Atlantic CityOctober 17, 2022

Offering All the Amenities and Activities Attendees Want By
October 17, 2022

Atlantic City

Offering All the Amenities and Activities Attendees Want
Caesars Entertainment is investing $400 million in the Atlantic City market, with Caesars Atlantic City to undergo a complete resort transformation. Courtesy of Caesars Entertainment

Caesars Entertainment is investing $400 million in the Atlantic City market, with Caesars Atlantic City to undergo a complete resort transformation. Courtesy of Caesars Entertainment

When Jenna Dunlay was evaluating various locales in which to host her organization’s annual four-day conference, she set her sights on Atlantic City — and for good reason. Atlantic City has fast become a favorite hub for meetings and conventions of all sizes. In addition to its nine casino resorts, the area is teeming with restaurants, dedicated meeting spaces and event centers aplenty.

“We host an annual four-day conference for about 3,200 summer camp and youth development professionals. It is the largest camp conference in the world. Attendees and vendors come from all over the U.S. and internationally,” says Dunlay, associate director of marketing and events for ACA, NY & NJ. “We have a 313-booth exhibit hall and host over 170 educational sessions over 10 time blocks, plus two keynote addresses.”

Because most of the attendees to her organization’s events come from along the Eastern Seaboard, Atlantic City provides an accessible place with many reasonably priced hotel and restaurant options with plenty of nightlife for attendees.

“There is an airport in the city, but we also have attendees who easily travel into the surrounding airports [Philadelphia and Newark] and come in from New York City via public transportation,” Dunlay says. “The [Atlantic City Convention Center] can easily host all of our attendees and sub-events with plenty of flexible space options. We use the food and beverage services as well as additional convention services such as SmartCity for internet and Vista Convention Services for our vendor services and storage. We are able to provide a one-stop shop for our attendees and vendors while also providing ourselves with the ease of hosting most of our event in one building.”

In fact, it’s the “one-stop-shop” atmosphere of Atlantic City that is so appealing to attendees. In addition to gaming options, the city offers more than 5 miles of pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches, boasts 17,500 hotel rooms and 1.8 million sf of meeting space. While the regional resorts and casinos offer a wonderful array of meeting space options, the Atlantic City Convention Center’s (ACCC) five spacious exhibition venues are located on the building’s second level and range in size from 29,400 sf to 199,500 sf. And with more than 32,000 sf of pre-function space, the ACCC offers ample room for gatherings and events of all sizes.

The Caesars Atlantic City complex will include 750 renovated rooms and suites, the new Nobu Atlantic City and the new Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen. Courtesy of Caesars Entertainment

The Caesars Atlantic City complex will include 750 renovated rooms and suites, the new Nobu Atlantic City and the new Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen. Courtesy of Caesars Entertainment

Caesars Shines

Nichole Lefort, president and creative director of CLE Events & Rentals, is a fan of hosting meetings and events at gaming resorts such as Caesars Atlantic City, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and Resorts Casino Hotel. As she explains, guests are provided everything under one roof, which makes it ideal for event attendees and planners alike.

“Gaming resorts tend to be a favorite for meeting attendees,” Lefort says. “But be sure to offer incentives for attending meetings or seminar sessions, otherwise they may become more focused on gaming tables.”

While many of the venues within Atlantic City were shut down during the pandemic — like in cities across the country — the city has re-emerged better than ever. “Atlantic City is back,” says Steve van der Molen, vice president of meeting operations, AC region for Caesars Entertainment. “We are excited about the $400 million investment in our three properties. So far, the feedback from planners has been tremendous.”

Recently, Caesars Entertainment announced it intends to invest $400 million in the Atlantic City market, with Caesars Atlantic City undergoing a complete resort transformation, including a new valet and hotel lobby, an outdoor pool experience, new dining experiences, as well as additional room and suite enhancements. The Caesars Atlantic City complex will include 750 renovated rooms and suites in Caesars Atlantic City hotel, the new Nobu Atlantic City and the new Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen.

In addition to Caesars Atlantic City, the company’s other two properties — Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City and Tropicana Atlantic City — have become favorites among meeting planners thanks to their wealth of amenities and experiences, including nightlife, shopping, celebrity chefs and entertainment.

“Caesars Atlantic City set the standard for extraordinary experiences in the market, and we are thrilled to continue that legacy by reimagining the property from the moment guests step through the doors,” says John Koster, regional president, East for Caesars Entertainment. “This major investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to elevating guests’ experiences at our resorts as well as advancing the Atlantic City tourism economy.”

In addition to elegant design changes to the Caesars Atlantic City lobby, the redesigned pool experience will boast two levels of seating as well as a bar, all of which will overlook Atlantic City’s beach and the iconic Atlantic City Boardwalk.

Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City also features the Waterfront Conference Center, which boasts 100,000 sf of flexible meeting space. In addition, Harrah’s Resort also offers meeting space and more than 2,500 guest rooms. A favorite meeting spot is under Harrah’s 90-foot glass dome above the pool area, which is considered by many to be a tropical oasis that can play host to up to 2,000 attendees.

Tropicana Atlantic City has been a “to-go” meeting and event venue for more than 40 years. This Caesars property is a favorite among meeting planners who are looking for expansive meeting spaces. As one of New Jersey’s largest hotels, Tropicana boasts more than 122,000 sf of meeting space and 2,400 guest rooms.

For meeting planners looking to host a large-scale event in Atlantic City, Tropicana’s Grand Exhibition Center is the perfect location, thanks in part to the multipurpose space measuring almost 20,000 sf. Often used for trade shows, this room can accommodate more than 115 standard exhibit booths. In addition, Tropicana offers a 2,000-seat Broadway-style theater, ideal for large award programs or general sessions.

Atlantic City offered plenty of amenities, and the Atlantic City Convention Center offered plenty of space for the recent ACA, NY & NJ annual event. Irvin Simon Photographers

Atlantic City offered plenty of amenities, and the Atlantic City Convention Center offered plenty of space for the recent ACA, NY & NJ annual event. Irvin Simon Photographers

Offering Service and Style

Sonya Bohmann, event planner at BrandPoint Services, has dealt with hotels for events and conferences all over the country, and she says Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City is the best to deal with for an event. She recently orchestrated a conference for BrandPoint Services in Atlantic City, specifically at Resorts Casino Hotel, and she says she “can’t thank them enough” for helping make her job easier and making the conference go off like a breeze.

Located on the Atlantic City Boardwalk with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, Resorts Casino Hotel offers its Atlantic City conference facilities with the service and style that has become synonymous with Mohegan Sun properties.

Resorts Casino Hotel offers 64,000 sf of technologically advanced meeting space, including 24 meeting and function rooms, 14 of which have natural light and ocean views, a 13,000-sf oceanfront ballroom, and function space for anywhere from 10 to 1,350 attendees. In terms of accommodations, the resort features 942 guest rooms with wonderful amenities.

Resorts Casino Hotel also features a 1,350-seat showroom, a 300-seat theater, six restaurants, two VIP slots and table game player lounges, an indoor-outdoor swimming pool, the Boogie Nights dance club, two lounges, a salon, a health club, and spa and retail shops. The Resorts Conference Center is a separate, multifaceted convention and event space featuring an additional 12,000 sf of meeting space and 12 conference rooms. The Atlantic Ballroom is a 6,500-sf function room with a multiuse, pre-function area.

Of course, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is another favorite gem of many planners and attendees. Set on 17 acres, with the legendary Boardwalk as its backdrop, the Hard Rock Atlantic City features a wealth of entertainment options for attendees, as well as lavish guest rooms and suites. When it’s time to get down to business, Hard Rock offers more than 150,000 sf of space for large conventions, and can accommodate smaller events and large trade shows. The property also features two separate venues for live music, sporting events, conferences and shows, offering more than 7,000 seats total.

There is an air of non-traditional uniqueness within the environs at Hard Rock Atlantic City. Thanks to the vast collection of music memorabilia and unique music-centric activities, meeting attendees can enjoy everything from guided tours to trivia, to scavenger hunts during their breakout sessions.

Last year, Hard Rock Atlantic City invested $20 million for suite renovations, the opening of a new Starbucks, additional slots and table games, a new dining outlet — Sandpiper Coastal Bar & Grill — and a refresh of beachfront amenities.

Of course, no mention of Atlantic City’s meeting environment would be complete without highlighting Ocean Casino Resort, which features more than 20 acres of idyllic beachfront property also along the famous Boardwalk. For events, the resort offers more than 160,000 sf of flexible indoor meeting and convention space, and can accommodate groups as small as 10 to as large at 10,000 attendees.

To take advantage of the pristine views of the resort, meeting planners can utilize the ample outdoor event spaces for gatherings. Here, guests can relax and engage in charming Adirondack chairs, seating areas and fire pits. In total, Ocean Casino Resort boasts 90,000 sf of unique outdoor spaces for taking events outside.

Following a $15 million casino floor remodel this year, Ocean Casino Resort constructed a new sports venue, which recently opened, intertwining an entertainment bar and lounge, along with an immersive gaming and sports wagering experience. Called “The Gallery Bar, Book & Game,” the venue features a 100-foot elevated bar and lounge, including 59 seats and 12 slot machines. A mix of blackjack and roulette tables surround the perimeter of the bar, while 140 feet of LED walls line the venue. And a 17-foot open-air staircase connects to Balcony Bar, a mezzanine bar and lounge where guests can enjoy the ultimate VIP sportsbook experience.

The complete 12,000-sf venue sets the stage for social gaming, big-game nights, and an unforgettable after-hours experience for meeting and event attendees.

Atlantic City’s many venues allow the destination to host groups of any size, and the amenities offered are sure to please attendees. Irvin Simon Photographers

Atlantic City’s many venues allow the destination to host groups of any size, and the amenities offered are sure to please attendees. Irvin Simon Photographers

Timing is Everything

While Atlantic City is easily accessible and within a mere three-hour drive for 30% of the U.S. population, when to host an event in Atlantic City is key. “Atlantic City can be a fun and vivacious place, but timing is important. The summer season can be crowded and expensive, making it harder for convention attendees to find places to stay,” Dunlay says. “I would recommend hosting during the off-season for the best rates and more availability of outside venues for socials and sub-events.”

Lefort advises that meeting planners reach out to various entities at the selected venue, including the group sales representative, as well as the marketing department, as they may be able to provide some additional “value add” items that will appeal to attendees, such as valet parking, complimentary breakfast, airport transfers and even entertainment.

While the renovations at Atlantic City’s favorite gaming resorts are much celebrated, it’s important to note that a new $100 million indoor water park on the Atlantic City Boardwalk is in the works. The 103,000-sf Island Waterpark is ideal for meeting and event attendees who may want to opt for non-gaming, family-friendly entertainment alternatives.

When completed, Island Waterpark will boast a lazy river, water slides, retail space, lounge areas, a party room, and a wealth of food and beverage outlets. C&IT

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