DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  – Truth is, you don't have to ride a motorcycle to enjoy Bike Week 2015.  While more than 500,000 bona-fide motorcycle enthusiasts will be visiting during this exciting March 6-15 event, others are making the trek just to take in some amazing sights, sounds and flavors.

“There's just so much going on during Bike Week,” explains Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Tom Caradonio. “Between the concerts, the rides, the rallies, the vendor shopping, the great food and our various local non-profit agencies' fundraiser events, it's no wonder folks from all around the world come to immerse themselves in all that is Bike Week.”

New to the local landscape for Bike Week 2015 will be evidence of the $1 billion currently being spent on upgrades to the area.  Be sure to note the infrastructure improvements at the intersections of Interstates 4 and 95, and to International Speedway Blvd.; the $400 million in renovations currently going on at Daytona International Speedway; the Indian Motorcycle dealership on famous Beach Street (opened Oct. 2014,) the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art at Daytona Beach's Museum of Arts and Sciences (opening Feb. 2015); the Sand Blaster rollercoaster, a first for Daytona Beach, at the Daytona Beach Boardwalk & Pier; lots of new eateries throughout the area, and more.

This year's festival will include plenty of traditional action, too.  Visitors will see live music in hundreds of local venues and watch the pros compete in Daytona International Speedway's Motorcycle Races. For those wanting to get a taste of the event's history – and enjoy some fun and sun on the Original American Beach –riders can take a 10 mph cruise on the hard-packed beach in designated areas, just like rally-goers experienced back in 1937, the year of the first beach race.

Bike Week events are schedule throughout Daytona Beach and surrounding areas, including key venues like world-famous Daytona International Speedway; Daytona Beach's Main Street, Riverfront Park and Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard;  and Bruce Rossmeyer's Destination Daytona, a year-round motorcycle complex that features Daytona Harley-Davidson's 109,000 sf showroom, retail and specialty shops, restaurants, a concert pavilion and an on-site hotel.  Each venue offers visitors a variety of delicious foods, live music, biker apparel and more.  Nearby DeLand and New Smyrna Beach also offer activities during the festival.

“Manufacturers and vendors come from all over the world to reach out half-million Bike Week visitors,” Caradonio adds.  Daytona Beach's motorcycle events – which include Biketoberfest® in October as well as Bike Week -- bring an amazing energy to our community, and they generate a huge economic impact.  Bike Week alone is estimated to have a base economic impact of more than $74 million* – and with a standard medium-size destination multiplier, that brings us to more than $209 million.

Hotel accommodations are now available for Bike Week 2015.  Visitors can choose from more than 15,000 rooms at 200 local properties.  The destination offers options for all lifestyles and budgets including high-end resorts, B&Bs, hotels, historic inns, campgrounds and RV parks, and everything in between.  Many properties offer trailer parking as well.  Log on to www.bikerbeach.com for the most current Lodging Availability List, as well as the latest information about Bike Week 2015 happenings.

To book a stay in the Daytona Beach area, or to get a copy of the Official Visitors Guide, visit DaytonaBeach.com.

*Data from Mid-Florida Marketing and Research, 2009 study.

About the Daytona Beach Area 
The year 2015 marks the 74th Annual Bike Week.  Since its inception, the rally has drawn millions of riders to the area in March. Visitors are invited to discover the new Daytona Beach and its surrounding area, a resurging destination along Florida's East Coast comprising eight distinct communities. Recognized worldwide for its annual events including Bike Week, Biketoberfest®, Rolex 24 At Daytona and the Daytona 500, Daytona Beach's famed heritage also claims the U.S. headquarters of LPGA and NASCAR and is home to Daytona International Speedway, the 'World Center of Racing.'  With more than 15,000 beds, the destination boasts accommodations for all lifestyles and budgets including resorts, B&Bs, hotels and everything in between.  Visitors can enjoy the quintessential vacation experience beginning with the Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier, or choose from a surprising list of attractions and cultural venues and a colorful culinary scene.  With 23 miles of world-famous beaches ideal for shelling, swimming and surfing, it is no surprise Daytona Beach was chosen as a Best Florida Attraction in the Top 10 Best Readers' Choice travel award contest sponsored by USA TODAY.  To order a complimentary comprehensive Official Visitors Guide, visit DaytonaBeach.com. For real-time updates, visit Facebook.com/DaytonaBeach or Twitter.com/DaytonaBeachFun.

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