2nd quarter 2009           

Expanded Ocean Center gets down to business

The Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association staged its Fire-Rescue East at the Ocean Center earlier this year. The event brought 8,000 delegates to the area with an economic impact of $10 million. The event will return to Ocean Center through 2011.

It was just two months ago when the community celebrated completion of the long awaited expansion of the Ocean Center. But following a hugely successful grand opening comes the task of competing in the very competitive world of meetings, conventions and events.

While it likely will take years to achieve the number of bookings local officials envision, the Ocean Center staff and its partners already have scored some significant new business.

“Our marketing has been efficient and effective and there is growing buzz about our
complex in the industry,” said George Recktenwald, the Ocean Center’s Director. “But with corporate America scaling back on meetings, trade shows and conferences, we have had to pursue every lead with tenacity to win our share of business. We simply cannot let up.”

A good indicator of the appeal of the new Ocean Center is the success of the Varsity Spirit State Cheer & Dance Championships in January, an event formerly held in Jacksonville. It brought in 12,500 competitors and yielded an economic impact
approaching $12 million. The event has been scheduled for 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Another early booking was Fire-Rescue East in January, a convention sponsored by the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association.

This is another event that has been held in Jacksonville in recent years. It brought 8,000 delegates to the area, generating an economic impact of $10 million. This convention is booked at the Ocean Center through 2011.

Other events having been held at the Ocean Center in 2009 include the 33rd International Conference and Exposition on Advanced Ceramics of the American Ceramic Society. The event drew 800 participants who learned about product research and development in advanced ceramics, armor ceramics, solid oxide fuel cells, bioceramics and more. It brought an economic impact of $320,000 and is booked for the Ocean Center through 2012.

Soon after the ceramics conventioneers left, the National Mobility Equipment Dealers
(NMEDA) moved in. This was the organization’s fifth year at the Ocean Center. Its conference drew 2,000 delegates, with an economic impact of $480,000. It is an every-other-year event booked for the Ocean Center through 2013.

In March, H. T. Hackney, which deals in food products for convenience stores, held its sales meeting at the Ocean Center. This is a new client for the Ocean Center and is booked through 2011. Approximately 800 attendees participated, generating economic impact of $480,000.

The following month, the Clinical Virology Symposium was held for 1,100 attendees. This was the second year for the event at the Ocean Center and contract negotiations are under way for the next three years. It generated economic impact of $880,000.
Future bookings are varied and include the School Specialty Exhibition for 750 attendees in November; Joseph Volleyball Academy for 3,000 attendees in 2010 through 2012; Florida Huddle Tourism Sales Conference for 500 attendees in 2011; American Public Works Association for 1,500 attendees in 2012; Coastal & Estuarine
Research Federation for 2,000 attendees in 2011, and Sports Turf Management Association for 1,500 attendees in 2013.

Bookings are pending or in negotiation for many other events, Recktenwald said.

Next up: Quest for Ocean Center convention hotels,
e-zone upgrade

Now that the Ocean Center has been expanded and is competing for bigger and better meetings, conventions and events, the county now is focusing on attracting another business-class convention hotel to the neighborhood. “The Ocean Center’s expansion is one of our most significant accomplishments, and the most eco-friendly,” said Volusia County Chair Frank Bruno. “The expansion makes the Ocean Center the fifth-largest convention, entertainment and sports complex in the state and the only one a few steps from the Atlantic Ocean. It is the culmination of community partnerships and years of research, planning and implementation. But if we expect to be successful in the preferred meetings and conventions market, we are going to need more business class hotels.” Guest room counts vary, but it is safe to say there are at least 15,000 rooms in Volusia County hotel, resorts, motels and inns. But as few as 10 percent of them qualify as business-class accommodations.

Ocean Center “diving board” overlooks prime real estate that could someday be the site of another convention hotel within walking distance of the complex and the ocean.

With many meetings and conventions attracting several thousand attendees, the need for more business class rooms becomes readily apparent.

“It is clear the Ocean Center and the entire area would benefit from new hotels and the kind of environment that draws residents and visitors to the area,” said Daytona Beach Mayor Glenn Ritchey. “We are committed to the notion that status quo no longer is acceptable.”

The Daytona Beach City Commission recently voted to take action to revitalize the entire area near the Ocean Center. The city is searching for an urban design firm to
help develop plans that not only would attract new hotels, restaurants and entertainment establishments, but also would increase the activity among residents and visitors. This will bring a new vitality to the area. It is in keeping with the city’s commitment to the e-zone concept, short for “entertainment zone.”

The plan also would include the creation of pedestrian walkways to connect the Ocean Center area with Main Street, the Daytona Beach Pier, Peabody Auditorium and Daytona Lagoon.

Bruno said he applauds the city’s commitment to make the area adjacent to the Ocean Center more hospitable and attractive to new investment. He added the county is committed to working with the city, the chamber and the private sector to upgrade the area surrounding the Ocean Center.