WEST PALM BEACH, FLA., Sept. 06, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With transportation services, hotels, meetings facilities and attractions back in business following Hurricane Dorian, The Palm Beaches are ready to welcome meetings and conventions to the destination. Moreover, as the closest U.S. mainland county to Grand Bahamas and the Abaco Islands, The Palm Beaches are also shifting their efforts toward providing aid to those directly affected by the storm.
Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB), the official tourism marketing corporation for Palm Beach County, is supporting community initiatives and encouraging the industry as well as staff members to contribute volunteer hours. Additionally, DTPB has created an online resource with information on the various ways local companies are getting involved, and how those interested in donating their time or money can participate: www.ThePalmBeaches.com/Blogs/Bahamas-Relief-Efforts.
Businesses throughout The Palm Beaches are joining forces with organizations such as United Way, the Eagles Wings Foundation and Neighbors 4 Neighbors to donate supplies and funds to the affected Bahamian islands. Multiple locations to collect items such as water, non-perishable food, medical kits and generators have been activated throughout the community.
The Port of Palm Beach-based Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line also is embarking on a humanitarian cruise to deliver supplies as well as transport Bahamian residents who were stranded in South Florida, due to Hurricane Dorian, home.
“We are extremely thankful and fortunate to have seen minimal impact as a result of Hurricane Dorian earlier this week, and the outpouring of support for our close neighbors in Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands has been immediate and overwhelming,” said Jorge Pesquera, President and CEO of Discover The Palm Beaches. “Discover The Palm Beaches will be partnering with various local and national organizations in support of relief efforts over the next weeks and months.”
In addition to aiding the Bahamas, efforts are underway to clean up trash and debris that washed up on Florida’s east coast during the storm. Palm Beach County’s Emergency Resources Management will host and assist with beach cleanups at multiple parks throughout the destination.
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 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 Boca Raton to Jupiter and Tequesta. Tourism is among Palm Beach County’s major industries, generating $4.8 billion in direct visitor spending and supporting 70,000 jobs with an economic impact of more than $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 8.02 million people in 2018. 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. In addition, with the Virgin Trains USA (formerly known as Brightline), transportation into The Palm Beaches from Fort Lauderdale and Miami is even faster and more convenient – with an additional connection to 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. Tune-in to The Palm Beaches TV for 24/7 streaming content of the destination’s hotels, attractions, restaurants and experiences.