Atlantic City’s New Wave
A CVB name change is just one sea-change in AC
By Gretchen Kelly
Meet AC has morphed into Visit Atlantic City, taking the legendary city’s name back just as the East Coast’s largest indoor aquatic attraction, Island Waterpark, prepares to debut at Showboat Resort Atlantic City, marking the down of a new wave of city-centric fun that harkens back to the resort’s origin as a seaside legend.
Local Expert Tip: “Our name change (from Meet AC to Visit Atlantic City) is a game changer. A lot of people had no idea what AC means. This is important because the name of the city is now in our brand and it provides Atlantic City with a level playing field in the meetings and events industry.”
— Larry Sieg, president and CEO, Visit Atlantic City
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That beach. Atlantic City Beach, which fronts most of the large resorts in town, runs the four-mile length of the boardwalk and beyond. It’s surprisingly pristine and swim-able with lifeguards on duty from July 1 to Labor Day. Many of the hotels in AC do beachside events, concerts and other activations.
Resorts and Casinos. Ceasars Atlantic City, Ocean Resort and Casino Atlantic City, Borgata Casino and Spa, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and others are sophisticated, luxe properties that have moved far beyond AC’s early days in gaming. Some, like Ocean, offer the option of meeting floors that don’t connect with gaming areas: allowing planners to keep business and pleasure at a discreet distance.
A colorful legacy of seaside pleasures. Scratch AC’s surface and the past appears in a sweet haze of saltwater taffy and Ferris wheels. You can dive into AC’s origin as a seaside resort by exploring the rides at Steel Pier where planners can also take off with more modern thrills like helicopter rides over the city.
Shop hop at Tanger Outlet Atlantic City. Bargain hunter’s paradise. 109 stores within 3 city blocks of shopping options, all within walking distance of the major resorts along the boardwalk.
Easy driving access from all points Northeast. Located within a few hours’ drive of nearly one-third of the nation’s population; 60 miles from Philadelphia, 125 miles from New York and 175 miles from Washington, D.C.
5 Fantastic Places to Meet
Ocean Casino Resort has over $85 million in property development reveals throughout the summer of 2023, including the completion of over 460 rooms and suites, the Gallery Bar Book & Games, a 12,000-square-foot sports and entertainment venue with a 100-foot elevated bar and lounge and 140 feet of LED walls.
Over 160,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including the 70,000 square-foot Ovation Hall & Conference Center.
Nobu Hotel opens late summer 2023 within Caesars Atlantic City. The hotel will offer luxury suites and rooms on three floors. The Resort also debuts The Hook, in June 2023 at the 400-seat Warner Theatre. Operating every week of the year, the venue will feature a world-premiere live show with an international cast; a second home for Spiegelworld’s Italian American Psychedelic Superfrico restaurant; and bars with a curated cocktail program.
17 meeting rooms, 24,000 sq. ft. of meeting space
Showboat Atlantic City Hotel is the new home of Island Water Park, opening summer 2023 as the world’s largest indoor beachfront waterpark with a retractable roof for year-round use. The 11,000-square-foot park was developed through a $100 million investment by Showboat Hotel and will extend meeting-goers’ aquatic activities to year-long watery possibilities.
12 meeting rooms, total event space (current): 3,294 sq. ft.
The 2,000-room Hard Rock Hotel and Resort features Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena which can stage general sessions of 7,000 people or 300-plus-booth trade shows and expo events.
150,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space.
Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa has recently undergone a $55-million renovation to transform The Water Club into a rebranded MGM Tower with 700 remodeled guest rooms and a selection of luxury suites. The Resort has also converted the former Immersion Spa into a 9,000-square-foot event space on the 32nd floor.
Total event space: 87,402 sq. ft. over 24 meeting rooms
This article appears in the May 2023 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
