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Tourism up in South Florida after hurricanes

Posted at 7:19 PM, Nov 13, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-14 04:33:17-05

The concierge team at the Boca Raton Resort and Club was busy finalizing Monday's guest list. 

"We have seen an accelerated booking pace. We have seen more demand for the season than we have seen for a long time," said resort president John Tolbert.

Other hotels are also seeing an increase in visitors. 

Natalie Le Clerc, the general manager of The Chesterfield Hotel Palm Beach said, "In October it was about 20 percent and November is performing just the same."

After hurricanes struck the Caribbean islands, tourists made alternate vacation plans ... their new destination South Florida.

Hotels are increasing staff and services.

"We have 20 of 100 rooms that were eligible for our concierge and butler service, we have have expanded that to the entire building," Tolbert said.

Even in the midst of an increase in tourism dollars, it's also a time to give back and help those devastated by the storms. Le Clerc said her company is helping.  "The parent company has contributed over $20,000 to recovery victims and relief efforts." 

Tolbert said, "We created a charity through members of ours and guests called Stronger Better Together, so we are supporting those islands."

Boca Raton Resort And Club
A Waldorf Astoria Resort
501 East Camino Real, Boca Raton

The Chesterfield Hotel, Palm Beach
363 Cocoanut Row
The hotel is part of Red Carnation Hotels, a luxury collection of boutique hotels in London, Dorset, Guernsey, Ireland, Geneva and South Africa.