How Daytona Beach Is Redefining the College Town Experience

You can hear it before you see it: the crash of the waves, the cheer of the crowd, the unmistakable energy of a college event weekend on the world's most famous beach. Daytona Beach has always had a pulse, but today, it's beating louder and smarter as a rising college town.

Here, student-athletes win championships with the ocean as their backdrop. University partnerships thrive beyond the campus gates. And iconic college traditions come to life just steps from the surf.

At the center of it all? Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, where teams gather, rivalries play out, and students and fans alike experience the very best of college events on Florida's Atlantic coast.

Plan your college weekend by the beach. Book our Breakfast Included offer →

A Championship Tradition: NCA & NDA Nationals

If you ask, where are NCA & NDA Nationals held? The answer is, and has long been, Daytona Beach.

For nearly 30 years, the NCA/NDA Nationals Daytona Beach event has set the gold standard for collegiate cheer and dance. For locals, it's a spring tradition as iconic as Bike Week or the Daytona 500 -- one that fills the boardwalk with glitter, grit, and school pride from across the country. With more than 470 teams competing in 2025 and the championship secured through 2030, the event transforms the Bandshell and the beach into the sport's most iconic stage, where pyramids rise against the Atlantic and routines are etched into collegiate history.

Signature moments include:

• Athletes hitting stunts on the Bandshell stage with the ocean at their backs
• Teams sprinting into the surf to raise trophies high above the waves
• Fans packing the Ocean Center, bringing a roar that echoes across the beach

And throughout it all, Hilton Daytona Beach serves as the unofficial team hub for student-athletes, cheering them on, fueling them up, and giving them space to celebrate. From poolside pep talks to post-competition banquets, this is the college-friendly hotel Daytona Beach student groups rely on.

Embry-Riddle + Hilton: Building a College Town Identity

A thriving Daytona Beach college town needs more than just events. It needs institutions that shape the city's future. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is leading that charge.

As the world's premier aviation and aerospace university, Embry-Riddle brings world-class talent to the region, and Hilton Daytona Beach is proud to support that mission.

“Daytona Beach isn't just a beach destination anymore, it's becoming a vibrant college sports town, and Embry-Riddle is proud to help lead the way! With NCA/NDA Championships, major tournaments at the Ocean Center, and the 150+ home events Embry-Riddle hosts each year, these moments create unforgettable experiences for student-athletes and fans alike. And thanks to great partnerships like ours with the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, every experience is first-class!”
- Mitch VanSumeren, Deputy Director of Athletics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Through 2027, Hilton serves as Embry-Riddle Athletics' Preferred Hotel Partner, expanding its involvement with:

• Special rates for visiting teams and university guests
• Event sponsorships and on-campus visibility
• Game day activations that connect Hilton directly with students, families, and boosters

On game weekends, you'll spot the blue and gold throughout the resort, from banners in the lobby to families in Embry-Riddle gear checking into suites with ocean views. It's a visible reminder that this partnership goes beyond logistics. It's part of the student experience, from touchdown to takeoff.

From game day to graduation, Hilton's Breakfast Included offer keeps college families fueled and close to the action.

Looking Forward: New Stages, New Stories

Could the next big name in college football step onto the sand in Daytona Beach? With the Hula Bowl eyeing Volusia County, we're ready to turn possibility into tradition and welcome the next wave of athletes with open arms (and ocean views).

Opportunities like these prove one thing: college competitions on Florida beaches are more relevant than ever.

Hilton Daytona Beach is ready, with flexible ballrooms, beachfront views, and proximity to major stadiums and arenas. Whether it's cheer, football, soccer, or a new kind of student gathering, this resort is built for Daytona Beach student travel.

Hilton Daytona Beach: At the Heart of Every Event

What sets Hilton Daytona Beach apart is how it combines the scale of a resort with the heart of a host. We've spent decades welcoming student-athletes, coaches, and college communities with services tailored to the collegiate experience.

Each fall, NCAA Men's Basketball tournaments at the Ocean Center, the Boardwalk Battle and Sunshine Slam, bring a fresh wave of collegiate excitement to the beachfront. Teams, families, and fans fill the stands and the shoreline, with Hilton serving as a trusted home base just steps from the arena.

Guests find:

• Venues that shift from prep space to post-event celebrations
• Oceanfront rooms that keep fans and teams close to the action
• Group dining options that serve up convenience and coastal flavor

Every event hosted here becomes part of a bigger story, one built on college events in Daytona Beach, supported by local institutions, and celebrated along the shore.

The Answer Is Right Here

Daytona Beach is no longer just a party stop. It's a purpose-driven destination for student experiences. From traditions like the NCA/NDA Nationals, to partnerships with Embry-Riddle, and new chapters yet to be written, this city is redefining what a college town can be.

And leading that shift is Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, the trusted partner, the vibrant host, and the oceanfront stage for the next generation of college events in Daytona Beach.

Ready to explore Daytona's college side? Book your stay with breakfast steps from the surf.