Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach sits on the Atlantic coast of Florida and is well-tuned for hospitality. You and your youth will be very comfortable onsite. Our lodging hotel, the Hilton Daytona Oceanfront Resort specializes in large group gatherings and is perfectly situated to take advantage of the amazing beach sand and all the activities along the boardwalk. Carnival games, arcades, thrill rides, and even a water park are all within a 5-minute walk from the hotel. The well-lit, pedestrian-friendly area around the hotel will add to your enjoyment and sense of safety during YOUTH 2023. During YOUTH 2023, we have access to many hotel amenities including the pool that overlooks the ocean. Rooms can sleep up to four people, and each room has a mini-fridge in addition to other hotel standards.
YOUTH 2023 events will take place in the Daytona Ocean Center, a modern facility with large meeting rooms and an excellent arena for worship services. Lots of natural light and a space that is easy to navigate, as well as being ADA compliant, impressed our Design Team during site tours. The Ocean Center is located immediately across the street from the Hilton Oceanfront Resort, so all activities are literally within a one-block distance from each other. The Ocean Center is also very familiar with hosting conferences and groups year-round. During the summer, they are a sought-after location for Christian youth events because of the combination of excellent space, staff, and location.
Daytona Beach has its own airport for those who wish to fly directly into the city. Daytona Beach International Airport is about a 15-minute drive from the hotel. For those driving to the event, there is ample parking from the hotel and public lots for vehicles of all sizes. Once you’re checked in at YOUTH 2023, there really is no need for a vehicle!
Jacksonville and Orlando airports are within 90 minutes or less and provide additional flight options to get to Florida. Groups considering adding on service/mission experiences or touristy fun at places like Disney, Universal Studios, etc., may find that flying into one of those major airports and shuttling to Daytona Beach is an easy option.
After all that, why Daytona Beach for YOUTH 2023?
Lots of great reasons:
- A high-quality resort hotel and event center at excellent prices
- The safety of the area combined with walkability and July beach weather
- The ability to include some meals in the registration at a low cost
- The openness of the Daytona Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to work with our group to create a welcoming event and venue for youth and their adult leaders
- The support of UMCs in Florida for our National Gathering to take place in their area