A Palm Beach institution known for its encyclopedic knowledge of the city’s history has been honored for its contribution to local tourism.
Rick Rose, the bowtie-wearing leader of the Worth Avenue walking tours since 2011, received the prestigious Providencia Award Thursday from Discover The Palm Beaches, the county’s tourism marketing agency.
“For me personally, receiving the Providencia Award is the highest possible recognition of my life’s work,” Rose said Friday.
The announcement was made during Discover The Palm Beaches’ Travel Rally Day celebration Thursday at Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach, where Discover also announced that Palm Beach County charted a record number of visitors for the first quarter of this year, with 2.8 million visitors. In addition to Rose’s award, Discover presented its Partner of the Year Awards to The Ben Hotel and Visit Palm Beach.
Rose was born and raised in Palm Beach County, like his mother, he said. And even though he left the area for about 25 years, “this was always my home.”
Rose has dedicated his entire career to travel and tourism after earning his degree in hospitality from Florida State University. “It honestly puts a crown on my achievements,” he said. “I couldn’t think of any other recognition that would be more heartwarming.”
This is the 32nd year the award has been presented to a local business, organization or individual in recognition of their contributions to Palm Beach County’s tourism industry.
In addition to the Worth Avenue walking tours, Rose wrote “Palm Beach: The Essential Guide to America’s Legendary Resort Town,” and he is co-owner and operator of Palm Beach Vacation Rentals, which has 40 short-term rental properties in Palm Beach County.
Rose was selected from a pool of applicants by a committee of local tourism industry leaders as one of three finalists, with the historian competing against PGA National Resort at Palm Beach Gardens and developer Related Southeast and its CityPlace and Hilton projects in downtown West Palm Beach.
The winner was chosen by popular vote, with votes cast online through the Providencia Award website. Rose said he was grateful to be considered alongside prestigious organizations like Related Southeast and PGA National Resort. “They would have found it very creditable,” he said.
Rose is a valued member of Palm Beach County’s tourism community, said Milton Segarra, president and CEO of Discover The Palm Beaches.
“As a dedicated resident, historian and author who has documented the rich history of ‘America’s First Resort Destination,’ he brings The Palm Beaches to life for visitors and other residents,” Segarra said. “His deep knowledge, distinct Palm Beach style and overall contributions to our organization and to the greater community are invaluable, and we are proud to honor him as a strong tourism ambassador with the Providencia Award.”
Winning the Providencia Award is a full-circle moment for Rose: James Ponce, his mentor and Worth Avenue walking tour pastor, was the last person to receive the award 10 years ago. Since Ponce’s recognition, only organizations or groups have received the Providencia.
“We have an incredible destination here,” Rose said. “Really, to me, it’s not just Palm Beach Island, it’s the entire county.”
This was the second year in a row that the Providencia Award honored a Palm Beach individual or organization. Last year the prize went to The Colony Hotel.
The first Providencia winner was actor Burt Reynolds, who grew up in Palm Beach County and returned to the area in the 1970s, when he settled on a sprawling farm in Jupiter Farms. Throughout his career, Reynolds brought film and television productions to the Palm Beaches.
The award is named after a Spanish ship that sank off the coast of Palm Beach in the 1880s. The ship’s cargo consisted of tens of thousands of Trinidadian coconuts, which the crew managed to land and plant – later inspiring the name ‘Palm Beach’.
Kristina Webb is a reporter for the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at kwebb@pbdailynews.com. Subscribe today to support our journalism.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Rick Rose of Worth Avenue Walking Tours in Palm Beach Wins Award
