From the desk of Palm Beach County Commissioner Steven L. Abrams

With over 4 million visitors a year, Palm Beach County is considered a world-class destination spot for tourists.  The economic impact is over $2.5 billion, and the leisure and hospitality industry is the 4^th largest employer in the county, providing approximately 13% or 69,000 jobs countywide. In 2010, over 1200 more jobs were added as a result of industry growth. 

The Board of County Commissioners remains committed to expanding, growing and creating new jobs, and works closely with the county’s Tourist Development Council (TDC) to accomplish these goals.  Reports indicate that for every 85 visitors, a job is created and every dollar invested in marketing tourism brings in $9 in tourism-related revenues. 

The TDC oversees four private non-profit agencies that promote tourism by using bed-tax dollars paid on rental accommodations of six months or less.  The four agencies are the Cultural Council, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sports Commission and the Film and Television Commission. 

In conjunction with these agencies, the TDC has developed some innovative approaches in their marketing campaign to include a new interactive website, hotel packages with extended stays discounts, and hotel rebates for groups.  Out-of-county marketing to cultural organizations and historic and eco-tourism markets using increased traditional print and electronic media has been very successful.

With 47 miles of pristine beachfront property, first-class golf courses, 139 hotels, including a multitude of five- and four-star resorts, restaurants and so much more, their ongoing mission is to maximize this economic engine. 

As your county commissioner, I remain committed to working with these agencies in support of their efforts in expanding the existing tourism market that benefits local businesses such as hotels, restaurants and retailers while creating new jobs. 

Please contact me if I can be of assistance or if you have any comments and/or suggestions.  I can be contacted at sabrams@pbcgov.org or at my office at 561-355-2204 (West Palm Beach) or 561-276-1220 (Delray Beach). 

Also, please visit my website at http://www.pbcgov.com/countycommissioners/district4/ for updates and links to county departments and other governmental agencies.    

BTW…did you know that Palm Beach is believed to have received its name as a result of an attempt by the survivors of the “Providencia” shipwreck in 1878 to plant the fruit of their cargo, the coconut?  These early settlers introduced this non-native crop to the shores of South Florida with the hopes of launching a commercial coconut industry. The crop took so well that the small island quickly became covered in exotic palm trees. It was railroad tycoon Henry Flagler who, in 1894, began buying acres of land on the beautiful island and initiated the growth of Palm Beach. This premier developer built the two famed luxury hotels, the Royal Poinciana and the Breakers.