The 322-room Plaza Resort & Spa, in Daytona is now actively pursing tour operators and visitors from the United Kingdom.Over the past month, the historic Plaza Resort has hosted nearly a dozen leading tour operators from the United Kingdom as well as tour guests.

The operator tours is the first step of what will become an ongoing effort by resort owner Ocean Waters to attract more visitors from the United Kingdom to the World’s Most Famous Beach.

“We are looking to change the mindset of some operators,” said Tania McCall, Director of Travel Industry Sales for Ocean Waters (formerly Oceans Resorts).

“Daytona is less than 30 minutes from Orlando-Sanford International Airport, where more than 1 million visitors from the UK step off a plane into Florida annually. We’re going to capture more of that market.”

Central Florida has long been a gateway for the key UK market through Orlando-Sanford International Airport and Orlando International Airport.

But many UK tour operators traditionally have pointed travelers only to the theme parks.

Ocean Waters Senior Vice President Doug Kosarek wants these important visitors to know how close they are to being able to stay in an oceanfront suite at the Plaza centrally located within 75 miles of 11 major attractions.

“A family can visit their choice of outstanding venues—including Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Animal Kingdom, MGM Studios, Universal Studios, Sea World, Kennedy Space Center, Daytona Lagoon, NASCAR’s DaytonaUSA, Marineland, and Cypress Gardens, while still waking up every morning to one of the greatest natural attractions ever created ... sunrise on the seashore,” said McCall.

UK visitors are historically loyal to the Central Florida area, McCall noted, frequently returning year after year. Therefore, Daytona Beach is an easy choice. The new Plaza Resort & Spa offers an early glimpse of Daytona’s movement into the luxury market—but one that’s still affordable for families.

Ocean Waters is just completing a US$60 million renovation of the historic Plaza Resort into a 4-star quality hotel condominium. Originally built in 1880, the resort retains its historic charms, but with luxurious new touches.

These include a meticulously renovated new marble lobby overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, a 15,000-square-foot European-styled spa on the first floor, along with a full-service salon and state-of-the-art Fitness Center and inviting new guest rooms with 42-inch flat panel televisions with Extreme TV(TM) cable, high speed internet and voice mail phones, in-room safes, marble countertops, stainless steel refrigerators, and convection microwave ovens.

Casual dining from breakfast through evening supper is available poolside at the Pool Bar & Grill that also serves a colorful array of frozen tropical drinks to stay cool in the hot Florida sun. For gourmet dining, Magnolias restaurant features the perfect blend of Old Florida and nouvelle American cuisine expertly prepared by the hotel’s executive chef.

Ocean Waters is committed to expanding Daytona’s international tourism market. This privately held local firm is the official hotel sponsor of the renowned London Symphony Orchestra, which has been coming to perform in Daytona Beach bi-annually since 1966.
——-