Fueled with insurance money, hotel owners are not only repairing storm damage, they are also taking steps to renovate and rejuvenate beachside resorts.

Oceans Resorts, the largest owner of oceanfront property in northeast Florida, is pouring millions of dollars into revitalizing two beachside Daytona resorts, the Acapulco and Treasure Island. Restoration on each will be complete by the end of May, in plenty of time for the summer family travel season.

"The Acapulco and Treasure Island will be completely new resorts,'' says Oceans vice president Doug Kosarek. "From the lobby all the way to the roof, every room is being redone and enhanced. But the change is more than physical. We will be working very hard to bring both of these resorts to a ‘four-star' level of quality. Therefore, we are upgrading our restaurants, lounges and every aspect of guest services."

Another Oceans Resorts property, the landmark Plaza Resort & Spa, in the heart of Daytona, raced to restore storm damaged oceanfront rooms in late 2004 so the resort would have all of its rooms available for fall and winter season special events, such as Biketoberfest, the Turkey Rod Run, the Super Bowl in nearby Jacksonville and the February Speedweeks that include the Daytona 500.

The 322 room Plaza Resort & Spa, which has anchored Daytona tourism for a century, will soon be showing it is still a trendsetter. The Plaza will covert to a condo-resort this year, as part of an additional $12 million renovation. Prices for the hotel condo units range from the $140,000 to over $400,000. Owners and guests will enjoy luxuries such as a no-drive beach and a 15,000 square foot European styled spa on the first floor of the resort.

Plaza sales managers report brisk reservations for the Plaza suites, especially online through www.owntheplaza.com. In the first weekend, more than a third of the rooms were sold. "For a century the Plaza has been a magnet for guests who wanted to come and enjoy the sun and beach in Daytona," says Kosarek. "Now guests can buy a piece of history and own part of this unique property."

With the value of oceanfront property escalating, existing property owners are also using the storms as a catalyst to raze aging buildings and start over with a clean palate for urban planning and renewal. The transformation of many formerly three-star properties to four-star hotels is another sign that the days of wild spring break parties are long gone -- replaced with large, luxurious and affordable beach-front accommodations for vacationing families.

Ocean Waters Development (OWD) is overseeing the construction renovations at the Plaza, and will also manage the redevelopment efforts of other properties owned by the parent company of Oceans Resorts. OWD officials estimate the company will develop more than 2 million square feet of resort property in the next several years along Florida northeast coast. The group also has residential condo resort projects underway in Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach.

"We are working to make Daytona an even better place to not only visit, but to live," says Steve Sandholtz with Ocean Waters Development. "Florida always comes back strong. Over the next decade, Daytona is a going to be a hot spot for exciting new resort communities."

For more information on Oceans Resorts, visit www.DaytonaHotels.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content