21 Feb 2018
London, United Kingdom — The Palm Beaches of South Florida continues to expand upon its variety of world-class experiences. With something for everyone, this slice of paradise invites visitors to come discover what's new, from new hotel openings, to inland wave parks, to a lavish restaurant opening by Michael Jordan. Through an array of diverse tourism offerings, The Palm Beaches continues to prove that this destination is “The Best Way to Experience Florida.” Conveniently located between Miami and Orlando, America's First Resort Destination is a collection of 39 diverse cities and towns that spans more than 2,300 square miles and stretches across 47 miles of pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches, from Boca Raton to Jupiter and Tequesta. Visitors can savour flavours of the farmland and freshly-caught seafood from the Atlantic coast; indulge in shopping at traditional malls or along historically charming avenues; unwind at any of the many sporting events ranging from golf and polo to baseball and croquet; and enjoy more than 200 cultural and family-friendly attractions.
The Palm Beaches is accessible through three major airports, including Palm Beach International Airport (PBIA), Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL). Direct flights are available through British Airways, Finnair, American Airlines, Iberia and Virgin Atlantic, and all leave from Heathrow airport.
U.K. visitors remain one of the destination's primary visitors outside of the United States, with 38,500 visitors in 2016 generating 93,880 room nights. In the first half of this year, The Palm Beaches welcomed a total of 18,200 visitors, selling a total of 34,188 hotel rooms. U.K. Visitors can escape the weary, windy winter for lush green landscapes, expansive beaches and one-of-a-kind experiences in The Palm Beaches
TRANSPORTATION
Brightline
Brightline, an express inter-city passenger rail service, launched the first stage of its express service between West Palm Beach and For Lauderdale this January. The highly- anticipated train connects West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale in 30 minutes and to Miami in about 60 minutes. Phase Two of Brightline will connect West Palm Beach directly to the Orlando International Airport in just two hours. Brightline recently took delivery of its fifth trainset, BrightRed, from Siemens USA in Sacramento. The trainsets are among the most innovative in the world and were manufactured in America, offering guests spacious seating, wide aisles, free Wi-Fi and food and beverage service.
NEW HOTEL OPENINGS & RENOVATIONS
Hotel Expansions
In 2018, a new Residence Inn Palm Beach Gardens will bring in 122 new rooms, Fairfield Inn West Palm Beach is expected to bring in 125 rooms to the booming area, and there will be 97 new rooms from the Springhill Suites Downtown West Palm Beach.
West Palm Beach is set to become home to one of eight new Canopy by Hilton Hotels in late 2018.Ground was broken in October 2017. The brand's concept is touted as an energised and natural extension of its neighbourhood, with local design, food and drink, and culture. The 150-room, 14-story hotel will be built two blocks from CityPlace.
The Spa at PGA National Resort & Spa
The Spa at PGA National Resort & Spa has evolved with a major facelift. Changes to the
40,000-square-foot European-themed facility include the addition of a new bamboo massage treatment, more luxury spa retail items, enhanced gourmet spa cuisine options at the poolside Café, and a beautiful new avant-garde design of the entire ladies' lounge.
Boca Raton Mandarin Oriental
The Boca Raton Mandarin Oriental is set to debut in Downtown Boca Raton in 2020. The 118-room property will include two adjacent towers that will form part of an upscale mixed-use development. The property will feature 65,000 square feet of luxury lifestyle retail, as well as a world-class private club, which will offer social, fitness, spa and championship golf amenities. It will also offer extensive banqueting and meeting space, including an expansive 4,500 square-foot ballroom and a variety of adaptable conference rooms. This will be Mandarin Oriental's second property in Florida
RESTAURANT & BREWERY UPDATE
1000 North
In February 2018, highly-anticipated restaurant and private club 1000 NORTH opened. The development is the collaboration of some of the biggest names in sports, top wine experts, and the region's leading developers. Investors include Michael Jordan, Ernie Els, and Rickie Fowler, just to name a few. 1000 NORTH will offer modern, American regional cuisine with impeccable service. The first floor of the 340-seat restaurant will have an indoor and outdoor bar, and will be open to the public, while the 1,500 square- foot second floor will be dedicated to members and their guests only. The second floor will have a 450-square-foot outdoor patio for food and beverages. Membership for the upper level club will cost $2500 a year, and there will be a limit of approximately 250 members.
The Warehouse District
A new food and drink-centric district is coming to West Palm Beach later this year. The Warehouse District, an eclectic urban neighbourhood comprised of eight vintage-style buildings, is experiencing a transformation spearheaded by local food and beverage vendors, artists, fitness enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. The 85,000-square-foot district is located southwest of the Palm Beach County Convention Center near Downtown West Palm Beach.
ATTRACTIONS
Norton Museum of Art
The Norton Museum of Art, a cultural icon in the destination since its founding in 1941, is set to debut its new transformation in 2018. The expansion and renovation, which began in February 2016, will further serve visitors by enhancing its 6.3-acre campus with an additional 12,000 square feet of gallery space for exhibitions, an education centre with two new classrooms and student gallery, a 210-seat, state-of-the-art auditorium, an adjoining 9,000 square foot sculpture garden, a 4,000 square foot soaring Great Hall, a versatile dining pavilion with garden terrace, and six restored historic houses to accommodate an artists-in-residence program and the Director's home
Inland Wave Park
Construction is expected to begin in Jupiter Farms for an inland wave park planned by surf icon Kelly Slater and billionaire Dirk Ziff. The park will be built on 80 acres, along Jupiter's Beeline Highway in northwestern Palm Beach County. The project calls for a
2,000-foot-long artificial lake in Jupiter Farms, which will generate man-made waves
perfect for hanging 10. The park would also be home to a surf school, and would host world surfing competitions that would draw an estimated 83,000 guests annually. Slater has already built one wave park in rural California.
-Ends-
About Discover The Palm Beaches:
Discover The Palm Beaches, formerly the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau, is the official tourism marketing corporation that promotes the collection of 39 cities and towns spanning more than 2,300 square miles and 47 miles of pristine beaches from Boca Raton to Jupiter and Tequesta, commonly referred to as “The Palm Beaches.” Tourism is among Palm Beach County's major industries, generating $4.6 billion in direct visitor spending and supporting 70,000 jobs with an economic impact of about $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 7.89 million people in 2017. The Palm Beaches are home to nearly 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, more than 150 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. In addition, with the new Brightline train, transportation into The Palm Beaches from Fort Lauderdale is even faster and more convenient – with connections to Miami and Orlando coming soon. 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.
Editor's Note: For downloadable high-res images and videos, please visit:
http://barberstock.com/thepalmbeaches
Discover America's first resort destination in all its glory through our inspirational video: youtu.be/a486mfW6PUE
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Lara Ballard
PR Account Manager
Email: LaraB@hillsbalfour.com
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Angharad Jenkins
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