A man known for his encyclopedic knowledge of Palm Beach history is being honored for his contributions to local tourism.
Rick Rose, the bow-tie-wearing leader of 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, receiving the Providencia Award is the highest recognition of my life’s work,” Rose said Friday.
The announcement was made at Discover the Palm Beach’s Travel Rally Day celebration on Thursday at Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach. Discover also announced that Palm Beach County had a record-breaking first quarter of the year, with 2.8 million visitors. In addition to the Rose awards, Discover presented The Ben Hotel and Visit Palm Beach with Partner of the Year awards.
Local historian and author Rick Rose (left) received the Providencia Award from Discover the Palm Beaches, Palm Beach County’s tourism marketing agency, on Thursday. Discover’s president and CEO Milton Segarra (right) praised Rose for his work as a tourism ambassador.
Rose said he, like his mother, was born and raised in Palm Beach County, and although he had been away from the area for about 25 years, “this has always been home to me.”
Rose has dedicated his entire career to the travel and tourism industry since earning a degree in hospitality from Florida State University. “Honestly, this is like the crowning touch to my achievements,” he said. “I can’t think of a more heartwarming recognition.”
Women’s groups attending the 2023 Pink Retreat will be accompanied by local historian Rick Rose on the popular Worth Avenue Walking Tour, exploring the Avenue’s origins, architecture, landmarks and residents.
Now in its 32nd year, the awards recognize local businesses, organizations and individuals for their contributions to Palm Beach County’s tourism industry.
In addition to Worth Avenue walking tours, Rose is the author of “Palm Beach: The Essential Guide to America’s Legendary Resort Town” and 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 for the historian position, which will go head-to-head against PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens and developer Related Southeast and its CityPlace and Hilton projects in downtown West Palm Beach.
The winners were selected through a public vote conducted through the Providencia Awards website. Rose said he was grateful to have been considered for the award alongside such prestigious organizations as Related Southeast and PGA National Resorts. “They were very deserving of the award,” Rose said.
Milton Segarra, president and CEO of Discover the Palm Beaches, said Rose is a respected member of Palm Beach County’s tourism community.
“As a dedicated resident, historian and author who has documented the rich history of ‘America’s First Resort Town,’ he brings Palm Beach to life for visitors and fellow residents,” Segarra said. “His deep knowledge, distinctive Palm Beach style and overall contributions to our organization and the broader community are invaluable, and we are proud to honor him with the Providencia Award as a strong tourism ambassador.”
Receiving the Providencia Award is truly a life-changing moment for Rose. His mentor and predecessor with the Worth Avenue Walking Tours, James Ponce, was the last person to receive the award, 10 years ago. Since Ponce’s award, the Providencia Award has only been given to organizations or groups.
“We have an incredible destination here,” Rose said, “and to me, this isn’t just Palm Beach Island, it’s the whole county.”
This marks the second consecutive year that the Providencia Award has been presented to a Palm Beach-based individual or organization. Last year’s recipient was the Colony Hotel.
The first Providencia Award recipient was actor Burt Reynolds, who grew up in Palm Beach County and returned to the area in the 1970s, settling on his sprawling ranch at Jupiter Farms. Throughout his career, Reynolds brought film and television productions to Palm Beach.
The award is named after a Spanish ship that sank off the coast of Palm Beach in the 1880s, whose cargo included tens of thousands of Trinidadian coconuts, which the crew managed to bring ashore and plant, which later inspired the name “Palm Beach.”
Christina Webb is a reporter for the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. She can be reached at kwebb@pbdailynews.com. Please support our journalism by subscribing now.
This article originally appeared in the Palm Beach Daily News: Rick Rose wins award for Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue Walking Tour
