Welcome to Rockville 2023 a big hit with fans, Daytona Beach hoteliers
A regular at rock concerts since the 1970s, Steve Chmielewski ranks Welcome to Rockville near the top of the list of the best ones he’s ever seen.
The longtime owner of Steve’s Downtown Music in DeLand, Chmielewski was among the estimated 170,000 fans that attended the four-day heavy-metal festival this past weekend at Daytona International Speedway.
He gives it a rave review.
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“I absolutely had so much fun,” he said, adding that performances by Deftones, Coheed and Cambria, The Mars Volta and closing-night headliner Tool were highlights. “I explored every bit of it.”
This year’s attendance is a record-setting total that eclipses the event’s previous high of 161,000 set in 2021, Rockville’s first year in Daytona Beach after nearly a decade in Jacksonville.
Daytona Beach hoteliers also big Rockville fans
In Daytona Beach, the metal marathon also struck a positive chord with hoteliers, who reported sold-out rooms at healthy daily rates throughout the event, said Bob Davis, president and CEO of the Lodging & Hospitality Association of Volusia County.
A look at the scene: Welcome to Rockville, Day 2: Fest dodges clouds to roar into weekend at Daytona
In an era when some special events — including the infamous, now relocated Daytona Truck Meet — have generated unwelcome mayhem for area businesses and residents, Rockville and its headbanging fans have been a profitable pleasure to host, Davis said.
“They come for the music; they come to behave and to enjoy themselves,” Davis said. “All the reports are great. Driving along (State Road) A1A this morning (on Monday), the parking lots were full.”
Weather was a factor in this year's Rockville success
Compared with the 2022 edition of the event, when a series of severe storms resulted in the cancellation of weekend performances by two of the festival’s headliners, this year’s Rockville unfolded with minimal weather disruptions.
On Thursday’s opening day, three bands slated for early sets had to be scratched following a roughly two-hour rain delay. Otherwise, everything went pretty much as scheduled.
In case you missed it: Daytona storms force temporary evacuation of Welcome to Rockville infield
On Sunday, overcast skies contributed to Chmielewski’s enjoyment, he said.
“I was talking to people who were there Saturday and they told me it was like an oven, with no clouds,” he said. “On Sunday, it seemed like it was 10 degrees cooler, with a wonderful breeze.”
Closing-day recap: Fans flock to Daytona for final day of Rockville fest; promoter estimates crowd of 170,000
In the tourism realm, the hospitable weather also contributed to the event’s impact at the 744-room Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, the area’s largest hotel, said Jim Berkley, general manager.
“The weather was the difference maker, great weather all weekend vs. last year's heavy rains and delays,” Berkley said. “The Hilton sold out all four nights at nice rates for Rockville including Sunday night, which didn't happen last year due to all the early departures from rain.”
Expect news this summer about Rockville's 2024 return
It was a similar story at hotels near the Speedway owned and operated by Ormond Beach-based Elite Hospitality Inc., said Manoj Bhoola, president and CEO.
Elite’s roster of area hotels includes the Ormond Beach Best Western Castillo Del Sol; the Best Western Plus International Speedway; Hampton Inn by Hilton Daytona Speedway Airport; and the Hilton Garden Inn at Daytona Beach International Airport.
“As expected, all three of the Daytona Speedway hotels performed well with higher ADR (average daily rate) and occupancy than last year,” Bhoola said. “The Speedway did a fantastic job organizing this profitable event that continues to benefit the local economy by utilizing the track for other purposes.”
On the beachside, the music festival also generated sold-out rooms for hotels owned and operated by Ormond Beach-based Premier Resorts & Management, said Domien Takx, vice president of operations.
Premier properties include Hilton Garden Inn; Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites; and the Best Western Daytona Inn Seabreeze; all in Daytona Beach; as well as the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Daytona Beach Shores.
“We sold all of our available beachfront hotel rooms,” Takx said. “Average daily rates were slightly above last year, making this another successful event for our portfolio of hotels.”
Rockville’s promoter, Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, soon will be announcing details about the festival’s return to the Speedway in 2024, said Chamie McCurry, chief marketing officer.
“We’ll be announcing 2024 dates this summer,” she said, “and hope to do full lineup before the end of the year.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Welcome to Rockville 2023 a big hit with fans, Daytona Beach hoteliers
