the latest films pre-release for free, attend press junkets and movie premieres, and interview celebrities on and off the red carpet. Their written and videotaped reviews reach over seven million people every month through the KIDS FIRST! website, blogs, social media and strategic partnerships.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critics is auditioning kids now through October 9. Their fall bootcamp starts in mid-October and runs for six consecutive Saturdays. The online application can be found here. What a great way to take the first step toward launching your film career, plus develop your writing, editing and on-camera acting skills!
For more information, visit www.kidsfirst.org.
Production Activity Report
For July 2024
Variance Explanations
Percentage change variances of ± 10% in performance statistics are explained in this section .
Hotel Room Nights: The 32% YTD increase in Hotel Room Nights is consistent with the sustained growth seen in this metric since April 2024. Over the past few months, during tourism’s shoulder season, a handful of productions have contributed to the increase including Force Blue Inc. out of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, UK based Flicker Productions, The American Cornhole League’s season kick-off competition, an untitled Polo Project produced by Boardwalk Pictures, the television series House Hunters produced by Pie Town Productions, and UK based Flicker Production’s which together totaled 2,969 hotel room nights utilized over three months
Total Productions: The 25% increase in Total Productions year-to-date directly correlates with the additional non-permitted production data being collected from sponsorship and development programs such as Jetsetter Film’s Day Tripping in the Palm Beaches and AA Video’s Kids Quest. Together these projects accounted for 11 of the 19 non-permitted productions.
Total Leads: A 31% increase in Total Leads is due to the targeted efforts to generate leads for the sponsorship and development programs, including The Palm Beaches TV and WFLX’s South Florida Daily show, that continue to progress. As previously reported, the team remains proactive in supplying production teams with strategic location recommendations and leads. These opportunities are guided by the latest marketing initiatives across all TDC agencies For example, Jetsetter Films filmed content for the television series Day Tripping in The Palm Beaches at Ramen Lab in Delray Beach, Crazy Uncle Mikes in Boca Raton, and Talia’s Tuscan Table in West Palm Beach, based on recommendations made by FTC Staff.
Lead Responses: A 34% increase goes hand in hand with the increase in Total Leads as described above.
Lead Conversions: The 212% increase in Lead Conversions is a direct result of the team's effectiveness in generating and converting leads into business for the County. This significant year-over-year growth highlights the successful implementation of new strategies aimed at driving leads for our PBTV production teams and WFLX’s South Florida Daily show.
Website Unique Visitors: The 32% increase reflects the success of our targeted and sponsored digital campaigns, which have effectively driven traffic to our websites. This growth underscores the effectiveness of our current digital strategies while also demonstrating our commitment to consistently enhancing our online presence. Meanwhile, the team is actively developing and launching new, innovative digital campaigns aimed at further boosting traffic to both pbfilm.com and thepalmbeaches.tv.
July 2024 Permits & Shot No Permits
-Start on Vitex Lane, left onto US Hwy 1N, from Windsor Dr to Ridge Road
START ON - Donald Ross Rd. drone through intersections below:
-Saturn Ln
-Palm Beach County Beach ACCESS #18
-Palm Beach County Public Beach ACCESS #20
-Juno Ocean Walk to Marcinski Rd (all low mangroves w/ plenty of beach palm tree scenery)BEST DRONE SHOTS
-Beach Parking Lot 3610 to Ocean Bluffs BlvdBEST DRONE SHOTS
-Jupiter Beach SIGNS to Tim Mara Dr. - BEST DRONE SHOTS
-Ocean Walk Blvd to Xanadu Pl - GOOD DRONE
End ON - Carlin Park area
Delray Public Beach - 302 N Ocean Blvd
Sandbar/Boston's on the Beach, EXT - 40 S Ocean Blvd
Alley between Salina and A1A next to
on the Beach - 40 S
Gulf Stream Park - Beach Access 7 - 4489 N Ocean Blvd, Delray Beach, FL 33483
Delray Public Beach - 302 N Ocean Blvd
Sandbar/Boston's on the Beach, EXT - 40 S Ocean Blvd
Alley between Salina and A1A next to Sandbar/Boston's on the Beach - 40 S Ocean Blvd
Gulf Stream Park - Beach Access 7 - 4489 N Ocean Blvd, Delray Beach, FL 33483
Delray Public Beach - 302 N Ocean Blvd
Sandbar/Boston's on the Beach, EXT - 40 S Ocean Blvd
Alley between Salina and A1A next to Sandbar/Boston's on the Beach - 40 S Ocean
Day Fiance
24-181 7 Local Girl Boca Raton, FL
Gulf Stream Park - Beach Access 7 - 4489 N Ocean Blvd, Delray Beach, FL 33483
Delray Public Beach - 302 N Ocean Blvd
Sandbar/Boston's on the Beach, EXT - 40 S Ocean Blvd
Alley between Salina and A1A next to Sandbar/Boston's on the Beach - 40 S Ocean Blvd
24-184 7 Goldi Films Lake Worth, FL
Veteran's Park in Delray Beach, Delray Municipal Beach, Delray Beach Pavilion at Delray Beach,
sidewalk & public spaces along Atlantic Avenue between A1A and I-95. 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
John Prince Park. Bus Stop in Delray Beach... Palm Tran Bus Stop #7366, Route 88, at 600 Lindell Boulevard, Delray Beach, FL 33444.
Veteran's Park in Delray Beach, Delray Municipal Beach, Delray Beach Pavilion at Delray Beach,
sidewalk & public spaces along Atlantic Avenue between A1A and I-95. 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
John Prince Park. Bus Stop in Delray Beach... Palm Tran Bus Stop #7366, Route 88, at 600 Lindell Boulevard, Delray Beach, FL 33444. BABY
Veteran's Park in Delray Beach, Delray Municipal Beach, Delray Beach Pavilion at Delray Beach,
sidewalk & public spaces along Atlantic Avenue between A1A and I-95. 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
John Prince Park. Bus Stop in Delray Beach... Palm Tran Bus Stop #7366, Route 88, at 600 Lindell Boulevard, Delray Beach, FL 33444.
S 7 jetsetter Films West Palm Beach, FL Crazy Uncle Mikes in Boca Raton
S 7 jetsetter Films West Palm Beach, FL Ramen Lab in Delray Beach
S 7 jetsetter Films West Palm Beach, FL Gumbo Limbo in Boca Raton
S 7 jetsetter Films West Palm Beach, FL Boca Ice in Boca Raton
S 7 jetsetter Films West Palm Beach, FL Talia's Tuscan Table
S 7 jetsetter Films West Palm Beach, FL Lilly's hand made ice cream in Delray
S 7 jetsetter Films West Palm Beach, FL Mizner Park in Boca Raton
Tripping in The Palm Beaches
S 7 AA Video West Palm Beach, FL WPB Fishing Club in Riviera Beach Kids Quest
S 7 AA Video West Palm Beach, FL Palm Beach & West Palm Beach
S 7 Bright Life of the Palm Beaches West Palm Beach, FL Spady Museum in Delray Beach
S 7 Bright Life of the Palm Beaches West Palm Beach, FL Visit the Palm Beaches Catamaran in West Palm Beach
& Shot No Permits
S = Tourism Branding Content Sponsorship Program (TDC Funded) a1
NOTE: Production Revenue is reported once with the first Permit/Shot No Permit of each Sponsorship Project.
July 2024 Production Companies & Support Services
REVENUE
EXPENSES
REVENUE
OPERATING EXPENSES
Palm Beach Convention Center
FINANCIAL OPERATIONS ANALYSIS REPORT-PRIOR YEAR COMPARISON For the Ten Months Ending July 2024
TDC Marketing Report – September 2024
Social Media
Social Media Followers
Facebook - 8,829 (July) to 8,828 (August)
Instagram - 3,425 (July) to 3,451 (August)
LinkedIn - 914 (July) to 942 (August)
Instagram
Interactions – 215 (July)
Impressions - 6,591 (July)
Reach – 3,350 (July)
Generate Profile Visits - 244 (July)
Facebook
People Reached - 1,071 (July) to 875 (August)
Post Engagements - 4,966 (July) to 3,119 (August)
Page Likes - 11 (July) to 6 (August)
LinkedIn
Profile Views - 73 (July) to 79 (August)
Engagements - 157 (July) to 138 (August)
Impressions - 4,993 (July) to 5,119 (August)
Connections - 623 (July) to 641 (August)
WIFI Analytics - Purple
Google Analytics
Engagement Overview
Media
Trump Encourages Christians to Vote; Media Misquotes Him - The New American [google.com] The New American West Palm Beach Convention Center. The president's speech has been misquoted and mangled by mainstream media and social media alike, falsely
Trump's 'no need to vote' comment disturbing - MinnPost [google.com] MinnPost Former President Donald Trump speaking at the Turning Point USA Believers' Summit at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on July 26. Credit:
Palm Beach's Emanuel Perry Named in South Florida Business Journal's - Hoodline [google.com] Hoodline Palm Beach County Convention Center. What is this? Report Ad. As reported by The South Florida Business Journal, Perry's achievements extend beyond
Making Connections will be the focus at the ACTRIMS Forum 2025 - Newswise [google.com] Newswise Palm Beach County Convention Center and the Hilton West Palm Beach in Florida. The ACTRIMS Forum 2025 will bring together leading scientists and
Trump tells Christians 'we'll have it fixed so good you won't have to vote' in 2028 - FOX 5 DC [google.com] FOX 5 DC Palm Beach Convention Center on July 26, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump had earlier met with Israeli Prime M. Expand. U.S.-Israeli
Trump explains Christians 'won't have to vote again' comments - Fox 29 [google.com] Fox 29 ... Palm Beach Convention Center on July 26, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images). Laura Ingraham interview. In the
Trump says Democrats are 'after Catholics,' calls out Harris for her criticism of Knights of Columbus [google.com] Catholic News Agency Palm Beach Convention Center on July 26, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. | Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images. Tyler Arnold. By Tyler Arnold
Questex's IECSC Florida, the Premier Event for Wellness - GlobeNewswire [google.com] GlobeNewswire The event will be held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, October 13-14, 2024. “This industry continues to change at lightning speed, and
Can Palm Beach shut down Mar-a-Lago Club? Here are details of pact Trump signed [google.com] Palm Beach Daily News ... Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach. Officials only expect congestion to get worse as more people return to Palm Beach and
'Dollars are real as is our grassroots support' says Florida GOP party chairman Even Power [google.com] Yahoo News Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Turning Point USA Believers' Summit at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on July 26, 2024, in
Big name chefs, intimate venues: Tickets are selling fast for Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival [google.com] Palm Beach Post Palm Beach County Convention Center. Buzzy Buccan restaurant, shown here during the 2022 Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival,. Intimate events mean
Women in HVACR Announces Sponsorship of the ServiceTitan Elite Trades Championship Series [google.com] Yahoo Finance Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept ... Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept
Trump Makes GOP Victory Weird Right Away - WhoWhatWhy [google.com] WhoWhatWhy Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, FL on July 26, 2024. Photo credit: Gage Skidmore / Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED) Description
Charlie Kirk Gets Into Altercation at DNC - MSN [google.com] MSN ... Palm Beach Convention Center on July 26, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Kirk posted a video of an altercation with Young Democrats of Georgia
August 2024 Project Status Report
Department of Environmental Resources Management
Sea Turtle Hatchling Lighting Study: ERM staff assisted Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) staff with a research study evaluating the influence of window tint levels on disturbances to green sea turtle hatchlings A similar study was conducted in 2022, focusing on loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings. This partnership provides a great opportunity to inform future management practices and minimize interior lighting impacts during sea turtle nesting season Palm Beach County’s Unified Land Development Code currently requires properties installing new windows or doors to utilize tinted glass with a visible light transmittance value of 45% or less. Darker tints are recommended to reduce adverse impacts to sea turtles, and tints as low as 15% have been used successfully The code also, alternatively or additionally, requires window treatments such as blackout draperies or shade screens, on all windows visible from the beach to help in preventing interior lights from illuminating the beach.
Night for the Natural Areas: On Saturday August 17th , Twisted Trunk Brewery hosted the 9th Annual Night for the Natural Areas fundraiser at their location in Palm Beach Gardens The event was a huge success, with record attendance and over $9,000 raised to help with outreach activities for Palm Beach County Natural Areas. Along with Twisted Trunk, Little Moir’s Hibiscus StrEATery, Palm Beach Creamed Honey, Sand Spur Ultra and several local artists also donated their services to help ensure the success of this community awareness and fundraising event.
Disturbance Response Monitoring Surveys: August marks the start of an exciting time for our Reef Program: monitoring season! Around this time every year, offshore waters warm up to peak temperatures and ERM divers head offshore to collect data on stony coral health and abundance These efforts contribute to the Disturbance Response Monitoring (DRM) program, which is the largest collaborative coral monitoring effort in the world and provides reef managers with an annual assessment of the extent of coral bleaching and disease along Florida’s coral reef Last year, the reef experienced the worst bleaching event ever recorded, with corals in the Dry Tortugas, Marquesas, Florida Keys, and Miami-Dade County most heavily impacted. So far this summer, mass bleaching or mortality have not been observed in Palm Beach County For more information, visit ocean floridamarine org/FRRP
NIGHT FOR THE NATURAL AREAS
Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners
Maria Sachs, Mayor, Maria G. Marino, Vice Mayor, Gregg K. Weiss, Michael A. Barnett, Marci Woodward, Sara Baxter, Mack Bernard
BEACH LIGHTING
DRM REEF SURVEY
Trident Ultra at Jupiter Ridge Natural Area: The 7th annual Trident Ultra was held July 27th and 28th at Jupiter Ridge Natural Area This two-day running event featured five different races and included registrants from eight other states and 21 Florida counties This year’s overall winner in the grueling 24-hour/80-mile Immolation race was also the event’s first ever female finisher! The group’s next event is the inaugural Spree del Sol Paddle/Trail Run Duathlon on Saturday, October 26th , which will combine a paddle on the Intracoastal Waterway with a 10K trail race at Jupiter Ridge Natural Area
Volunteer Trash Removal: ERM’s volunteer crew did not let the August heat and humidity stop them from helping staff preserve and protect the County’s Natural Areas Trash cleanups at Cypress Creek South, Delaware Scrub, and Snook Islands Natural Areas resulted in more than 1,400 pounds of trash removed from woods, mangroves, and scrublands. In addition, volunteers also re-homed 100 air plants – moving them from dead trees downed during high winds to healthy trees Our volunteers are simply the best!
Fall Adventure Awaits: ERM naturalists are preparing to lead the fall series of Adventure Awaits. The events include bike rides, kayaking, bird surveys, and more. Each event aims to inspire and help connect participants with nature The events are free, but space is limited and advance registration is required To see the complete listing of events and to reserve your spot, visit pbcerm.eventbrite.com.
Adventure Awaits: Register NOW for a FREE event at PBCERM.EVENTBRITE.COM!
UPCOMING ERM EVENTS
• September 7: INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL DEMONSTRATION at Winding Waters
• September 11: OFF ROAD BIKE ADVENTURE at Cypress Creek
• September 25: BIRDING at Limestone Creek
• September 25: RUNNING WILD at Yamato Scrub
• September 26: INVASIVE WEEDS REMOVAL CREW at Cypress Creek
• October 2: BIRDING at North Jupiter Flatwoods
• October 3: FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT BINGO at Limestone Creek
Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners
Maria Sachs, Mayor, Maria G. Marino, Vice Mayor, Gregg K. Weiss, Michael A. Barnett, Marci Woodward, Sara Baxter, Mack Bernard
PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
TRAFFIC REPORT for the period ended July 2024
(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
(5) Per FAA Tower
Palm Beach County Department of Airports
846 PBIA, West Palm Beach , FL 33406-1470 www.pbia.org
PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
ENPLANEMENT TRAFFIC REPORT for the period ended July 2024
PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
TRAFFIC REPORT for the period ended July 2024
Change in Enplanements by Airline
AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL
Monthly Airport Traffic Statistics
West Palm Beach, Florida, United States of America Palm Beach International Airport for the period ended July 2024
* Per FAA Tower ** In metric tons as required by ACI reporting standards includes Mail plus Freight
PBCFTC Olympusat
DPBC-Simpleview, LLC Web Based Services R2022-0636
Topic: TDC Dashboard September Report–Activity July and FYTD 2024
Bed Tax Collections:
July 2024 collected in August @ $4.7M compared to the same month last year @ 4.7M, an increase of 0.2%. Actual July was (8%) below Budget and (1%) below the prior month @ $4.8M. Actual July was 8% higher than 2022. Revenue from non-hotels continue to support Bed Tax Collection.
FYTD 2024 Collections @ $82M, were higher than last fiscal year to date $80M by 3%. Fiscal Year to Date collections @ $82M is 5% above the Approved Budget. FYTD 2024 collections of $82M, 12% higher than FYTD 2022 collections.
Highlights Key Room Metrics:
Occupancy July 2024
Hotel Room Net Sales FY24 Year over Year July
than the prior July by (2%)
(1%) @ $1B vs $1B
vs $215M
Palm Beach International Traffic: Total Passengers July 2024
than July 2023
PBI Passengers 12 Month Rolling 8,149,007 10% Increase to last year same period
Leisure & Hospitality Employment for July 92,000 2% Higher than the same month last year Hotel Employment 11,000 0% No change from last year
Tourist Development Council Dashboard
Current
Month 2024 vs. 2023 Fiscal Month 5.A.1
Net Rental Revenue
$100,000,000
$75,000,000
$50,000,000
$25,000,000
July 2024 Net Hotel Sales decreased (3%) over Last Year Non-Hotel Sales decreased (2%) over Last Year
Gross Monthly Room Nights Sold
July 2024 Hotel Room Nights Sold decreased (2%) over the same month Last Year.
PBIA Passengers
July-24 Budget Monthly Gross Bed Taxes Collections (All)
August Collections for July 2024 increased 0.2% over Last Year. Over last Month decreased (1%); (8%) below Budget
July 2024 Hotel Room Nights Available for Sale decreased (0.3%) over Last Year. 19,065 Rooms Open.
PBIA Passenger Capacity
July 2024 Passengers through PBI increased 13% over the same month Last Year.
July 2024 Est. Seat Capacity at PBI increased 15% over the same month Last Year.
Tourist Development Council Dashboard
Fiscal Year 2024 vs. 2023 5.A.1
FY2024 Net Rental Revenue
$1,400,000,000
$1,200,000,000
$1,000,000,000
$800,000,000
$600,000,000
$400,000,000
$200,000,000
$0
$215,022,276 $251,683,352
$1,111,945,118 $1,096,140,833
$100,000,000
$90,000,000
$80,000,000
$70,000,000
$60,000,000
$50,000,000
$40,000,000
$30,000,000
$20,000,000
$10,000,000
FYTD 2024 Hotel Net Sales decreased (1%) over Last Year Non-Hotel Sales increased 17% over Last Year FYTD 2024 Collections increased 3% over Last Year compared to FYTD Budget higher by 5%
2024 Passengers Through PBI is up 10% over Previous 12 Month Rolling Actuals
2024 at 92,000 up 2% over Last Year, F&B at 59,200 up 1%; Arts & Entertainment at 21,800 up 6%; Hotels at 11,000 remain flat
Tourist Development Council Dashboard
Current Month 2024 vs. 2022 Fiscal Month 5.A.1
Month- Net Rental Revenue
$100,000,000
$75,000,000
$50,000,000
$25,000,000
July 2024 Net Hotel Sales increased 4% over Year 2022 July 2024 Non-Hotel Sales increased 34% over Year 2022
July 2024 Hotel Room Nights Sold increased 3% over July 2022.
PBIA Passengers
Gross Bed Taxes Collections (All)
August Collections for July 2024 were 8% above July 2022 and 0.2% above July 2023.
Room Nights Available
Monthly PBI Estimated Seats
Tourist Development Council Dashboard Fiscal
Year 2024 vs. 2022 5.A.1
$1,600,000,000
$1,400,000,000
$1,200,000,000
$1,000,000,000
$800,000,000
$600,000,000
$400,000,000
$200,000,000
$0
$1,027,147,049
$100,000,000
$90,000,000
$80,000,000
$70,000,000
$60,000,000
$50,000,000
$40,000,000
$30,000,000
$20,000,000
$10,000,000
GROSS COLLECTIONS
NET COLLECTIONS
Statement of Support
Arts and culture play an enormous role in tourism in Palm Beach County. From the exquisite Norton Museum of Art to the iconic Raymond J. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts to the beauty of the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens and the scientific significance of Loggerhead Marinelife Center, we are truly fortunate to have such remarkable and culturally significant organizations that call Palm Beach County home.
The arts and cultural sector generate an astounding $335 million in economic impact each year, return an impressive $57 million to state and local coffers, and employ more than 4,300 full time employees. Audiences and tourists can’t seem to get enough – with more than 4 million attendees annually at performances, exhibitions, festivals, and special events.
The arts mean business in Palm Beach County.
In addition to the phenomenal return on investment and impressive audience numbers, the arts and cultural community contribute to our County’s exceptional quality of life, educate young minds and enhance educational experiences for children of all ages.
Palm Beach County invests in our cultural community because we understand the value of arts and culture to the economy, to tourism, and to our quality of life. We value the State’s support, as this increases our collective impact. Healthy and vibrant communities are made up of a variety of sectors that all contribute to making exceptional places.
We support the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County and the important work it does to build the capacity and sustainability of our cultural sector and we celebrate the cultural institutions and professional artists in Palm Beach County.
Signed,
Data
NONSTOP FLIGHTS FROM PBI
Montreal (YUL)
2x weekly resumes Oct. 27
Toronto (YYZ)
Daily resumes Oct. 27
Grand Rapids (GRR)
2x weekly starts Nov. 14
Cincinnati (CVG)
2x weekly resumes Nov. 21
Indianapolis (IND)
2x weekly resumes Feb. 13, 2025
Chicago-O’Hare (ORD)
Daily resumes Oct. 7
New York-LaGuardia (LGA)
2x daily starts Nov. 5
Wilmington (ILG)
2x weekly resumes Nov. 8
Charleston (CHS)
2x weekly resumes Oct. 4
New Haven (HVN)
5x weekly starts Dec. 11
Norfolk (ORF)
2x weekly starts Feb. 6, 2025
Minneapolis (MSP)
Daily resumes Nov. 23
Islip (ISP)
4x weekly starts Oct. 24
Buffalo (BUF)
3x weekly starts Oct. 26
Los Angeles (LAX)
Daily resumes Oct. 27
Toronto (YYZ)
4x weekly starts Nov. 14
Providence (PVD)
1x weekly starts Jan. 11, 2025
Buffalo (BUF)
1x weekly starts Feb. 15, 2025
Nashville (BNA)
Daily starts Mar. 6, 2025
St. Louis (STL)
Daily resumes Mar. 6, 2025
New York-LaGuardia (LGA)
Daily starts Feb. 12, 2025
Minneapolis (MSP)
2x weekly starts Nov. 27
Houston-Intercontinental (IAH)
Daily resumes Sep. 26
Chicago-O’Hare (ORD)
Daily resumes Sep. 26
Denver (DEN)
Daily resumes Dec. 19
Washington-Dulles (IAD)
Daily resumes Dec. 19
6. NEW BUSINESS
CONTRACT FOR Public Relations Services and Representation
THIS CONTRACT FOR Public Relations Services and Representation (“Contract”) is made as of October 1, 2024 by and between Discover Palm Beach County, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit corporation d/b/a Discover The Palm Beaches, hereinafter referred to as “DTPB,” and The Zimmerman Agency LLC, a Florida limited liability company, having its principal place of business at 1821 Miccosukee Commons, Tallahassee, FL 32308, hereinafter referred to as “CONTRACTOR,” whose Federal I.D. number is: 27-0833307.
WHEREAS, DTPB has previously entered into a contract with Palm Beach County, Florida (“COUNTY”), said contract hereinafter referred to as the (“COUNTY/DTPB CONTRACT”) for the provision by DTPB of certain services to promote and advertise Palm Beach County tourism in the State of Florida as well as nationally and internationally, under the overall direction and guidance of the Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council (“TDC”) through its Executive Director; and
WHEREAS, theCOUNTY/DTPB CONTRACTprovidesthat DTPB shall develop and implement an annual public relations plan; promote the COUNTY in foreign and domestic markets; and perform other services requested by the COUNTY; and
WHEREAS, the COUNTY/DTPB CONTRACT further provides that DTPB may contract for the goods and services needed to perform the above-described services subject to certain terms, provisions and conditions as set forth in the COUNTY/DTPB CONTRACT; and
WHEREAS, DTPB has determined that it is necessary and desirable to obtain the services of CONTRACTOR to perform Public Relations Services and Representation for DTPB; and
WHEREAS, CONTRACTOR represents that it possesses the necessary resources and unique ability to successfully perform such services; and
WHEREAS, DTPB desires to engage the CONTRACTOR and CONTRACTOR desires to be engaged by DTPB for the provision of such services, and pursuant to the procurement policy for contracts over $100,000.00, DTPB issued a Request for Proposal (“RFP”), a Selection Committee reviewed the respondents, and the CONTRACTOR was selected:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, and other goods and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, DTPB and the CONTRACTOR agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1 - RECITALS
The above recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference.
ARTICLE 2 - TERM
The term of this Contract shall commence on October 1, 2024, and end on September 30, 2027 (the “Initial Term”) and may be renewed at DTPB’s sole option for two (2) one-year extensions (each, a “Renewal Term,” and collectively with the “Initial Term,” the “Term”) based on timely
notification of DTPB’s intent to renew no later than 30 days prior to the end of the Initial Term and the first Renewal Term, as applicable. No such renewal shall extend the agreement beyond September 30, 2029.
ARTICLE 3 - DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Beginning on October 1, 2024, CONTRACTOR will provide to DTPB Public Relations Services and Representation as more specifically set forth in the Scope of Work detailed in Exhibit “A.”
DTPB’s representative/liaison during the performance of the Contract shall be Erika Constantine, the Contract Monitor, whose telephone number is (561) 233-3005 and whose email address is econstantine@ThePalmBeaches.com.
CONTRACTOR’s representative/liaison during the performance of the Contract shall be Kerry Anne Watson, whose telephone number is (850) 668-2222 and whose email address is kwatson@zimmerman.com.
ARTICLE 4 - COMPENSATION
Beginning on October 1, 2024, CONTRACTOR will provide DTPB Public Relations Services as set forth in the Scope of Work details in Exhibit “A.” In exchange for services to be performed in Exhibit “A” by CONTRACTOR, DTPB will pay CONTRACTOR an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Sixteen Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($216,000.00) per year in accordance to the fee schedule more specifically set forth in the FEE CHART SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS Exhibit “B.”
Upon each six (6) month anniversary of the Agreement, both parties will review the scope of work and anticipated deliverables. If both parties agree the CONTRACTOR has not made satisfactory progress toward the completion or implementation of any identified work product or deliverable, the DTPB and CONTRACTOR will agree upon a remedy that may include additional services or reduced fees.
The cost of media activities outside the annual retainer cost shall be estimated by the CONTRACTOR at the net cost and approved in writing in advance by DTPB prior to commencement of work and billed as “pass-thru” expense. The CONTRACTOR shall notify the Contract Monitor in writing when 80% of the “not to exceed amount” has been reached in any given period. This “not to exceed” amount is exclusive of all “pass-thru” expenses and agency travel which may be arranged through CONTRACTOR and billed at cost (no markup) per Exhibit “B. ” The CONTRACTOR will bill DTPB at the amounts set forth in Exhibit “B” for services rendered toward the completion of the Scope of Work. In such instance where incremental billings for partially completed items are permitted, the total billings shall not exceed the estimated percentage of completion as of the billing date.
If CONTRACTOR is required to travel in connection with this Contract, all travel arrangements will be pre-approved by DTPB. Costs associated with approved travel, lodging and other pass-thru or out-of-pocket expenses may, at the option of DTPB, be remitted to CONTRACTOR for payment to the vendor on DTPB’s behalf or may be handled by direct billing to DTPB by the applicable vendor. These costs are not considered part of the compensation paid under this
contract. The CONTRACTOR personnel are not considered staff of DTPB and as such their travel and related expenses will be monitored and audited by DTPB, and will invoice the cost of travel as an additional fee which shall be billed at cost (no markup) per Exhibit “B.”
Incentive Fees (“At Risk” payment):
Given the critical importance of the PR agency services to the success of the tourism economy in Palm Beach County, DTPB and CONTRACTOR agree that starting in the second year of the contract term (starting October 1, 2025), a portion of annual fees equivalent to 10% ($21,600.00) of the total annual “not to exceed” fees ($216,000.00) as established in Article 4, shall be contingent on the achievement of certain quantitative and/or qualitative destination and/or earned media awareness measures. These performance measures shall be mutually agreed upon by April 1, 2025 and may be adjusted by mutual accord in subsequent years.
ARTICLE 5 - TRUTH-IN-NEGOTIATION CERTIFICATE
Signature of this Contract by CONTRACTOR shall also act as the execution of a truth-innegotiation certificate certifying that the wage rates, over-head charges, and other costs used to determine the compensation provided for in this Contract are accurate, complete and current as of the date of the Contract and no higher than those charged CONTRACTOR’s most favored customer for the same or substantially similar service.
The said rates and costs shall be adjusted to exclude any significant sums should DTPB determine that the rates and costs were increased due to inaccurate, incomplete or noncurrent wage rates or due to inaccurate representations of fees paid to outside consultants or other goods and services. DTPB shall exercise its rights under this Article within three (3) years following final payment and this Article shall survive expiration or termination of this Contract.
ARTICLE 6 - PAYMENT DOCUMENTATION AND PROCEDURE
Each invoicesubmittedbyCONTRACTOR shallbeitemizedin sufficient detail foraudit purposes and, if requested by DTPB, supported by copies of any corresponding third-party invoices and proof of payment of same, along with proof of performance of goods and services invoiced. CONTRACTOR understands and acknowledges that all invoices submitted to DTPB will need to be approved by the TDC and by the CLERK AND COMPTROLLER of Palm Beach County prior to payment. CONTRACTOR shall maintain adequate records to justify all charges, expenses, and costs incurred in estimating and performing the work for at least three (3) years after completion of this Contract. DTPB and the COUNTY shall have access to such books, records, and documents as required in this article for the purpose of inspection or audit during normal business hours, at CONTRACTOR’s place of business.
In order for both parties herein to close their books and records, the CONTRACTOR will clearly state “final invoice” on the CONTRACTOR’s final/last billing to the DTPB. This shall constitute CONTRACTOR’s certification that all services have been properly performed and all charges and costs have been invoiced to DTPB. Any other charges not properly included on this final invoice are waived by the CONTRACTOR.
The CONTRACTOR shall be responsible for payment of its own and its share of its employees’ payroll, payroll taxes, and benefits with respect to this contract.
ARTICLE 7 - ACCESS AND AUDIT
CONTRACTOR shall maintain adequate records to justify all charges, expenses, and costs incurred in estimating and performing the work for at least three (3) years after completion or termination of this Contract. The COUNTY shall have access to such books, records, and documents as required in this section for the purpose of inspection or audit during normal business hours, at CONTRACTOR’s place of business.
Palm Beach County has established the Office of the Inspector General in Ordinance 2009-049, as may be amended, which is authorized and empowered to review past, present, and proposed County contracts, transactions, accounts, and records. The Inspector General has the power to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and require the production of records, and audit, investigate, monitor, and inspect the activities of CONTRACTOR, its officers, agents, employees, and lobbyistsinordertoensurecompliancewithcontractrequirementsanddetectcorruptionandfraud.
Failure to cooperate with the Inspector General or interference or impeding any investigation shall be in violation of Ordinance 2009-049, and punished pursuant to Section 125.69, Florida Statutes, in the same manner as a second-degree misdemeanor.
ARTICLE 8 - TERMINATION
This Contract may be terminated in its entirety by either party without cause upon sixty (60) days prior written notice (a “Termination Notice”). It may also be terminated in whole or in part by DTPB with cause, immediately upon delivery of a Termination Notice to CONTRACTOR. Termination for cause by DTPB includes, but is not limited to, notice of termination or termination of the DTPB/COUNTY CONTRACT or the breach of any material provision of this Contract by CONTRACTOR. Unless CONTRACTOR is in breach of this Contract, CONTRACTOR shall be paid for services rendered to DTPB’s satisfaction through the date of termination. After receipt of a Termination Notice and except as otherwise directed by DTPB, CONTRACTOR shall:
A. Stop work on the specified date given by DTPB and to the extent specified.
B. Continue and complete all parts of the work that have not been terminated.
C. Transfer all work in process, completed work, and other materials related to the terminated work to DTPB.
D. Terminate and settle all orders and subcontracts relating to the performance of the terminated work.
ARTICLE 9 - PERSONNEL
CONTRACTOR represents that it has, or will secure at its own expense, all necessary personnel requiredto performtheservices underthis Contract.Suchpersonnel shall notbeofficers,directors, or employees of DTPB, and shall not have any contractual relationship with DTPB except as such
contractual relationship may be approved by DTPB and the TDC and reviewed by COUNTY Administrator. All the services required hereunder shall be performed by CONTRACTOR or under its supervision, and all personnel engaged in performing the services shall be fully qualified and, if required, authorized, licensed, or permitted under applicable law to perform such services. CONTRACTOR warrants that all services shall be performed by skilled and competent personnel to the highest professional standards in the field.
The CONTRACTOR’s personnel and management to be utilized shall be knowledgeable in their areas of expertise. DTPB reserves the right to perform investigations as may be deemed necessary to ensure that competent persons will be utilized in the performance of the contract. The CONTRACTOR shall assign as many people as necessary to complete the project on a timely basis, and each person assigned shall be available for an amount of time adequate to meet the dates set forth.
The CONTRACTOR shall not change Key Personnel as defined in Exhibit “A,” The Scope of Work unless the following conditions are met: (a) Proposed replacements have substantially the same or better qualifications and/or experience, and (b) that the DTPB is notified in writing as far in advance as possible. The CONTRACTOR shall make commercially reasonable efforts to notify DTPB at least seven (7) days in advance of the change. The DTPB staff retains final approval of proposed replacement personnel.
ARTICLE 10 - PERFORMANCE AND OBLIGATION TO PAY
DTPB’s performance and obligation to pay under this Contract is contingent upon the allocation of Tourist Development Tax funds for the purposes and uses provided in this Contract, the receipt of said Tourist Development Tax funds, an annual appropriation of said funds by the COUNTY for the purposes and uses provided for in this Contract, and authorization granted to DTPB through the COUNTY/ DTPB CONTRACT to contract for the goods and/or services provided herein.
ARTICLE 11 - INSURANCE
CONTRACTOR shall maintain insurance in such amounts and form as may be required by DTPB CONTRACTOR shall also provide additional insurance in such amounts and forms as may be required by DTPB from time to time. DTPB reserves the right to review, modify, reject or accept any required policies of insurance, including limits, coverage, or endorsements, herein from time to time throughout the term of this Contract. DTPB reserves the right, but not the obligation, to review and reject the insurer providing coverage because of poor financial condition or failure to operate legally.
Prior to execution of this Contract, CONTRACTOR shall deliver to the DTPB’S representative as identified in Article 3, a Certificate(s) of Insurance evidencing that all types and amounts of insurance coverages required by DTPB have been obtained and are in full force and effect. Such Certificate(s) of Insurance shall include a minimum ten (10) day endeavor to notify due to cancellation or non-renewal of coverage. The certificate of insurance shall be issued to DTPB
CONTRACTOR shall endorse the DTPB and PALM BEACH COUNTY as an Additional Insured with a CG 2026 Additional Insured - Designated Person or Organization endorsement, or its equivalent, to the Commercial General Liability. The Additional Insured endorsement shall read
“DISCOVER PALM BEACH COUNTY, INC., a Florida not-for-profit corporation.”
CONTRACTOR and PALM BEACH COUNTY” and shall provide the Additional Insured endorsements coverage on a primary basis.
CONTRACTOR hereby waives any and all rights of Subrogation against the DTPB, its officers, employees and agents for each required policy. When required by the insurer or should a policy condition not permit an insured to enter into a pre-loss agreement to waive subrogation without an endorsement to the policy, then CONTRACTOR shall agree to notify the insurer and request the policy be endorsed with a Waiver of Transfer of rights of Recovery Against Others, or its equivalent. This Waiver of Subrogation requirement shall not apply to any policy which specifically prohibits suchanendorsement, orwhichvoids coverageshould CONTRACTOR enter into such an agreement on a pre-loss basis.
ARTICLE 12 - INDEMNIFICATION
CONTRACTOR shall save, defend, indemnify, hold harmless, and defend DTPB, TDC, and the COUNTY, including their officers, agents, servants, and employees from and against any and all claims, liability, losses, costs, damages, and/or causes of action, of every kind or character, including attorney’s fees and costs, whether at trial or appellate levels or otherwise, arising during and as a result of CONTRACTOR’s performance under this Contract, or which may arise from any act or omission of CONTRACTOR, its officers, agents, servants, or employees. CONTRACTOR further agrees to indemnify, save, hold harmless and defend DTPB, TDC and the COUNTY and their officers, agents, servants and employees from and against any claim, demand or cause of action of whatsoever kind or nature arising out of any conduct or misconduct of the CONTRACTOR not included in the paragraph above and for which DTPB, TDC, COUNTY or their officers, agents, servant of employees are alleged to be liable.
CONTRACTOR shall not be liable for the acts, negligence, or defalcations of third parties, including, but not limited to, third-party vendors, hosting companies, Internet service providers, direct mail printers, email delivery companies, programmers, software sellers, installers, consultants, that are not engaged, or hired by CONTRACTOR.
ARTICLE 13 - SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
DTPB and CONTRACTOR each bind itself and its partners, successors, executors, administrators and assigns to the other party to this Contract and to the partners, successors, executors, administrators and assigns of such other party, in respect to all covenants of this Contract. Except as stated above, neither DTPB nor CONTRACTOR shall assign, sublet, convey, or transfer its interest in this Contract without the written consent of the other.
ARTICLE 14 - REMEDIES
This Contract shall be governed by the laws of the State of Florida. Venue for any and all legal action necessary to enforce the contract will be in Palm Beach County, Florida. No remedy herein conferred upon any party is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise. No single or partial exercise by
any party of any right, power, or remedy hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof.
ARTICLE 15 - CONFLICT OF INTEREST
CONTRACTOR represents that it presently has no interest and shall acquire no interest, either direct or indirect, which would conflict in any manner with the performance or services required hereunder. CONTRACTOR further represents that no person having any such interest shall be employed forsaid performance.CONTRACTOR shall promptlynotify DTPB’sContract Monitor, in writing, by certified mail, of all potential conflicts of interest for any prospective business association, interest, or other circumstance which may influence or appear to influence CONTRACTOR’s judgment or quality of services being provided hereunder. Such written notification shall identify the prospective business association, interest or circumstance, the nature of work that CONTRACTOR may undertake and request an opinion of DTPB and COUNTY as to whethertheassociation,interest, orcircumstancewould,intheopinionof DTPB andCOUNTY, constitute a conflict of interest if entered into by the CONTRACTOR. DTPB agrees to notify CONTRACTOR of the opinion of DTPB and COUNTY in writing within thirty (30) days of receipt of notification by CONTRACTOR. If, in the opinion of DTPB and COUNTY, the prospective business association, interest, or circumstance would not constitute a conflict of interest by CONTRACTOR, DTPB shall so state in the notification and CONTRACTOR shall, at its option, enter into saidassociation, interest or circumstance and it shall bedeemed not in conflict of interest with respect to services provided to DTPB by CONTRACTOR under the terms of this Contract.
ARTICLE 16 - SUBCONTRACTORS
DTPB reserves the right to accept the use of a subcontractor or to reject the selection of a particular subcontractor and to inspect all facilities of any subcontractors in order to make a determination as to the capability of the subcontractor to perform properly under this Contract. The CONTRACTOR is encouraged to seek additional small business enterprises for participation in subcontracting opportunities. If a subcontractor fails to perform or make progress, as required by this Contract, and it is necessary to replace the subcontractor to complete the work in a timely fashion, the CONTRACTOR shall promptly do so, subject to acceptance of the new subcontractor by the DTPB.
ARTICLE 17 - ARREARS
CONTRACTOR shall not pledge DTPB’s credit, or make DTPB, TDC, or the COUNTY a guarantor of payment or surety for any contract, debt, obligation, judgment, lien, or any form of indebtedness. CONTRACTOR further warrants and represents that it has no obligation or indebtedness that would impair its ability to fulfill the terms of this Contract.
ARTICLE 18 - NONDISCLOSURE AND OWNERSHIP OF DOCUMENTS AND PROPERTY
CONTRACTOR shall deliver to DTPB’s representative for approval and acceptance, and before being eligible for final payment of any amounts due, all documents and materials prepared by and for DTPB under this Contract. Except as required for CONTRACTOR’s performance of its duties
under this Contract, all written and oral information not in the public domain or not previously known, and all reports, information, and data obtained, developed, prepared, assembled, or supplied for the benefit of DTPB, or at its expense or the expense of the TDC or COUNTY, shall be deemed proprietary and trade secret information will be kept confidential by the CONTRACTOR and will not be disclosed to any other party, directly or indirectly, without DTPB’s prior written consent unless required by law, a lawful order, or the COUNTY/DTPB CONTRACT. No material produced in whole or in part under this Contract shall be subject to copyright in the United States or in any other country by any party other than the COUNTY or DTPB. The COUNTY, TDC, and DTPB shall have the unrestricted authority to publish, disclose, distribute, or otherwise use any reports, data, or other materials prepared under this Contract.
All drawings, logos, slogans, trademarks, trade names, written copy, layout, production materials, formulas, recipes, and other intellectual property as well as all maps, sketches, programs, database, reports, and other data supplied by, developed, or purchased and paid for under this Contract for or at the expense of DTPB, TDC or the COUNTY shall be and remain the property of DTPB, the TDC, and the COUNTY and may be reproduced and reused at the discretion of DTPB, the TDC, and the COUNTY.
Any and all records of DTPB relating to this Contract or produced as a result of this Contract are to be considered public records, subject to the provisions of Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, unless such records constitute trade secrets and/or proprietary materials of a competitive nature that are otherwise exempt from disclosure under Chapter 119, or any other applicable provision of law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, though, the COUNTY may designate any and all records as public records regardless of whether said records are presently deemed public records by law.
In no event shall CONTRACTOR be precluded from developing for itself, or for others, materials which are competitive with the Developments, irrespective of their similarity thereto, provided, however, that CONTRACTOR is not authorized to use materials specifically developed and unique to DTPB and Developments. In addition, CONTRACTOR shall be free to use its general knowledge, skills and experience, and any ideas, concepts, know-how, and techniques within the scope of its consulting practice that are used in the course of providing the Services.
CONTRACTOR will deliver to DTPB the original source code files and digital assets for all work developed under this agreement. The files will be in a format acceptable to DTPB and delivered within 30 days of full payment by DTPB.
ARTICLE 19 - INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR RELATIONSHIP
CONTRACTOR is, and shall be, in the performance of all work, services and activities under this Contract, an independent contractor, and not an employee, agent, or servant of DTPB or COUNTY. All persons engaged in any of the work or services performed pursuant to this Contract shall at all times, and in all places, be subject to CONTRACTOR’s sole direction and supervision. CONTRACTOR shall exercise control over the means and manner in which it and its employees and agents perform, and in all respects the CONTRACTOR’s relationship and the relationship of its employees to DTPB shall be that of an Independent Contractor and not as employees or agents of DTPB or the COUNTY. CONTRACTOR does not have the power or authority to bind DTPB
in any promise, agreement, or representation other than as specifically provided for in this Contract.
Moreover, DTPB is an independent service contractor provider of Palm Beach County and does not have the authority to enter into any contract on behalf of Palm Beach County or bind them to any contract. Unless specifically consented to by Palm Beach County in writing, Palm Beach County and TDC shall not be liable or responsible for services rendered or goods procured and/or delivered under this Contract regardless of the receipt by Palm Beach County or TDC of any benefits hereunder.
ARTICLE 20 - CONTINGENT FEES
CONTRACTOR warrants that it has not employed or retained any company or person, other than a bona fide employee working solely for CONTRACTOR, to solicit or secure this Contract and that it has not paid or agreed to pay any person, company, corporation, individual, or firm, other than a bona fide employee working solely for CONTRACTOR, any fee, commission, percentage, gift, or any other consideration contingent upon or resulting from the award or making of this Contract.
ARTICLE 21 - NONDISCRIMINATION
CONTRACTOR warrants and represents that it will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment, or discriminate against any person, firm or entity in the performance of its obligations hereunder upon the grounds of race, color, religion, disability, sex, age, national origin, marital status, familial status, gender identity or expression, ancestry or sexual orientation.
ARTICLE 22 - ENFORCEMENT COSTS
If any legal action or other proceeding is brought for the enforcement of this Contract, or because of an alleged dispute, breach, default, or misrepresentation in connection with any provision of this Contract, the successful or prevailing party or parties shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney’s fees, court costs and all expenses (including taxes) even if not taxable as court costs (including, without limitation, all such fees, costs and expenses incident to appeals), incurred in that action or proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which such party or parties may be entitled.
ARTICLE 23 - AUTHORITY TO ENGAGE IN BUSINESS
CONTRACTOR hereby represents and warrants that it has and will continue to maintain all licenses, permits and approvals required to conduct its business, and thatitwill at all times conduct its business activities in a reputable manner. Proof of such licenses, permits, and approvals shall be submitted to the DTPB Contract Monitor upon request.
ARTICLE 24 - SEVERABILITY
If any term or provision of this Contract or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall, to any extent, be held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Contract, or the application of such term or provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is
held invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected, and every other term and provision of this Contract shall be deemed valid and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.
All covenants, agreements, representations, and warranties made herein or otherwise made in writing byanypartypursuant hereto, including, but not limitedto, anyrepresentations madeherein relating to disclosure or ownership of documents, shall survive the execution and delivery of this Contract and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE 25 - ENTIRETY OF CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT
DTPB and CONTRACTOR agree that this Contract sets forth the entire agreement between the parties and that there are no promises or understandings other than those stated herein. None of the provisions, terms, and conditions contained in this Contract may be added to, modified, superseded, or otherwise altered, except by written instrument executed by the parties.
ARTICLE 26 - COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS
In the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, CONTRACTOR shall comply with all laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and statutes, including, without limitation, intellectual property laws, civil rights laws, public records laws, etc. In addition, time is expressly declared to be of the essence.
ARTICLE 27 - PUBLIC ENTITY CRIMES
As provided in F.S. 287.132-133, by entering into this Contract or performing any work in furtherance hereof, the CONTRACTOR certifies that it, its affiliates, suppliers, subcontractors, and consultants who will perform hereunder, have not been placed on the convicted vendor list maintained by the State of Florida Department of Management Services within the 36 months immediately preceding the date hereof. This notice is required by F.S. 287.133(3)(a).
ARTICLE 28 - MODIFICATION OF WORK
DTPB reserves the right to make changes in the Scope of Work, including alterations, reductions therein, or additions thereto. Upon receipt by the CONTRACTOR of DTPB’s written notification of a contemplated project change, the CONTRACTOR shall, in writing: (1) provide a detailed estimate for the increase or decrease in cost due to the contemplated change, (2) notify the DTPB of any estimated change in the completion date, and (3) advise DTPB if the contemplated change shall affect the CONTRACTOR ability to meet the completion dates or schedules of said project(s)
If DTPB so instructs in writing, the CONTRACTOR shall suspend work on that portion of the Scope of Work affected by a contemplated change, pending DTPB’s decision to proceed with the change.
ARTICLE 29 - GOVERNING LAW
This contract will be governed by the law of the state of Florida regardless of the place of its execution. The venue for any action brought hereunder shall lie in Palm Beach County, Florida
ARTICLE 30 - NOTICE
All notices provided for or permitted to be given pursuant to this Contract must be sent in writing and shall be effective if delivered to the recipient’s address as stated below by: (i) personal delivery; (ii) certified United States Mail, return receipt requested; (iii) FedEx or comparable guaranteed next business day delivery service; or (iv) e-mail, in which case the notice shall be deemed delivered only upon receipt of the recipient’s reply e-mail confirming receipt of the notice. Any notice shall be deemed received earlier than actual delivery or refusal of delivery. If a notice cannot be delivered because the intended recipient changed its address without at least 10 days prior notice to the other party, then the notice that could not be delivered shall be deemed refused by the intended recipient. All notices are to be sent to or made at the addresses set forth below:
Discover Palm Beach County, Inc.
Attention: Milton Segarra and Erika Constantine 2195 Southern Boulevard, Suite 400 West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Email: msegarra@thepalmbeaches.com and econstantine@thepalmbeaches.com
and if sent to CONTRACTOR shall be mailed to:
The Zimmerman Agency LLC
Attn: Kerry Anne Watson 1821 Miccosukee Commons Tallahassee, FL 32308
ARTICLE 31 – FORCE MAJEURE
Neither party hereto shall be deemed in breach of this Contract if such party is unable to fulfill its obligations under this Contract or any portion thereof by reason of fire, earthquake, flood, hurricane or other severe weather, labor dispute, act of war, terrorism, riot or other severe civil disturbance, pandemic, epidemic, or any local, state, federal, national or international law, governmental order or regulation (collectively, a “Force Majeure Event”). Upon occurrence of any Force Majeure Event, the affected party shall give notice to the other party of its inability to fulfill some or all of its obligations under this Contract in a timely manner. If CONTRACTOR is the party providing such notice, CONTRACTOR shall propose revisions to the schedule for completion of the Services, which Client may accept or reject within five (5) days and, if rejected, Client may terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 10. Either party hereto may terminate this Contract in the event that a Force Majeure Event continues beyond (60) days.
(SIGNATURES APPEAR ON THE NEXT PAGE)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Contract as of October 1, 2024.
ATTEST: By: Corporate Secretary
DISCOVER PALM BEACH COUNTY, INC.:
By: Milton Segarra,
President/CEO
(Corporate Seal)
ATTEST: By: Witness The Zimmerman Agency LLC
By: Name and Title
Reviewed by Contract Monitor: Erika Constantine
Approved for Legal Sufficiency and Form: Shutts & Bowen, DTPB Legal Counsel
By: Rikki Lober Bagatell, Partner
EXHIBIT “A”
PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICES AND REPRESENTATION SCOPE OF WORK
CONTRACTOR will have the responsibility to support the following North American (USA) PR tactics in collaboration with the appropriate DTPB team members.
In collaboration with DTPB’s internal PR department and its other agencies, CONTRACTOR will create a comprehensive 14-month plan designed to be implemented at the beginning of each fiscal year, which starts October 1. The plan is to be presented 90 days prior to its recommended implementation, by July 1 annually. The plan is to include strategic measures that attract leisure and business travelers, as well as meeting planners, and include goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics for the organization’s PR initiatives for each fiscal year.
It will be the responsibility of CONTRACTOR to support the following strategies:
1. Development of an annual calendar of all proposed North American (USA) PR initiatives, inclusive of methods designed to best inspire destination awareness from leisure travelers, business travelers and meeting planners
2. Plan and execute public relations campaigns targeting specific audience segments – leisure travelers, business travelers, MICE market, travel trade, business, drive markets, and others as needed.
3. Integrate PR activities into DTPB marketing, travel trade, and group sales initiatives.
4. Develop and maintain an evergreen press kit, to be updated annually.
5. Prepare press releases and proactively, as well as reactively, pitch topics and story ideas that align with the directed content calendar to garner earned media impressions in both traditional and non-traditional media outlets
6. Filter day-to-day journalist requests and respond or provide recommended action
7. Coordinateaminimum of12individualmediavisits (knownas “Destination Reviews”or “Site Visits”) and a minimum of four group FAMs composed of top-tier travel writers to visit The Palm Beaches throughout the year. The contracted agency must be willing and able to send one representative to travel to The Palm Beaches to escort group FAMs.
a.Develop theme
b.Pitch and secure targeted journalists
c.Create a proposed itinerary with timeliness for consideration
d.Work with destination partners to execute
e.Follow up with resulting coverage to all the hosting partners
8. Coordinate a minimum of 2 satellite media tours including securing company, venue, and talent, along with all supporting materials including b-roll/photography, talking points, and script.
9. Secure, coordinate, and execute national television broadcast opportunities on morning shows, talk shows, and news programs, including features, round-ups, promotions, and other opportunities
10. Pitch, schedule, and attend a minimum of 2 media desk-side missions in key target markets.
11. Schedule, coordinate, and implement media reception(s).
12. Conduct press conferences, as needed.
13. Develop speaking points as needed.
14. Prepare written statements as needed.
15. Pitching and securing thought leadership opportunities for key DTPB executives as needed
16. Identify and recommend to DTPB select domestic tradeshows for a PR representative to attend and conduct on-site interviews. Attend on behalf of DTPB as needed.
17. Submit award entries on behalf of client.
18. Play-back articles to destination partners and provide updates in partner CMS database as needed.
19. Participate in regularly-scheduled status calls, as well as ad hoc calls, with the PR department.
20. Develop relationships with key journalists in key markets (USA).
21. Identify and build a shared media list of recommended key editorial decision-makers to spread awareness of The Palm Beaches across traditional and digital media channels.
22. Build and/or maintain a database of in-market leisure and trade journalists and facilitate introductions between the journalists and DTPB PR staff via email, phone calls and/or desksideappointments.CONTRACTORwillbeexpectedtosetupinterviewswithin-marketmedia and select members of DTPB leadership team. In-market destinations include New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Naples, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville (listed markets are subject to be updated as needed and based on relevant airlift efforts)
23. Coordinate partnerships with organizations and events located within target markets that provide positive visibility and exposure for The Palm Beaches
24. Identify, plan and execute at least one turn-key experiential consumer activation that is in-line with the goals and objectives of DTPB, complete from start to finish
25. Serve as a spokesperson on behalf of DTPB, as directed.
26. Participate in imperative company meetings, as requested (about two to four times per year).
27. Participate in quarterly collaboration strategy calls with all DTPB marketing agencies.
28. Ad hoc copywriting, as needed, such as advertorials and community and government memoranda.
29. Deliver a detailed report, monthly, which includes key performance metrics including earned media impressions, number of publicity hits, fulfillment of projects identified in SOW, and other determined benchmarks. Recap of efforts throughout the month covering public relations activities. The report should also include recap of earned media results with copies of clips generated during the month and be loaded into DTPB’s digital CRM system, Simpleview. The report should also include feedback and advice on strategies to capitalize on any new opportunities
30. Utilize DTPB’s real-time status sheet of all on-going projects, on Monday.com
31. Support crisis communications as needed, including but not limited to weather situations, as well as geopolitical and economic variations that can impact visitation.
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ANTICIPATED TRAVEL AND ENTERTAINMENT
Based on the number of trips anticipated to attend meetings, workshops, activations, etc., estimated travel expenses for CONTRACTOR will not exceed $25,000 per annum, on an as-needed basis.
Note: CONTRACTOR is prepared to revise the budget based on a revised scope due to unpredictable events or market conditions.
PASS-THRU EXPENSES
Pass-thru expenses include items such as deposits, signage, talent fees, promotional fees, advance payment for venues, audio visual, decorations and other miscellaneous expenses as referenced in Exhibit “A” which are arranged by CONTRACTOR but fulfilled by other entities and billed at net cost (no markup). The total anticipated pass-thru expenses will not exceed $50,000 per annum.
Overview
The FY2025 Destination Marketing Plan for The Palm Beaches is a comprehensive roadmap designed to enhance the region's appeal, optimize revenue, and ensure sustainable growth. The plan focuses on evolving the brand, leveraging advanced marketing technology, expanding sales efforts, and fostering strong community engagement. Key initiatives aim to protect market share, drive visitor engagement, and position The Palm Beaches for long-term success.
Strategic Direction & Objectives
• Revenue Optimization: With a post-pandemic leveling off in demand, the primary objective is to protect market share and revenue by maintaining rate integrity and targeting high-yield markets. This involves tailored marketing campaigns and strategic partnerships to maximize economic impact.
• Organization and Destination Development: The FY2025 plan drives forward critical projects like the Tourism Master Plan, which outlines a 20-year vision for sustainable tourism development. This includes stakeholder engagement, infrastructure improvements, and enhancing visitor experiences.
• Collaboration: Success hinges on collaboration across TDC agencies, stakeholders, and residents. Initiatives include regular partner meetings, joint campaigns, and community involvement in tourism planning.
• Advocacy: Building public support for tourism initiatives is crucial. The plan emphasizes transparent communication of tourism's economic and social benefits to foster community and legislative backing.
• Social Inclusion and Sustainability: Addressing social issues is a priority, with strategies focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, environmental sustainability, and improving the quality of life for residents and visitors.
Key Strategies
Brand Evolution & Marketing
• Integrated Marketing: Enhance The Palm Beaches' image as a stylish and diverse destination through integrated marketing campaigns, creative advertising, and partnerships with fashion brands. Emphasize sustainability and accessibility in marketing efforts.
o Expand ‘The Palm Beaches Collection’ marketing campaign to fully immerse The Palm Beaches as Florida’s Most Stylish Vacation Destination
o Grow Groups & Meetings Marketing Strategies, including Between The Sessions brand relaunch and enhanced Convention Center District awareness campaigns
o Champion sustainability efforts with campaigns and content to align with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council through the Tourism Master Plan initiative, while exploring opportunities with the UN Sustainability Goals
o Reaffirming The Palm Beaches position as a leader in Social Inclusion and Accessibility, focusing on ‘Access First’ to improve quality of place and life for both residents and visitors who enjoy the destination
o Elevate tourism from international markets by further developing custom, multi-lingual strategies and championing brand consistency in key countries
o Continue to enhance strategic partnerships to drive visitation and align The Palm Beaches with key, well-known brands, destinations and events.
o Refresh the ‘Love The Palm Beaches’ resident engagement campaign to empower the community to be our elite brand ambassadors to drive off-peak season visitation from friends & family.
o Conceptualize the creation of a mascot for The Palm Beaches to act as a brand ambassador and guide across multiple touchpoints for visitors.
o Development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy addressing key secondary markets of Dallas/Houston
• Marketing Collaboration with TDC Agencies: DTPB will actively collaborate with Tourist Development Council (TDC) agencies to align marketing strategies, leveraging shared resources and insights to amplify promotional efforts. This partnership will enhance the destination's visibility and drive targeted campaigns, ensuring a cohesive and impactful market presence.
o Enhance content and messaging around the Sports brand pillar in partnership with the Palm Beach County Sports Commission to develop comarketing efforts with event promotions, activations, & partnerships
o Strengthen awareness of in-destination video content and broadcast opportunities with the Palm Beach County Film Commission
o Expand the Arts & Culture brand pillar by strengthening relationships with partners and align efforts with the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County
o Continue strong support of expanded airlift with Palm Beach International Airport to generate inbound visitation to The Palm Beaches premier airport
• Digital & Marketing Technology : Investments in advanced digital and marketing technologies will enhance data-driven decision-making, personalize customer engagement, and optimize campaign performance. By leveraging tools the agency will streamline operations and maximize ROI on marketing efforts.
o Complete build-out of Marketing Technology stack to support strategy, paid media, analytics, forecasting, business intelligence, and hotel demand generation
o Exceed the demands of changing consumer paths-to-purchase when seeking travel inspiration, planning, and in-destination engagement through digital platform enhancements
o Optimize in-house digital ad buying platforms, capabilities, and best practices to drive brand awareness, consideration, and visitation
o Drive hotel demand during needs periods through the progression of the Destination DemandTM tool with advanced forecasting, testing, campaign execution, and content personalization
o Adapt to the expanding data deprecation environment by prioritizing first party data growth and ensuring demographic and psychographic data points are available for engaged audiences
• Social Media & Content Production: DTPB will launch engaging video series, create content highlighting new developments, and leverage influencers to tell the brand story. Use AI and advanced marketing technology to personalize visitor experiences.
o Launch all-new engaging video series to tell the destination brand story in an entertaining format
o Innovative Influencer partnerships to assist in telling The Palm Beaches brand story
o Continue success of enhanced social media tactics leveraged to gain recordbreaking views and follower growth with key strategies
o Prioritize engagement across all social media channels to combat changing social media behavior to keep visitors immersed in The Palm Beaches content
• Public Relations & Communications: Develop strong storylines and media relations to grow visitation through earned media. Emphasize sustainability and responsible tourism in pitches and PR efforts.
o Infuse strong storytelling through media relations efforts, press releases and pitching to grow visitation through earned media awareness
▪ Secure new broadcast opportunities across major networks to expand reach of The Palm Beaches to a national audience, leveraging authentic and “hidden gem” experiences to the decision-making TV producers in order to grow destination visibility and competitive edge.
o Strengthen relationships with residents and businesses through local outreach and communications emphasizing the benefits of tourism and encouraging community awareness of promotional activities.
o Support international visitation growth through strategic communication outreach, leveraging the specialized expertise of in-market international agencies in Canada, UK, Brazil, Germany and Colombia
o Implement strategic FAM trips that target reputable and prolific travel journalists from well-known publications in key source markets.
Group Sales, Destination Services, Leisure & Travel Trade Sales
• Increase Sales Efficiencies and Production: Balance leisure and group sales to maximize occupancy and revenue.
o Balance and synergize leisure, business transient and group sales efforts to maximize occupancy and revenue while reducing overall cost
o Utilize sales force as thought leaders to elevate The Palm Beaches Collection brand market presence and drive results
o Secure and expand events that represent the brand and transform the destination during need periods.
o Increase the impact of visitor engagement through the customization of marketing and destination servicing tools.
o Increase room night growth through the emotional connection and authentic experiences while elevating client experience
o Utilize industry and customer partnership to increase revenues and expand brand presence
o Leverage destination enhancing infrastructure outcomes from tourism master plan to strategically market and secure future sales.
• Leisure Sales: Increase domestic and international leisure room nights through targeted trade efforts and marketing campaigns.
o Expand global visitation through leisure trade efforts in a continued collaborative approach with marketing (PR, social, digital)
o Development of secondary domestic markets including Dallas, TX through a combined approach to reach trade, consumer and PR leveraging direct airlift into the destination
o Solidify incentive programs/campaigns with GDS to create awareness and generate room night conversion
o Execute international marketing campaigns to balance domestic seasonality curve
o Amplify international representation firms and leverage capabilities for training’s, education, trade efforts and competitive benchmarking
o Engage domestic representation efforts to maximize leisure demand from targeted travel trade organizations
o Utilize international representation firms’ competencies for education, trade efforts, airlift development and campaigns in Canada, Colombia, Brazil, UK and Germany
o Increase domestic and international marketing impressions to grow room nights and revenue
o Implement strategic airline vacation packages to leverage product placement and training opportunities
• Group Sales: DTPB will attract and secure bookings for large events, meetings, conferences, and group travel within the destination. By building relationships with event planners, corporations, and associations, understanding their needs, and offering tailored solutions that highlight the destination's unique venues, accommodations, and attractions. Group sales efforts aim to increase the destination's visibility in the meetings and events market, drive significant economic impact through large-scale bookings, and contribute to the overall growth of tourism by filling hotel rooms, generating revenue, and boosting local businesses.
o Leverage destination brand and continue to curate passionate local thought leaders and signature experiences into client engagement tradeshows, site inspections and trade missions to differentiate The Palm Beaches as a premier meetings destination.
o Leverage destination enhancing infrastructure as mid-sized convention destination to increase compression and room nights for the Palm Beach County Convention District.
o Embrace Technology Initiatives that include a focus on organizational synergies, industry education, lead generation platforms for new prospecting efforts, bid books and group pace measurements
Finance, HR, and Community Engagement
• Corporate Culture: Implement HR best practices for staff development, retention, and organizational culture enhancement. Initiatives include professional development programs, mentorship, leadership training, wellness initiatives, and work-life balance policies.
• Community Engagement: Highlight the economic benefits of tourism, advocate for sustainable tourism funding, and foster community partnerships to support sustainable tourism development. Enhance the visitor experience through the launching of the Certified Tourism Ambassador Program.
• Financial Sustainability: Maintain financial health by expanding non-contract revenue sources and advocating for the protection of tourism promotion funding.
Business Intelligence, Research, and Destination Development
• Research and Trends: Monitor economic and geopolitical conditions, leverage data to understand travel trends, and use the Destination DemandTM tool to identify need periods to optimize revenue.
• Destination Development: Support the execution of the Tourism Master Plan. Align with city and county visions to identify key development opportunities. Engage stakeholders and residents in the planning process to strengthen relationships and support for tourism.
• Data and Analytics: Enhance data infrastructure to support decision-making and track performance. Develop ROI metrics for marketing campaigns, create communication tools to share key findings with stakeholders, and monitor public sentiment and political conditions relevant to tourism.
Tourism Trends and Performance in The Palm Beaches
Overview
The Palm Beaches continue to demonstrate resilience and growth in the tourism sector, capitalizing on favorable macroeconomic trends and strategic initiatives. Despite a mixed economic environment, including stable inflation and declining travel costs, the destination has managed to sustain its appeal, particularly in the face of leveling domestic demand and robust international interest. As the market navigates through 2024, The Palm Beaches are well-positioned to achieve further growth, bolstered by strong visitor sentiment, strategic feeder market engagement, and a diversified tourism portfolio.
Macro-Economic Trends
The macroeconomic environment has shown stabilization in inflation and a reduction in travel costs, especially in transportation, which has enhanced the overall affordability of travel. While food and beverage prices continue to rise, affecting consumer behavior, the decline in travel costs is likely to support increased travel activity. Additionally, the potential for lower federal interest rates could enhance capital access for infrastructure and tourism projects, further benefiting the sector. However, geopolitical risks and labor shortages remain critical challenges that need to be monitored.
The Palm Beaches Performance and Travel Trends
The Palm Beaches have seen a 2.5% increase in visitation, reaching a record 9.5 million visitors in 2023, driven by a 15% increase in international visits. Domestic visitation has stabilized, reflecting a matured demand, while international markets continue to exhibit strong growth potential. The destination ranks within the second tier of Florida's key destinations, shows strong performance in hotel occupancy and average daily rates, reflecting its premium positioning.
Hotel Performance and Alternative Lodging Trends
Hotel occupancy in The Palm Beaches has remained robust, though slightly below prepandemic levels, due to an 8% increase in room supply since 2019. The alternative lodging sector, including vacation rentals, has seen significant growth, outpacing traditional hotels and contributing to a competitive landscape. The Palm Beaches' strategy of maintaining rate integrity has proven effective in driving revenue, despite a flat demand.
Feeder Market and Segmentation Performance
New York, Miami, and Orlando continue to be top feeder markets, with significant opportunities identified in Texas markets like Dallas and Houston. International markets are showing stronger intent to visit, supported by longer planning windows and stable demand. The Palm Beaches' brand resonates particularly well with segments focused on Spa & Wellness and Culinary experiences, which are key drivers of visitation.
Group, Meetings, Events, and Business Travel
The Palm Beaches have surpassed 2019 levels in group and event travel, although the first half of 2024 saw a slight downturn. The second half of the year is expected to see significant growth, with 2025 pacing well ahead of previous years. Shorter booking windows and a demand for enhanced experiences and sustainability are shaping the future of this segment.
Economic Impact and ROI
Tourism in The Palm Beaches generates over $10 billion in economic impact and supports 85,000 jobs. Despite a leveling off in visitor spending, the region remains a critical economic engine, with DTPB's marketing efforts contributing significantly to hotel room nights sold and bed tax revenues. The long-term outlook is positive, with the potential for significant economic contraction if tourism promotion efforts were to cease.
Outlook and Forecast
The Palm Beaches are projected to maintain stable lodging performance in 2024, with expected revenue growth of 5-6% in 2025. The destination's ability to sustain rate integrity and capitalize on international growth and group travel opportunities will be key to its continued success. The completion and implementation of the forthcoming tourism master plan are expected to drive long-term growth, positioning The Palm Beaches for unprecedented levels of performance in the years ahead.
Conclusion The FY2025 Destination Marketing Plan for The Palm Beaches is a strategic blueprint designed to protect and grow market share, optimize revenue, and ensure sustainable tourism development. Through innovative marketing, targeted sales efforts, robust community engagement, and data-driven decisions, The Palm Beaches are poised for significant long-term success and growth.
Dear Industry Stakeholders,
The Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission (FTC) is a dynamic and multifaceted organization dedicated to promoting The Palm Beaches as a premier global destination for commercial production and business tourism. With 36 years of experience, the FTC facilitates permits, location services and tourismmarketing efforts including programs associated with The Palm Beaches TV (PBTV), the County's official tourism TV channel.
The FTC's mission is to enhance business tourism and enrich the local economy through the entertainment production industry. Efforts have resulted in back-to-back years of record-breaking production spend, with an annual economic impact exceeding $247M in 2023 and totaling over $4B in expenditures into the local economy since 1991. Our office will focus on growing the film and television industry by proactively generating leads to increase on-location production with the goal of converting 70% of our leads into business for the County. Similarly, we’re working to increase hotel room occupancy from production by 15% in FY25.
On behalf of the Tourist Development Council (TDC), the FTC manages Th Palm Beaches TV Channel now broadcasting more than 114 hours of original family-friendly programming. PBTV, which launched in 2017, includes tourism themed 30-minute programs designed to inspire travel, attract new visitors, and extend the length of stays. Shows follow a tiered distribution plan which includes airing on a network before landing on PBTV. The channel, now in 5000 hotel rooms and growing, is an innovative marketing tool that enhances the visitor experience through stories that are unique to the area. Sixty new half-hour programs (30 hours) are slated for the upcoming year, expanding the library of content to 144.5 hours.
Expanding our digital presence on social media, staff will create new social media profiles for PBTV, allowing us to target potential visitors directly through those new accounts. Existing FTC pages will focus on business-to business communications that will effectively promote the entertainment production industry. In addition, plans are underway to rebrand PBTV’s weekly webisodes on YouTube as The Palm Beaches TV Now to more accurately represent the contemporary vision and goal of the series. This year, the FTC will produce 52 carefully curated webisodes that showcase the very best of The Palm Beaches and will be marketed through strategic social media efforts designed to reach targeted domestic and international markets. To date, more than 220 webisodes have been produced in-house, reaching more than two million people.
Central to our marketing efforts lies a steadfast commitment to collaboration. Our team will continue to engage with TDC agencies to further advance the destination and exemplify the brand promise by developing and promoting content that coincides with our partner’s initiatives. An additional avenue to achieve this is through our partnership with South Florida Daily, a lifestyle show now in its second year and reaching more than 900K households in the drive market of Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties. The 30minute show airs daily Monday – Friday and features strategically curated content from PBTV that promotes our partners’ latest marketing efforts. Staff will work with WFLX FOX 29, to produce approximately 260 (130 hours) new episodes.
Our team looks forward to participating in the development of the TDC’s 20-year Tourism Master Plan, exceeding our FY25 Performance Objectives & Performance Measures and producing the 30th anniversary event of The Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films. We are excited to share more details about the FY25 Marketing Plan at the September Board meeting. In the meantime, we thank you for your continued support and leadership.
Sincerely,
Michelle Hillery Film Commissioner
I Do Beach Tennis World Tour
Overview of Event
• Who: Once again, I Do Beach Tennis is back in Palm Beach County and is bringing a new event to Riviera Beach, the I Do Beach Tennis World Tour. Countries from all over the world will be represented in the World Tour and traveling to the Palm Beaches.
• What: A beach tennis event that features men and women of all ages
• When: November 1-10, 2024
• Where: Singer Island Beach, Riviera Beach, FL
• Approximately 700 participants with 90% being outside of the country
• Projected 3,500 room nights
Past Events
• This event will consist of two I Do Beach Tennis events into one long tournament.
• In 2023, I Do Beach Tennis ITF Open Singer Island generated a total of 2,166 room nights and total economic impact of $1,320,329.
• With each tournament, the I Do Beach Tennis events gain huge interest among nations around the world and is a positive impact on Palm Beach County.
Grant Funding
• $35,000 from Category G
• Funds will be allocated to help offset cost of the Sandpit of Riviera Beach
2024 Fizzle Racing Hydrodrags Nationals/World Championships
Overview of Event
Past Events
Sunset Cove Amphitheater
Grant Funding
WELLINGTON
INTERNATIONAL
ECONOMIC IMPACT
OF THE 2024 WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL
“new” money into the county; they reallocate existing funds.
Tourists’
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. The remaining 3,282 email addresses were the portion of the “population” that
E PEN
RES ON HORSES WEF 2024 NONRES EN PAR C PAN S
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; and a residual “other” category, which contained a variety of items,
are called “direct” expenditures in economic impact analysis expansion of “front line” industries such as those providing
o s Created and a or Earnings
This section of the report contains estimates of the “ ” expenditures made by ourist Characteristics
who did not. Those “not paying” for their lodging made
expenditures estimated above as “direct” expenditures “front line”
The “multipliers” that convert direct expenditures by type into total expenditures by type were
“budget hotels” whose nightly rates tend to average around $115.
