Tourist Development Taxes (TDT)
How visitor dollars strengthen Palm Beach County’s cultural destination
Tourist Development Taxes (TDT)—often called “bed taxes”—are a 6% tax paid by visitors staying in hotels and other short-term lodgings in Palm Beach County. These locally generated dollars are reinvested to support tourism infrastructure, protect the coastline, and promote the experiences that inspire travel to The Palm Beaches—including arts and culture.
Each percentage point of the 6%—often referred to as a “penny”—is strategically allocated to destination development, marketing, and long-term investments that strengthen Palm Beach County as a competitive, year-round tourism destination.
Why the 6% TDT matters
Because TDT is paid by visitors, it provides a sustainable way to reinvest tourism revenue directly back into the community. These funds help Palm Beach County:
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Attract national and international visitors
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Support major venues and tourism-driving events
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Protect 47 miles of coastline
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Promote arts, culture, sports, and film as key travel motivators
Tourism guided by a long-term vision
Palm Beach County’s tourism investments are guided by a Tourism Master Plan that outlines a shared vision for strengthening The Palm Beaches as a premier destination. The plan focuses on enhancing the visitor experience, supporting sustainable economic growth, and investing in the unique assets that define the destination.
The Cultural Council advances this vision by promoting arts and culture as a defining part of The Palm Beaches experience, connecting visitors with authentic creative experiences, and supporting the cultural organizations and Palm Beach County-based professional artists that make Florida’s Cultural Capital® unique.
The Cultural Council’s role
Since 1982, the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County has played a central role in stewarding Tourist Development Taxes to help grow Florida’s Cultural Capital®. The Council is contracted by Palm Beach County’s Tourism Development Council (TDC) to administer the portion of TDT dedicated to cultural tourism.
How we use our portion
The Cultural Council reinvests its share of TDT funding to build and support Palm Beach County as a cultural destination by:
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Administering cultural tourism grant programs that fund marketing and eligible program expenses for high-quality performances, exhibitions, and events
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Leading cultural tourism marketing, public relations, and destination development efforts that position arts and culture as reasons to visit
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Creating programs that support artists as tourism ambassadors, elevating local creatives as storytellers and representatives of Palm Beach County’s cultural identity
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Supporting year-round cultural experiences that drive visitation while strengthening the local cultural sector
Our tourism partners
Tourist Development Taxes are strategically invested across county agencies that work together to promote Palm Beach County as a destination. In addition to the Cultural Council, key partner agencies include:
Cultural tourism as destination development
Arts and culture are powerful economic drivers. By investing a portion of the 6% TDT in cultural tourism, Palm Beach County strengthens its identity as a destination—enhancing the visitor experience while supporting artists, cultural organizations, and local communities.