Rolex 24 at Daytona fails to boost local hotel occupancy due to COVID

DAYTONA BEACH — With limited attendance at Daytona International Speedway due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona failed to deliver the typical boost in occupancy and rates, according to many Volusia County hoteliers.

Cars race to the finish line on Sunday during the closing laps of the Rolex 24 At Daytona at Daytona International Speedway. Due to limited attendance at the track because of the coronavirus pandemic, many Volusia County hoteliers reported that occupancy tied to the race was down over the weekend.

“It was completely down, nothing that compared with past years,” said Bob Davis, president and CEO of the Lodging & Hospitality Association of Volusia County. “As far as the race, as expected, there was a limited amount of people in the stands, so we were down considerably in rooms.”

This past weekend’s Rolex 24 At Daytona, which hosted around 40,000 spectators last year, was held with limited fans in the grandstands and infield, and with COVID-19 health protocols in place. 

Fans in the infield were allowed into the FanZone, but pit road, the garage and paddock areas were all closed.