Atlantic City rolls the dice for conventioneers
Atlantic City in recent years tried to revitalize itself with gambling but that was a bad bet as it evolved into a shabby and second-rate version of Vegas. But gambling is no longer on its list of amenities.
“We don’t even talk about gambling anymore,” Michael Reynolds, senior director of national sales for the Atlantic City CVB.
The city is positioning itself as possessing great shopping and fine restaurants. The city six years ago did not even have a nationally known steak house but some of the top chefs in the industry, including Bobby Flay and Wolfgang Puck, are now represented here.
Once seen as most attractive to senior citizens, the city has also developed its nightlife with places such as a new disco at Trump Plaza.
And perhaps many don’t know it yet, but Atlantic City is a golf destination. The later was solidified when Forbes Traveler named it the sixth-best golf city in America, according to Meetings/Focus.
The city with 20,000 hotel rooms and a half a million square feet of space at the convention center can easily handle larger groups.
Boardwalk attractions include Steel Pier, where horses used to jump into the ocean but which now is an amusement park with various rides and games, as well as low-cost shopping.
Convention income was down last year, however.
“We’re doing the same number of events in the convention center but food and beverage is down,” Reynolds said.
But Atlantic City’s affordability is expected to help it reach higher group incomes this year.
“We’re very competitive,” Reynolds said.
By David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports