A year after Volusia County’s tourism industry took its most devastating hit from the coronavirus pandemic, visitors are flocking again to the World’s Most Famous Beach.
Motivated by the availability of vaccines and stimulus money, as well as raging cases of cabin fever, they have converged in recent weeks on hotel lobbies and beaches, a welcome scene reminiscent of bygone “normal” times.
Yet the pandemic still lingers with case numbers rising in recent weeks and new unpredictable variants in the mix. And its impact is expected to have long-lasting effects on the hotel industry here and nationwide, resulting in new ways to do business that could last even after COVID’s threat has passed.
DAYTONA BEACH On the sidewalks, in the hotels, restaurants and grocery stores, the cheerleaders are seemingly everywhere this week at the World’s Most Famous Beach.
Thousands of students on cheerleading teams and dance units representing roughly 140 colleges and universities nationwide are in Daytona Beach to compete in the College Cheer and Dance National Championship sponsored by the National Cheerleaders Association and the National Dance Alliance.
The five-day event runs through Sunday at the Daytona Beach Bandshell and the Ocean Center.
It’s a milestone edition of the long-running competition, which is marking both the 40th anniversary of the event itself and its 25th year in Daytona Beach.
When the bikers arrive, however, they will find reminders that the pandemic is still a reality.
What are COVID restrictions during Daytona Bike Week?
At the event’s traditional hub on Main Street in Daytona Beach, indoor capacity at many familiar watering holes will be capped at 60%, although there will be music blaring from outdoor stages and the usual array of outdoor vendors selling everything from T-shirts to grilled turkey legs to ice-cold beers.
In January, the Daytona Beach City Commission voted to issue the permits that allow businesses to temporarily present outside activities during the event that runs Friday through March 14. In exchange, those bars, restaurants and shops must agree to limit indoor occupancy to 60% during the event.
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