Maria Marai Esq. Vice-president of the American Hungarian Chamber of Commerce had the privilege to represent the American – Hungarian Chamber of Commerce of New York in the Hungarian Summit in Florida between May 23 – 24, 2024. The participants were taken to a field trip to Daytona Beach and the region on May 24, 2024. We visited the new, two-storied, magnificent center of the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce. It was recently erected in the bay from private donations. Nancy Keefer, President and CEO of the Chamber introduced the activity of the Chamber. She explained that it belongs to the Florida Chamber and the US National Chamber. All big businesses, focusing on the activity of the Florida State Government, join the Chamber to advocate, connect, collaborate and be with like-minded people; to find somebody who will buy their products or services. It is a very successful model.
Both the Florida and the National Chamber offer something different and useful for the Regional Chamber. In Florida, there are total 400 chambers, there is a chamber of commerce in every town. There is no minimal level of quality and achievements that the applicant should prove since in
Florida there is no branding for the chambers. Any conglomerates can call themselves a chamber of commerce.
The Daytona Regional Chamber has 939 members, including the Halifax Health, the Advent Health and the Daytona International Speedway. It forged an alliance of chambers, which only recognizes those chambers that have at least one full time position and a physical office. It can’t be all volunteer driven; the Chamber shall pay for professional staff. When certain regulations are getting a little strict, the Chamber will pursue lobbying on behalf of the business at all local, state and federal level.
The President mentioned that the Chamber is open to exploring the possibility of working with the American – Hungarian Chamber of Commerce of New York.
