Volusia Tourism Leaders Gather At Hard Rock To Note Record-Breaking Tourism

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Daytona Beach, FL - Leaders in the Volusia County tourism industry gathered at the new Hard Rock Hotel in Daytona Wednesday to celebrate a record-breaking $6.09 billion spent by overnight visitors in Volusia County last year. The industry leaders came together at the Hard Rock, located at 918 N. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona, for an event featuring speakers representing three tourism bureaus (Lori Campbell Baker with the Daytona Beach Visitors Bureau, Debbie Meihls with New Smyrna Beach, and Georgia Turner with West Volusia). Rick Karl with Daytona Beach International Airport, Tim Riddle with the Ocean Center, and Evelyn Fine with Mid-Florida Marketing and Research all spoke at the event sponsored by the Lodging & Hospitality Association of Volusia County. “In 2017, visitors spent just over $6 billion dollars in Volusia County in local businesses that employ more than 55,000 people. Tourism is a vital part of our economy and we are very excited about everything that is happening in our market,” said Baker. The Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau says that in 2017, a total of 10 million visitors came to Volusia County, half of which stayed in hotels and motels, and half with friends and family. That number represents a 2% increase from the year before. Tourism generated an estimated 55,200 jobs overall with a $734 million payroll that grew by 33%. The lodging industry generated 3,450 jobs in Volusia County representing a $75 million payroll and a 34% increase. Residents are encouraged to go to DaytonaBeach.com/Tourism-Week to complete the Beaureu's online “Tourism Trivia Challenge” before May 31 for a shot at winning a two-night “Staycation” at the new Fairfield Inn & Suites Daytona Beach along with a gift basket from ONE DAYTONA, a $25 Tanger Outlet gift certificate, and passes to a Daytona Beach Symphony Society performance, Museum of Arts & Sciences, Cici & Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, Marine Science Center, and Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum. Pictured in featured photo: (from left)  Lori Campbell Baker, Daytona Beach Area CVB executive director; Georgia Turner, executive director of West Volusia Advertising Authority; Bob Davis, LHA president; Debbie Meihls, executive director of Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority; and John Betros, LHA chairman and general manager of Daytona Beach Regency. Photo courtesy Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2018.