DAYTONA BEACH SHORES — Mom will be guest of honor on Sunday at a Champagne Brunch at Azure Oceanfront American Kitchen at The Shores Resort & Spa, one of many special dining experiences being offered to celebrate Mother’s Day in Volusia County.
In a setting with prime views of the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, diners at The Shores will nosh on menu items that range from marinated mushroom and artichoke salad, imported and domestic cheeses, chicken and dumplings, roasted salmon and Bananas Foster over vanilla ice cream.
They won’t be alone. In Florida and nationwide, consumers are spending more on dining and other “experiential” Mother’s Day celebrations, said James Miller, spokesman for the Florida Retail Federation, the Tallahassee-based organization that tracks data among the shoppers and retailers.
“That’s something we’re seeing, a shift to more experience-based gifts as opposed to something tangible you’re holding in your hand,” Miller said. “So it’s more about going out to dinner, or a concert or play or big event that people want to experience together. Mother’s Day is a reflection of that change we’re seeing in the entire retail community, in general.”
Mother’s Day spending this year statewide is expected to reach $180 per person, according to the Florida Retail Federation, down slightly from last year’s record high of $186 per person. Total spending nationwide is expected to surpass $23.1 billion, the second highest in the survey’s history, with more than 86 percent of Americans celebrating.
According to the Florida federation’s partners at the National Retail Federation, consumers plan to spend $4.6 billion on jewelry (purchased by 34 percent of shoppers); $4.4 billion on special outings such as dinner or brunch (by 55 percent); and $2.6 billion on flowers (by 69 percent).
The $4.4 billion national estimate for outings such as dinner or brunch is up from $4.1 billion in 2016, Miller said. He expects Florida’s spending to contribute significantly to that total.
“Nearly everybody has a job; houses are flying off the market and consumer confidence has remained really high,” Miller said. “The tourism industry is red hot. All these factors combine into people having more money to spend this year. We’re expecting one of the highest per-person spending periods for Mother’s Day ever.”
Other special dining options locally include a Mother’s Day brunch at the 744-room Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, the area’s largest hotel. There, the buffet menu features herb & peppercorn crusted strip, slow roasted orange glazed pork loin, lemon fennel marinated spring lamb, garden selections, shrimp, a breakfast station and dessert bar.
“We typically host 400-plus people for our special event brunches on Mother's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Easter,” said Kerry Mitruska, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing. “We've built a strong local following for these events.”
In West Volusia, mothers will be feted with a holiday brunch at The Center at Deltona, the city’s $9 million event center at Interstate 4 and Howland Crossing. There, the buffet will feature beef and ham carving stations, pasta, roast chicken and a potato bar, along breakfast and lunch items.
“We have almost 300 people who have RSVP’d and people can still make reservations,” said Lee Lopez, city spokesman. “The last holiday we celebrated with brunch, at Easter, we had more than 300 people show up. Our capacity is 500, so we should be good to handle everyone who wants to attend.”