De l t o n a – Da y t o n a B each – O r m o n d B each
National TV exposure boosts business for local hotel
• The Dream Inn in Daytona Beach Shores was the subject of the Aug. 6 finale of the Travel Channel’s “Hotel Impossible.”
• The show follows hotel-fixer Anthony Melchiorri and a crew of cleaning personnel as they restore and renovate struggling hotels. The show performed at least $25,000 in upgrades to his hotel to make the outdated facilities more competitive. • Business has been way up since the show aired. Occupancy was up nearly 50 percent in September, and it stayed strong through October.
Source: Daytona Beach News Journal, November 27, 2012
Special events give area hotels a welcome boost
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Wings and Waves Air Show in Daytona Beach (Oct. 13-14) and the annual Biketoberfest (Oct. 1821) both helped spur the increase in occupancy rates for Volusia County hotels, according to the latest occupancy report. • The average daily room rental rate for hotels in the county rose to $99.61, a 7 percent increase over the $92.72 average daily rate in October 2011. • Last month marked the seventh time in the last ten months that hotel occupancy rates in Volusia County have been higher than they were the corresponding month last year. The only exceptions came in May and July, when occupancies were down. Occupancies in June held steady compared with last year.
Source: Daytona Beach News Journal, November 26, 2012
8 years in the making, shopping center in Port Orange finally getting built
• Sooner Investment and Collett and Associates are partners in developing the 162,000-squarefoot Altamira Village shopping center. The partnership is called Four Lanes LLC.
30
Florida & Metro Forecast - December 2012
• Developers began acquiring the land for the proposed the 33-acre shopping center eight years ago, but the city did not approve the project’s site plan until this past January.
• Construction delays cost the developers two possible tenants: department store chains Bealls and Kohl’s. The latter decided to build its Port Orange store in 2008 on the other side of the I-95 at Westport Square shopping center. Source: Daytona Beach News Journal, November 21, 2012
Holiday in the Hammock - Merchants hope event will draw local shoppers • Members of the newly formed Hammock Business Association are setting their sights on promoting the area’s first Holiday in the Hammock arts and gallery tour.
• The Dec. 1 event is intended to herald the holidays by showcasing the work of local artists and promoting the many businesses nestled throughout the Hammock on the easternmost side of the county.
• Ten businesses, including five art galleries or studios, will participate in the tour. Other local artists have been invited to exhibit their work as well. All of the artists will pay a fee to be part of Holiday in the Hammock and proceeds will benefit the Flagler Beach Rotary Club’s Project Share program, which helps make Christmas dreams come true for local children in need. Source: Daytona Beach News Journal, November 21, 2012