Daytona Beach: A break in its image?

Tourism officials in Daytona Beach are hoping tour operators and travel agents will help amend its spring break image, says Susan McLain, director of public relations for the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We’re a little bit unusual for a cvb in that we have two web sites. One is for the consumer where they can book hotels and find out what’s happening. The other is for travel agents and tour operators for business-to-business bookings,” she said. The recently launched business web site has information specifically tailored to agents and operators. It not only has rates, but also lists specific itineraries for groups and others staying for various amounts of time. Daytona Beach has long been famous for its auto racing and its beaches. The area was once called “The World’s Most Famous Beach,” and had 23 miles of driveable beach. That area has shrunk to 11 miles as some areas banned driving. But Ms McLain says the cvb’s recent efforts have been to “move away from the spring break, fast car destination.” “We have a lot more things going on that we’re hoping tour operators and others will see. You don’t think of golf in Daytona Beach, but we have two dozen golf courses within a half hour’s drive of the beach,” she said. “There are a lot of things you don’t expect Daytona Beach to have. We have professional theatre with the Seaside Music Theatre. It’s the only theatre in the southeast that operates with a full pit orchestra,” she added. Though most of its tourists are drive-ins, Daytona’s biggest international market is Canada, followed by the UK. –Report by David Wilkening–