The Palm Beaches are drawing more Canadian visitors, even as Canadian travel to Florida declines. Canadian visitation to The Palm Beaches rose 1.8 percent in the first half of 2026, while statewide visitation fell 13.9 percent, according to new data from Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB).
In addition, the destination gained even more momentum in the second quarter, when Canadian visitation jumped 12.5 percent while Florida saw a 4.2 percent decline.
The growth comes as The Palm Beaches recorded its strongest first half for visitation, welcoming 6.09 million visitors between January and June, up 6.4 percent year over year.
“Welcoming more than six million visitors in the first half of 2026 is a tremendous milestone and another testament to the enduring strength of The Palm Beaches as ‘Florida’s Most Stylish Vacation Destination’,” said Milton Segarra, President and CEO of DTPB. “We are especially encouraged by the renewed strength of the Canadian market, and the continued growth in key markets like New York, Dallas and Houston, which speak to the destination’s enduring appeal.”
The Palm Beaches See Growth Across Markets
The Canadian market wasn’t the only source of growth. International visitation to Palm Beach County increased 6 percent during the first half of 2026, while domestic visitation rose 8.6 percent.
New York remained the destination’s largest domestic source market, with visitation up 7.1 percent. Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia also posted gains, while Dallas and Houston were among the fastest-growing markets, increasing 23.3 percent and 20.6 percent, respectively.
Internationally, Colombia led growth at 28.6 percent, followed by the U.K. at 21.8 percent and Brazil at 11.8 percent.
Strong Visitor Numbers Boost Hotel Revenue
The increase in visitation also translated into higher lodging revenue. Room night revenue reached $918 million during the first half of 2026, an 11 percent year-over-year increase, while hotels recorded a 77 percent average occupancy rate.
The destination has continued to see growth into the third quarter. According to Discover The Palm Beaches, lodging demand increased 3.6 percent in July and 2.5 percent in August, while room night revenue rose 14 percent and 7 percent, respectively.
September lodging demand is forecast to increase 15 percent, with the Miss America competition in West Palm Beach expected to contribute additional room nights.
For more information, visit thepalmbeaches.com.
