More than the arriving bikers have a smile on their faces about Biketoberfest, the winter motorcycle event in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Organizers and tourism officials are pointing to some key indicators as reasons this year's event could buck the economic slowdown experienced by both motorcycle events and tourist destinations.

Officially kicking off on Thursday October 15th, the four-day event had an impressive, although sentimental early start over the weekend with the Boggy Creek Camp Ride for Children. Usually led by Bruce Rossmeyer, many attended the event to pay respect to a man widely considered the largest owner of Harley-Davidson dealerships and who died on his way to Sturgis in July earlier this year.

Rossmeyer's Destination Daytona has become an intricate part of the Daytona spring and fall rallies and a total of 1,200 bikers joined Sunday's ride.
 
With bikers arriving in Daytona Beach as early as Tuesday for Biketoberfest, the enthusiasm for the fall rally can also be seen in booked hotels and optimistic operators. Reservations at the dominating 744-room Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort are ahead of those in 2008 with officials confident about there being no room at the inn.

"We're comfortable that we will probably sell out," said hotel spokeswoman Angela Cameron.

The Convention and Visitors Bureau says phone calls, emails and website traffic about the event have jumped 30 percent for 2009.
 
Biketoberfest is newer to the motorcycle scene than its older cousin held in the Spring, Daytona Beach Bike Week, celebrating its 68th birthday this year. Although Biketoberfest has only been held since 1992 the event managed to attract 175,000 visitors at its height in 2007, with 125,000 enjoying the rally last year.

Tourism officials are also looking to lower gas prices and a slight uptick in consumer confidence as reasons biker from Florida and the surrounding states may find the open road that leads to Daytona Beach this week.

"With [gas] prices where they are now, we think consumers are in a favorable spot," AAA spokesman Gregg Laskoski said noting last October gas prices were at $3.61 a gallon, "Even though [consumers] want to spend less, they still want to meet with family and friends, even to just get away."

And getting away some are. Motorcycle enthusiasts from Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York are among those arriving early for Biketoberfest, attracted by the warmer weather and cheap room rates. Many bikers are reporting discounts and inexpensive packages being offered by hotels, giving them a financial excuse to attend.

It's not necessarily Daytona Beach resident's love for motorcycle that has them throwing open their doors and proverbial arms to visiting bikers, but much needed cash in these economic challenging times. Bikers pumped $214 million into the Central Florida economy in 2008.