Photo: Courtesy of DTP
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (January xx, 2021) – As thousands of attendees across the globe connected for an omnichannel PCMA Convening Leaders experience, 50 guests came together in person at a live event hosted by Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB), in conjunction with the GBAC STARTM Accredited Palm Beach County Convention Center/Spectra Venue Management, and the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County. The event was an opportunity for meeting planners participating in PCMA Convening Leaders to see first-hand the community-centered approach that is incorporated into events in The Palm Beaches, which prioritizes the health, safety, and wellness of attendees, both physically and mentally, as well as the wellness of the whole community and environment. The event demonstrated the unique features and products that make The Palm Beaches distinct and meetings-ready.
“We’re proud to have hosted this event safely, as an Official Network Partner of PCMA Convening Leaders 2021, and with the collaboration of our community,” commented Kelly Cavers, Senior Vice President, Group Sales, and Destination Services. “We’re leading the way in supporting the return of live events in The Palm Beaches, and this event showcased how we are able to ‘flip the script’ on how people are thinking about meeting face-to-face. We can host safe events without them feeling sterile or boring, or like you’ve spent the whole day watching a screen. With our talented community partners, we showed how we can still wow attendees with custom, local in-person experiences, all within safety guidelines.”
Starting with the newly implemented procedures for health and safety, through the interactive cultural and culinary experiences for mental and emotional wellbeing, sustainable details that highlighted environmental wellness, and an opportunity to participate in community give-back programs with Gift of Life and Place of Hope, this event encompassed the community-forward approach taken by DTPBs’ Destination Sales & Services team through the entire planning process.
Detailed communications were sent ahead of the event, explaining the safety precautions implemented onsite, to ensure the comfort and confidence of all attendees. DTPB partnered with SafeExpo on pre-entry health screenings, providing a digital questionnaire, verified by the company, as well as touchless temperature checks upon arrival. In lieu of paper wristbands, attendees received red Kabbalah bracelets to wear, as a symbol to keep a 6-foot distance between others, but also as a nod to positive energy and wellbeing.
Guests were welcomed with Instagram-worthy photo opportunities representing The Palm Beaches and met outside of the Grand Ballroom with an array of community partners, including a produced-on-site art installation from local artist Greg Dirr (in partnership with the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County), who created a piece representative of the ecosystems found in Palm Beach County, using recycled materials. There was also an opportunity to join the Gift of Life’s marrow registry and give back to Place of Hope, supporting the wellness of the larger community.
As part of its PCMA partnership, DTPB hosted Camilla Webster, a local fine artist, and best-selling author, as a speaker at the hybrid event where she presented “The Art of the Pivot”. Webster guided participants through pivoting in the creative process to uncover creative solutions for any challenge. Her artwork was also showcased at the convention center.
Accompanying Webster’s display, the food and beverage offerings were individually packaged and focused on local options. Oceana Coffee, founded in Jupiter, had an on-request coffee and espresso bar in an outfitted VW van, and attendees were treated to individually packaged homemade juices and breakfast trail mix, made-to-order gourmet boxed lunches, bite-size desserts by Cakes, Etc., and afternoon packaged charcuterie boards by Trindy Gourmet, both based in West Palm Beach.
With single-seat cocktail tables and spaced-out lounge seating was provided by Deco Productions, and set throughout the convention center’s spacious halls, as well as on the outdoor terrace, guests were able to eat, network, and enjoy getting to know community partners, while maintaining a comfortable social distance. In the meeting room, individually set tables also provided attendees space, as well as everything needed for the meeting – including a wellness kit of a mask and hand sanitizer, provided in sustainable packaging from local company Tellus Products. Encore (formerly PSAV) provided technology support for the event, which included touchless solutions for asking questions during the day’s presentations, from their physically distanced locations.
The Palm Beaches commitment to health, safety, and wellness was highlighted in large part through an online auction where 100 percent of the proceeds were awarded to local organization Place of Hope, South Florida’s largest and most comprehensive children and families organization, which provides housing and support services for those who have suffered abuse, neglect, abandonment and human trafficking. The auction raised almost $6,000 for the organization, and bidders took home prizes that represented The Palm Beaches, from gift baskets and golfing kits to hotel stays and sporting experiences, generously donated by properties like the Boca Raton Resort & Club, Hilton West Palm Beach, The Ben West Palm, and the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. The auction’s top prize was a one-of-a-kind piece of art donated by the day’s headline speaker, Camilla Webster.
The Palm Beaches’ offer diversity without density amid an array of meeting spaces for all tastes and budgets, ranging from the 350,000-square-foot, GBAC STARTM Accredited Convention Center in downtown West Palm Beach, with its attached hotel and more than 1,200 rooms within walking distance, to historic landmark hotels and more than 200 cultural institutions that have earned it the moniker of Florida’s Cultural Capital®, and local community partners that can bring The Palm Beaches into any event were all on display.
Meeting planners can have it all in The Palm Beaches – a safe, innovative, and inspiring meeting, and it does not have to come with a hefty price tag. In partnership with the PBCCC, DTPB is offering planners the opportunity to build the perfect event according to their event requirements and budget. A la carte promotional offerings for technology, meeting space, outdoor receptions, and transportation, including credits of up to $25,000 for a reception, are available for qualified meetings and events. Bring The Palm Beaches into your event like never before. Contact your Sales Director for more information at https://www.thepalmbeaches.com/meetings/the-sales-team or submit an RFP directly at https://www.thepalmbeaches.com/meetings-conventions-rfp.
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:
Lindsey Wiegmann
Director, Public Relations and Social Media
Discover The Palm Beaches
[email protected]
Office: 561-233-3030
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