Shriners International convention could bring up to $10M to Volusia Co.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Organizers of a major convention just agreed to book a second visit to Daytona Beach Monday.

The deal with Shriners International will help Volusia County now, even though the events are two years away.

Leaders hope Shriners International will fill hotel rooms two years in a row, and Volusia County will get bed tax money to promote the Ocean Center right across the street.

They said the extra exposure could bring more conventions to the area in the future.

The Convention and Visitor's Bureau estimates the 15,000 to 20,000 Shriners coming two years in a row will bring in $6 million to $10 million in 2017 and 2018.

"Which means everything from hotel rooms, to dining, to purchases of T-shirts and things like that, so it's going to be absolutely tremendous," said Jeffrey Hentz with Daytona Beach area Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

Leaders said the long-term effects are more valuable. They said worldwide name recognition through the Shriners could help fill the Ocean Center for years to come.

Some of the local hotels are already working with the Shriners to fill rooms, but they don't know how many. We'll find that out closer to the events in 2017 and 2018.

Keep track of major events around central Florida, at ICFlorida.com.

WFTV