The resurgence of one of the most famous strands of sand in the country — Daytona Beach — doesn't affect just leisure travelers by any stretch of the imagination.

Meetings and events are huge business in Daytona, and there has never been a better time to book a function in this vibrant city that's so proudly defined by stock car racing.

No Daytona trip is complete without a group pit stop at the Daytona USA complex at Daytona International Speedway. There are dozens of entertainment options there, even when NASCAR racing season comes to a screeching halt. It's unparalleled fun centered completely around revving engines, burning rubber, and racing history.

And there is no shortage of function space in Daytona. The seaside Ocean Walk Village now encompasses six square blocks. A destination within a destination, the village includes two major convention properties and a bustling new shopping and entertainment center — and Ocean Center, the area's convention facility, across the street from all three.

At the Adam's Mark hotel, the pre-function area and most of the 746 rooms are oceanfront. A recent $53 million expansion has brought Adam's Mark's meeting space to a total of 60,000 square feet. And the OceanWalk Resort, adjacent to Adam's Mark, is a splashy, neon-colored venue, luring large meeting and incentive groups with 1,300 Atlantic-edged guest rooms and 139,000 square feet of meeting space.

Ocean Walk Shoppes, a collection of upscale eateries, boutiques, and a 10-screen digital sound movie theater with all-stadium seating, is connected by skywalk to each property.

Ocean Center is already Daytona's largest meeting and convention facility, and soon it will break ground on a $50 million expansion project. Currently offering 74,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, the Ocean Center will triple its size by 2007, boosting the center by 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, 40,000 square feet of meeting space, and a 30,000-square-foot ballroom.

To top it off, there's plenty of golf-related fun at the Ocean Walk Resort. Inside, there is a realistic golf simulator, and outside, a whimsical putting green beckons. And within a short drive of Ocean Walk, there are 22 golf courses and other activities to keep your group happy during the free time between sessions.