New Commission-Based Program Will Aid Local Tourism Industry and Travel Agent Community 

Editor’s Note: Above destination imagery can be credited to Captain Kimo. Link to additional destination images can be accessed via this link. 


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (OCT. 13, 2020) -- Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB), the official tourism marketing organization for Palm Beach County, launched a new incentive program on Oct. 1 for travel agencies and agents that secure business to the destination. In partnership with Travelport, a global distribution system (GDS) travel technology company, the initiative targets agents based in Florida and the neighboring states of Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas. Agencies and agents who utilize Travelport reservation systems will automatically be eligible to receive an additional 3 percent commission when booking business to Palm Beach County hotels.

The booking window through Travelport’s GDS is now through Nov. 30, 2020, for travel redemption through April 15, 2021. According to Travelport, DTPB is the first partner destination marketing organization (DMO) to provide such a substantial commission-based incentive in the U.S.

“We are thrilled to have launched this commission-based incentive program with The Palm Beaches,” said Travelport’s Anna Au-Yeung, global head of destination marketing. “Our long-standing partnership with the largest county southeast of the Mississippi River makes the destination an ideal target for us to help drive tourism. We expect this unique offering will have a positive impact on hotels located within Palm Beach County and aid the many agents using Travelport to service their travelers.”

The purpose of the program is three-fold: 

  • Increase exposure of The Palm Beaches with those actively seeking to travel to or within The Sunshine State
  • Further generate short-term and long-term bookings to The Palm Beaches -           Thank the travel agent community for their continued support

Added Erick Garnica, DTPB’s senior director of leisure travel industry sales: “This exciting GDS partnership will elevate the destination’s visibility more than in years past. It will drive continued business to area hotels, boost the local economy and serve as a way to show appreciation to our valued travel consultants working especially hard during these challenging times.” 

According to MMGY Global’s 2019 Portrait of the American Traveler, 24 percent of travelers interested in The Palm Beaches used a travel agent for their bookings. With an inventory of more than 17,000 hotel rooms and an increase in consumer confidence, this partnership poses an advantageous opportunity for local hoteliers in Palm Beach County.  

DTPB serves as the tourism arm for all 39 cities and towns that collectively make up Palm Beach County. Key cities and towns include Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Singer Island and Riviera Beach, Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton.
 

About Discover The Palm Beaches

Discover The Palm Beaches, formerly the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau, is the official 501(c)(6) not-for-profit, accredited tourism marketing organization that promotes the collection of 39 cities and towns commonly referred to as “The Palm Beaches,” which spans more than 2,300 square miles and 47 miles of pristine, golden beaches from Highland Beach and Boca Raton to Jupiter and Tequesta. Tourism is among Palm Beach County’s major industries, generating $5.06 billion in direct visitor spending and supporting 70,000 jobs with an economic impact of more than $7.7 billion. Once recognized as a tropical escape for elite travelers in the late 1800s, America’s First Resort Destination® is making its resurgence as The Best Way To Experience Florida®, welcoming a record-breaking 8.22 million people in 2019. The Palm Beaches are home to more than 17,000 hotel rooms, ranging from historic resorts to boutique inns. The destination features more than 100 family-friendly attractions, world-class luxury and antique shopping experiences, 125 miles of peaceful waterways for on- or in-the-water activities, 160 artificial reefs that line the Atlantic Ocean’s Gulf Stream current, 160 golf courses, award-winning restaurants and a thriving entertainment scene boasting more than 200 art and culture organizations.

Situated along I-95, The Palm Beaches are also home to Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), with more than

200 daily direct flights to 27 domestic and international destinations in the United States and Canada. The Palm Beaches are also conveniently located next to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Miami International airports, each one only an hour away.

For more information about The Palm Beaches, visit www.ThePalmBeaches.com and connect on social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PalmBeachesFL, YouTube at Discover The Palm Beaches and the hashtag #ThePalmBeaches. Tune-in to The Palm Beaches TV for 24/7 streaming content of the destination’s hotels, attractions, restaurants and experiences. 
 

Media Contact:

Discover The Palm Beaches’ Public Relations Team:
PR@ThePalmBeaches.com