More than just the “World’s Most Famous Beach,” Daytona Beach is a premiere year-round meeting destination that seamlessly blends business and leisure, says Linda McMahon, director of sales for Daytona Beach Area CVB. “Boasting 230 days of sunshine annually, 23 miles of iconic white-sand beaches, and first-rate accommodations and attractions, Daytona Beach has everything needed to host unforgettable meetings and events in a fun, productive environment.”
McMahon says there are several new or recently opened hotels, attractions, and venues in the area.
“Opening soon, Daytona Aquarium & Rainforest Adventure is the destination’s first aquarium offering an interactive educational experience, with close to 40 tanks, including a shark tank and stingray touch pool,” she says. “In downtown, the mile-long Riverfront Esplanade is a new premiere gathering space and botanical garden overlooking the water.”
Opening in mid-2024, the 190-room Renaissance by Marriott Daytona Beach Oceanfront will feature an oceanfront ballroom and 8,300 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. Also scheduled to open this year, the fully renovated 323-room Plaza Resort & Spa will have 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space. Two other newer hotels include the 12-story Max Beach Resort, with one- to three-bedroom suites and an event terrace; and the 435-room Daytona Grande Oceanfront Hotel, with 12,000 square feet of event space.
Other larger event hotels include the 200-room Hard Rock Daytona Beach, with 20,000 square feet of event space, including an 8,300-square-foot terrace; the 212-room The Shores Resort & Spa, with 16,200 square feet of function space; and the 110-room El Caribe Resort & Conference Center, with 12,000 square feet of event space and a beachfront lawn.
Just 400 feet from the Atlantic Ocean, the Ocean Center has 205,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space with 32,000 square feet of meeting rooms, a 93,000-square-foot exhibit hall, and a 1,540-person capacity ballroom. Across the street, the 744-room Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort has 60,000 square feet of event space and is connected to dining and entertainment options at Ocean Walk Shoppes.
The NASCAR Racing Experience at Daytona International Speedway, where guests can ride or drive a stock car around the storied 2.5-mile track, is a popular teambuilding experience. Other group adventures include sunsets and sightseeing cruises. Home to the Daytona 500 since 1959, the speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility with 120,000 square feet of function space, 75 luxury suites, and multiple meeting and event rooms. Directly across from the speedway, One Daytona is a shopping, dining, and entertainment destination. The Daytona, an Autograph Collection hotel, has 144 guest rooms and indoor and outdoor event space to host 225 reception guests.
Offsite event spaces include the Museum of Arts & Sciences, which can host 420 people theater style; Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, with a main hall that seats 216 for banquets; the 2,545-seat Peabody Auditorium; and the historic Daytona Beach Bandshell, an open-air venue that can host 5,000 guests.
