DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Daytona Beach Ocean Center is expecting some 12,500 youth visitors over the next three weeks, the county government announced last week. The huge influx of attendees are in line with multiple different summer camps being held at the Ocean Center.
“We enjoy hosting these religious youth groups every year, as they’re both great clients and an ideal fit for our building,” said Tim Buckley, the interim Director of the Ocean Center. “The uniqueness of our facility allows for group sessions in the arena, smaller breakouts in the meeting rooms and meals in the exhibit hall. These groups can have it all under one roof at the Ocean Center.”
Among the greatest challenges with so many youth will be food - thousands upon thousands of meals will have to be provided and served to the many kids who will be spending their days at the Ocean Center. As such, the venue's contracted food provider Oak View Group will be preparing 40,000 meals, also accommodating for special dietary needs of over a thousand kids. 13,000 chicken breasts will be a part of that, as well as 4.5k pounds of ground beef and one thousand pounds of pulled pork and diced chicken.
Leaders in Daytona's tourism sector are banking on the huge pilgrimage leading to a greater appreciation for all the amenities the city has to offer. “We hope that in between their events at the Ocean Center, all the young students enjoy plenty of sunshine on our world-famous beaches and experience the other attractions and activities offered in the Daytona Beach Area." said Lori Campbell Baker, Executive Director of the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
