New hotel set to open across from Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (FOX 35 ORLANDO) - Crews are putting the final touches on The Daytona, Autograph Collection hotel in One Daytona.

The Marriott boutique hotel, located across the street from the Daytona International Speedway, is slated to open April 17th and will pay homage to NASCAR and racing.

The 144-room hotel boasts a rotating rim in the lobby, garage doors leading out to an outside lounge and hallways that feel like a racing tunnel.

General Manager Michael Melendez said, “From the scent of the lobby it’s going to have that new car scent. As soon as you arrive in the lobby you feel like you’re walking into a Ferrari.”

Melendez said show cars will also be on display in an area called, “The Grid.” The Bluebird is on tap to be at the hotel opening weekend.

“The Bluebird actually ties into the history of racing in general and actually ties into why we named our restaurant Sir Malcolm,” Melendez said.  “[Sir Malcolm] was the iconic driver of the Bluebird, [who] broke the speed record of 100 mph.”

The Blue Flame bar will feature 16 craft beers on tap and a moonshine cocktail made in partnership with Sugarland Shine, the official moonshine of NASCAR.

“Why did we call it The Blue Flame? It’s when the flame turns blue when you’re making the moonshine, it takes it to the next process to be distilled. These are the stories we’re going to tell,” Melendez said.

Melendez said iPads will be in each of the hotel rooms and guests will have the option of renting a virtual reality headset.

“One of the things we’re getting in touch with, is having that experience when you’re inside the guest rooms where you can feel like you’re at the track.”