Hotel bookings for Bike Week, one of the year’s biggest special events in Volusia and Flagler counties, haven’t been affected by concerns about the coronavirus, hoteliers say.

Global concern over the coronavirus, including at least three potential cases in Florida, hasn’t put a damper on Bike Week hotel bookings in Volusia and Flagler counties, according to area hoteliers.

"We haven’t really seen material business impact just yet," said Rob Burnetti, general manager of the 212-room Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach Shores. "We still have some rooms to fill for this weekend, but we’re well over 90%.

Although medical experts offer mixed opinions about the potential for the virus to spread among Bike Week crowds, the visitors are still coming.

"For the second weekend, we’re pretty much sold out, at over 95% already," Burnetti said. "We’re watching those numbers and they haven’t changed much over the past few days."

Compared with major international destinations such as New York, San Francisco and even Orlando, the area’s strength as a drive market has likely eased virus concerns among potential visitors, Burnetti said.

"You hear so much about it, but this is one of those cases where we’re fortunate to be in Daytona Beach, rather than a destination considered to be a major international market," Burnetti said. "There’s not as much incoming international travel and we’re a heavy drive market, so I think that is insulating us a little bit."

One area tourism leader also touted Volusia County’s appeal as an alternative to vacationing by airplane.

"You can get in a car and find the comfort and security of a vacation just a few hours drive from home," said Bob Davis, president and CEO of the Lodging & Hospitality Association of Volusia County. "In the time it takes to drive to the airport, negotiate the TSA line and the boarding routine among the crowds, you can travel to Daytona Beach in the comfort of your own car and enjoy all we have to offer."

One of the year’s major tourism events, Bike Week officially opens its 10-day celebration on Friday, in the wake of news that the global spread of the coronavirus now has potentially reached Florida.

Bike Week is expected to draw between 400,000 and 500,000 visitors across the region, according to estimates from the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce, which presents the event.

On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that a third presumptive positive case of COVID-19 coronavirus had been found in Florida.

Previously, DeSantis disclosed late Sunday that two people had become the first in Florida to test "presumptively positive" for COVID-19 and ordered his top health officer to declare a statewide public health emergency.

[READ MORE: Coronavirus Q&A: Symptoms, avoidance, Volusia-Flagler prep, do masks work, and more]

Even so, Bike Week preparations are unfolding as usual, said Janet Kersey, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber officials have been in touch with state and county health department officials as preparation for the event continues, she said.

"It’s something that they (the health agencies) all have their eye on right now," Kersey said. "We’re very much in touch with our county health department and the state to follow up on the proper things to do. We don’t want to cause any panic, but at the same time we want to do the right thing."

No corporate sponsors of Bike Week have informed the Chamber of a decision to skip the event because of coronavirus concerns, Kersey said.

Kersey was optimistic that a warmer weather forecast that calls for mid-week highs in the 80s could help slow the spread of the virus, she said.

"That’s one thing working in our favor so far," she said. "From what I understand, it spreads in cold weather environments, so the warmer it is, the better. Not that we all shouldn’t be aware and wash our hands and use hand sanitizer."

Whether or not to cancel a major event over coronavirus concerns is "a very profound question and it’s very, very difficult to answer that," said John Lednicky, a research professor who specializes in the detection, isolation and analysis of respiratory viruses at the University of Florida’s Department of Environmental and Global Health.

"In general, any mass gathering is a good place to transmit respiratory viruses," Lednicky said. "In my own work, for example, I have found that when people go to a big music festival and spend days there often times they have a cough or cold when they return and it’s some kind of respiratory virus."

Viruses mutate very quickly and little is known at the moment about the coronavirus, Lednicky said.

"What’s true this week might not be true next week," Lednicky said. "The general wisdom right now is until we know better it’s a good idea to stay away from big crowds. If someone’s coughing and sneezing, you keep your distance. Washing your hands properly is very important."

At the same time, Bike Week activities that often unfold outdoors would pose a lesser risk than a big gatherings indoors, said Dr. Jose Castro, infectious disease specialist with the University of Miami Health System and Miller School of Medicine.

"We don’t have a widespread epidemic currently in Florida, so the chances of getting infected at an outdoor event such as this are very low," Castro said. "I would be more worried about how people get there, if they are taking a plane from an area with the infection. That would be a different story."

"You really need to be in close contact with someone, maybe within three feet of someone who is sick, to contract the virus," Castro said. "An enclosed space is definitely more risky, when people are indoors and there’s recirculated air."

In the tourism realm, Davis acknowledged the potential for worry among travelers with plans to visit Volusia County for Bike Week, as well as the college spring break period that launches in earnest at the same time motorcycle fans arrive this weekend.

"I hope that it doesn’t affect us," Davis said. "It looks like we will have a good Bike Week; that the weather will be great and people will come."

So far, hoteliers have heard little virus-related concern.

"Not yet, knock on wood," said Gary Brown, longtime owner of the 91-room Sun Viking Lodge in Daytona Beach Shores. "I’m afraid it’s coming, unfortunately, but so far we’ve not heard any concerns by any guests. We’re looking pretty good for both weekends. The middle of the week is slower, of course, but I’m optimistic that we may sell out both weekends."

There have been some cancellations at hotels owned and operated by Ormond Beach-based Premier Resorts & Management, said Domien Takx, the company’s vice president of operations, but Bike Week bookings are still stronger than at the same time a year ago.

Premier properties include Hilton Garden Inn; Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites; Best Western Daytona Inn Seabreeze; and Ocean Breeze Club Hotel, all in Daytona Beach; as well as the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Daytona Beach Shores.

"We have not seen cancellations exceed bookings," Takx said. "We are ahead of pace compared to last year for the Bike Week event period, but we manage this on a daily basis to ensure we are aware of cancellations increasing at our hotels. It is a fluid situation."

Most of the Premier hotels, in accordance with specific brand policies, have waived cancellation fees for those changing travel plans because of the virus, Takx said.

At The Shores Resort & Spa, cancellations related to coronavirus will not be subject to fees for stays booked through March 30, Burnetti said. The hotel has ordered additional hand sanitizer dispensers for placement throughout the property, he said.

"Certainly, we just remind people of what they can do to protect themselves and others," Burnetti said. "We’ve been telling our employees to wash their hands and seek medical advice if necessary and we need to be confident and sensitive in telling our guests the same thing."

Among the spring break crowd, the potential spread of coronavirus hasn’t been a concern, said Scott Edwards, manager at Daytona Beach Welcome Center, a company that has booked spring-break students into area hotels for decades.

"I haven’t heard anything (from spring breakers) about it," Edwards said. "Most spring breakers just want to know if Corona beer is still going to be available."