Guide to Meeting & Event Planning in

Atlantic City

Event Venues, Additions & Renovations 

• The state’s Casino Reinvestment Development Authority has approved a budget of up to $1 million to upgrade portions of the façade of Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. The project, which is slated for completion by summer 2020, includes work on the building’s façade pylon, structural and damaged stone masonry. Two nonfunctioning light towers atop the venue, which are of no historical significance, will be removed. Boardwalk Hall will remain open during the renovation.

• Meet AC, the city’s convention & visitors bureau, booked a record 394,029 hotel room nights in 2019, injecting more than $400 million into the local economy. This year is expected to bring more of the same, as Meet AC expects to book more than 375,000 room nights in 2020 and maintains a “stretch goal” of 400,000 booked room nights.

• More dining and retail outlets are coming to Atlantic City International Airport. As part of a plan approved in late 2019 by the South Jersey Transportation Authority, a Hudson concession stand and a Brookstone store selling travel accessories and other items will open in 2020 in the pre- security checkpoint space. A Dunkin’ outlet and a second Hudson concession stand will be added beyond the airport’s screening area. The airport will also add three dining outlets: two Great American Bagel & Bakery shops and a BeachHouse Restaurant & Bar.

• Harrah's Resort, home to one of the nine casinos in Atlantic City, is plowing ahead with renovations. In June, the hotel completed a full transformation of its 507-room Coastal Tower. Harrah's now plans to spend $24 million refreshing the 416 rooms in the Marina Tower, which will be renamed the Laguna Tower. The refreshed rooms are expected to be unveiled in April 2020. The renovations are part of a $300 million investment Caesars Entertainment has made over the past four years to its three Atlantic City casinos: Harrah's Resort, Bally's Atlantic City and Caesars Atlantic City.  

• The Sea Spa at the Tropicana Atlantic City has reopened. Originally part of the 330-room Chelsea Hotel, which was acquired by the Tropicana last year, the 10,000-square-foot spa combines traditional services with a holistic approach to wellness and offers pampering in eight private treatment rooms, a couples’ room, and a solarium.
 
• Historic Gardner’s Basin—home to the Atlantic City Aquarium as well as to several small businesses and recreational amenities—is getting a facelift. A $1 million grant from the New Jersey Green Acres Program will be used to pay for restroom and maintenance building renovations, LED lighting, parking lot upgrades, and a public address system. New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs is chipping in an additional $1 million to address improvements to the Gardner’s Basin marina.

• Fins Bar, billed as “a whole new way to experience the Boardwalk” in Atlantic City, opened in May at the Resorts Casino Hotel. Designed as an outdoor component of the property’s LandShark Bar & Grill, Fins Bar features a 2,300-square-foot boardwalk deck, as well as an additional 150-seat bar, cozy fire pits, outdoor speakers and string lights. Live entertainment, including performances by regional bands, is presented seven days a week on a portable stage.

• Investment firm Colosseo Atlantic City has acquired the former Atlantic Club Casino Hotel. Plans call for development of a an 800-room non-gaming hotel with new retail and food and beverage offerings. The property has been shuttered since January 2014.

• Following the debut of its new Moneyline Bar & Book — which offers a 40-foot wide LED video wall and six betting windows and a 35-foot-long bar with 19 built-in slot machines — Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is spending $14 million to add a Lobby Bar and upgrade its 312 Fiore Suites guest rooms, for an early 2020 debut. The 1,700-square-foot Lobby Bar will feature three large-screen television sets, coffee service with Lavazza products, and a curated tapas and cocktail menu, along with a separate VIP check-in area, modern lounge seating and a polished “speakeasy” ambiance. On weekends, it will transform into a piano bar offering live entertainment. The Fiore Suites are being re-designed in a palette of blue and neutral shades and will be outfitted with stone countertops, gold-dusted sconces, custom entertainment centers and USB charging ports.

• A $10 million renovation of the lobby and atrium at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall has been completed. Upgrades include replacement of the venue's escalators and the addition of a set of stairs leading from the main lobby to the first floor. Interactive video boards also were installed. The remodeled lobby features a new exhibit, titled the "Atlantic City Experience," that takes visitors through the city's diverse history.

• The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is the newest property in town. The resort, formerly the Trump Taj Mahal, underwent a $500 million, head-to-toe transformation into a shrine to rock art and memorabilia. The gaming property offers a revamped casino with 2,200 slot machines and 120 table games; 150,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and the Hard Rock Café (relocated from its former site on the Boardwalk). New dining outlets include the Sugar Factory, a cosmopolitan casual dining spot and confectionery, and Kuro, an upscale Japanese eatery. Other new features include a lobby lounge. The property's Mark G. Etess Arena, a holdover from the Taj Mahal days, remains and has been expanded to seat 7,700.

• The Atlantic City Convention Center has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification in accordance with the LEED rating system developed by the U.S. Green Buildings Council. Steps taken at the center that led to the certification included replacing all metal-halide fixtures in the exhibit halls with LED fixtures, reducing lighting loads by nearly 63 percent. Last year, more than 2.9 million kWh of electricity (roughly 13 percent of the building’s total energy) were produced from solar panels. Operation of lighting and HVAC systems was made more efficient by minimizing their use during non-peak times, and improved operating efficiency of climate controls was achieved during changing seasons. Finally, efforts undertaken in 2018 allowed more than 158.2 tons of recycled materials from the facility to be diverted from landfills, and 9,583 pounds of lamps, ballasts, batteries and electronics were recycled. 

• In other ACCC news, a $9.1 million renovation of the facility's 32 restrooms has been completed. The project included the installation of new lighting, auto-flush toilets, porcelain-accented flooring, and glass and porcelain wall tiles. New vanities with long trough sinks, quartz surfaces, backlit mirrors, and automated soap dispensers and faucets have been added as well. Modern entry portals and signage now direct visitors to each restroom.

• Luxor Capital Group, a New York City-based hedge fund, has purchased the Ocean Resort Casino. The gaming resort sits on 20 acres of beachfront and accommodates groups in 160,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 90,000 square feet of outdoor function space. Amenities include 16 restaurants, a 5,500-seat entertainment venue, a 138,000-square-foot gaming floor, a state-of-the-art sportsbook, a 40,000-square-foot Exhale spa, six swimming pools and the world's largest Topgolf Swing Suite virtual-golf facility. A new 1927 Lounge & Speakeasy has also been added to the property. Under Luxor’s ownership, the resort will be enhanced to the tune of $70 million. In addition to the construction of a “long-awaited buffet,” improvements will involve wrapping up incomplete work that had been underway on 12 floors in the middle of the hotel tower, which will add another 500 guest rooms to the existing 1,399 rooms. Casino enhancements and other improvements also are on the drawing board. 

• About eight miles from Atlantic City on 670 acres along Reed’s Bay in Galloway, the historic Seaview Dolce Hotel & Golf Club has reopened following a multimillion-dollar renovation. All 296 guest rooms and suites, as well as the lobby, public spaces, meeting and event spaces, and the Grille Room restaurant now feature art deco design elements combined with cool blues and modern finishes. Part of the Dolce Hotels and Resorts Collection by Wyndham, the property offers 27,000 square feet of event space, including 21 meeting rooms, plus two championship golf courses, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts and an Elizabeth Arden Red Door spa.

• Over the past five years, Resorts Atlantic City has completed more than $100 million in renovations to reposition and transform the property into a vibrant destination with offerings beyond casino gaming. Major expansion milestones included the $35 million Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville and Landshark Bar & Grill Entertainment Complex, a first-of-its-kind iGaming Lounge dedicated to the online gaming experience, and a completely remodeled casino floor adding more than 800 new slot machines. 
 

• Atop the Playground at Caesars restaurant and shopping complex, the independently owned One Atlantic offers sweeping views of Atlantic City's beach, Boardwalk and skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows and an open-air terrace. More than 10,000 square feet of flexible event space accommodates groups of 50 to 1,200 people for cocktail receptions, 30 to 500 for seated luncheons and dinners, and 30 to 750 in theater- or classroom-style configuration.
 
• An atmosphere reminiscent of Old Havana — complete with period décor, exotic tropical foliage and music — creates a backdrop for colorful events at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar. A buyout of the restaurant provides space to accommodate up to 850 people. Choose from several different entertainment options, including choreographed floor shows, salsa lessons and appearances by professional dancers, a cigar roller or a rum expert.
 
• The 23,100-square-foot Adrian Philips Theater at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall features a stage with a 48-foot proscenium opening, as well as an open-air loggia that overlooks the beach and Boardwalk. With a capacity ranging from 1,000 people in rounds to 3,200 in theater-style seating, the facility is suitable for a variety of functions, including theatrical events, concerts, galas and banquets.
 
• Hold your event in a tented space perched 1,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. The Ocean Reef Oasis at the Steel Pier serves a wide variety of fare, with catering packages that include everything from barbecue favorites, sliders, crab cakes and a clam bake to Italian specialties and freshly carved roast beef. Groups using the venue can also enjoy optional extras, like bonfires on the beach, assorted rides and amusements, and helicopter journeys.

Getting Active & Outdoors

• Running to the beat: Atlantic City has been named the newest destination of The IRONMAN Group’s Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, with the inaugural Rock ‘n’Roll Atlantic City Half Marathon & 5K event slated for May 15-16, 2020. The event kicks off on May 14 with a health and fitness expo (location to be determined) open to the public and featuring exhibits covering the latest products and trends in the running industry. The 5K—geared toward walkers and runners of all levels—will be held on May 15, followed by the half marathon during the twilight hours of May 16. After starting out on Bader Field, marathon participants will run through the neighboring shore towns of Ventnor and Margate before making their way to the Atlantic City Boardwalk for the final six miles of the event. Playing to New Jersey’s rich musical history, the Atlantic City event will feature bands and DJs for competitors to enjoy during the marathon and an after-party festival.

• You don’t have to be named Jagger or Springsteen to be treated like rock royalty at Rock Spa & Salon in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. Featuring 31 treatment rooms and offering a wide range of full body treatments and massages (including deep tissue, couples, athletic and therapeutic), the spa boasts a VIP spa suite where small groups can enjoy champagne before or after receiving service. A one-of-a-kind Rhythm & Motion spa menu offers several signature music-centric massage experiences, all with bass vibrations rippling through the massage table as treble beats from above send pulses through the body. Options include “Synchronicity,” a pulsating massage set to a masterfully blended soundtrack; “Smooth Operator”, a sweetgrass-inspired dry brushing followed by a detoxifying wrap; "Face the Music”, combining sound vibration with the application of organic facial care products and “Wrap Remix,” which begins and ends with a detoxifying beverage and features dry brushing, a body wrap, a massage and a facial mask.

• Get your golf on: Casino gambling and sports books are not the only games in town. Golf is another option, especially now that several previously private courses in and near the destination are open for public play. One of the oldest facilities of its kind in the U.S., the layout at the Atlantic City Country Club has been named the number-one public golf course in New Jersey by Golf Week, Golf Magazine and Golf Digest. The course is known for its finely manicured fairways and large sloping green complexes protected by sand bunkers. Long carries over natural ponds and saltwater marshes make a formidable challenge for any golfer. The Vineyard National Golf Course at Renault at Renault Winery Resort & Golf features a 7,200-yard layout with vineyard views. Meandering subtly through South Jersey’s Pinelands, the course offers challenges at every turn — such as an island green surrounded by treacherous bunkers at the third hole, and a bentgrass hollow at the 10th hole. Situated on 350 acres of land, the Ballamor Golf Club has wide, easy-to-hit fairways and large greens. One highlight is the 15th hole, a 347-yard par four with a challenging tee shot. After clearing the water, players must decide whether to carry a massive bunker on the left corner of a dogleg with a 220-yard drive or take a long shot with bunkers everywhere in sight.
 
• Bike the boards: A bicycle ride is one of the best ways to experience Atlantic City's famed five-mile Boardwalk and all it offers. Cycle nonstop or pause to enjoy ocean views, shops, restaurants, bars and traditional beach-resort treats like salt water taffy and fudge. B&K Bike Rental (609-344-8008) operates two rental shops — one at North Carolina Avenue and Boardwalk and one at Iowa Avenue and Boardwalk. Rental rates are $8 for the first hour and $1 for each additional 15 minutes.

• Ride the waves: Atlantic City has not one, not two but three surfing beaches: Crystal Beach at New Hampshire Avenue, Delaware Avenue Beach and Downtown Beach at Raleigh Avenue. Several surf shops on the Boardwalk, including AC Surf School and the Inlet Surf Shop (609-515-7640; no website), provide surfing lessons as well as rent out equipment. Paddleboard rentals and lessons also are available.

• Hit the sand: Atlantic City's expansive beaches are great for a run or walk. There's no need to purchase a beach badge — admission is free, even during the busy summer months.

• All aboard: Boardwalk Tram Service operates electric tramcars that transport visitors anywhere along the Boardwalk from the Hard Rock Casino & Hotel Atlantic City to the Tropicana Casino and Resort. The cars run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Adult fare is $4 one way and $8 for an all-day pass; group rates are available on request.

Extending Your Trip in Atlantic City

• Thrills and chills: The Steel Pier stirs up excitement with more than 20 rides, from classics like bumper cars to extreme options like the Slingshot. The Steel Pier's newest attraction, the Observation Wheel, transports riders 227 feet above Atlantic City to enjoy views of the Atlantic Ocean and skyline from inside one of 40 climate-controlled gondolas. Opportunities to play hoop-shooting, crane, and squirt gun games for prizes of all sizes, along with stands serving boardwalk fare, complete the experience.
 

Mad for Macaroons

The G. Carl Tripician Co. has been making macaroons since 1910, when the shop was set up on the Boardwalk. The almond and coconut delights are made with the original recipe and join a delicious slate of modern delectables. 

• History lesson: Take a journey into time and above it all by climbing 228 steps to the top of the Absecon Lighthouse, one of the oldest beacons in the U.S. In addition to enjoying breathtaking views of the Atlantic City skyline, visitors can view the lighthouse's Fresnel lens (first lit in 1857) along with an educational museum and a replica of a traditional lightkeeper's dwelling.
 
• Retail therapy: From quaint boutiques and kitschy stores on the Boardwalk to malls and outlet centers, Atlantic City is a paradise for shoppers. The Quarter at Tropicana beckons with more than 25 luxury shops, while The Playground at Caesars houses stores that feature high-end fashions, accessories, jewelry and more. Tanger Outlets The Walk is the place to go for discounts on a wide variety of brand-name merchandise, including apparel, shoes, home furnishings and accessories.
 
• Cruise to the Cape: Not far from Atlantic City — and well worth the short trip — is the seaside resort town of Cape May. Stroll the Historic District for a look at the Victorian architecture for which Cape May is known. The Emlen Physick Estate, built in 1879, offers a glimpse of life as it was lived more than 100 years ago. Eclectic and traditional shops, along with restaurants, line the Washington Street Mall, a pedestrian promenade that spans three blocks.

• A corking good time: Take a break from cocktails and casinos with a visit to one or more wineries in the Atlantic City region. Bellview Winery in Landisville produces more than 20 estate-grown varietals and more than two-dozen wines. Renault Winery, one of the oldest continuously operating establishments of its kind in the U.S., is now being revitalized by Vivamee Hospitality to reflect the vision of Master Vintner Louis Nicholas Renault, who hailed from Rheims, France, and established his winery in Egg Harbor City in 1864. Hamilton is home to Plagido's Winery, which specializes in hand-crafted, artisanal wines produced from small lots of grapes using a basket press, as well as DiMatteo Vineyards and Winery, whose Pasquale Red, Chambourcin, Niagara and other varietals are consistently featured in the Winner’s Circle at the prestigious International Wine Competition and other events.

Sports Betting in A.C.

Atlantic City has no sports teams, but it does have sports betting now that wagering on various professional and collegiate sports at New Jersey's casinos and racetracks became legal last summer. Six Atlantic City casinos currently accept such wagers: Bally's, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, Resorts Casino Hotel, Harrah's Resort Atlantic City and Ocean Resort Casino.

In Walking Distance

The following are in walking distance of the Atlantic City Convention Center:

Grab a bite (and a brew): The historic Tun Tavern, Atlantic City's first brew pub, offers a rotating menu of handcrafted beers along with casual fare. Lunch specialties include a "super-sized pretzel" served with Ale-infused cheese sauce, sweet stout mustard and cheddar crab dip; or try the Blue Claw Fries covered in melted cheddar cheese and blue claw crabmeat, and dusted with Old Bay seasoning.

For another extensive beer menu plus pub fare prepared from locally sourced ingredients, check out Wingcraft Kitchen & Beer Bar. Wingcraft's "The Manhattan Project" burger, named the "#1 Burger in South Jersey" by At the Shore magazine, is topped with smoked gouda cheese, crispy fried onions and honey barbecue steak sauce. Voted "Best Tequila & Rum Bar" in Atlantic City Weekly's Reader's Choice 2018 Nightlife Awards, Los Amigos goes beyond nachos and tacos in its culinary repertoire to feature creative and Southwestern-inspired dishes. A vegan menu is available.

Bring on the bargains: Tanger Outlets The Walk comprises 109 stores that offer great deals on top brands of apparel, shoes, home furnishings and more. Bonus: In New Jersey, there's no sales tax on apparel and shoe purchases.

Atlantic City Excursions

• John Barleycorn, Meet Paul Bunyon: Already home to the Little Water Distillery, Atlantic City’s Little Water district on the north side of town will soon see the opening of two new venues with interesting twists. The Seed: A Living Beer Project, will serve a wide variety of beers brewed exclusively from locally grown grains, stone fruits, berries, flowers and leaves. Westecunk Axe Throwing will give visitors a chance to channel their inner lumberjack by throwing axes in the safety of enclosed lanes with instructors nearby (the outfit also has a mobile axe-throwing unit available for group events). Both venues are expected to debut sometime this spring.

• Boardwalk sweets: Atlantic City is known as the Salt Water Taffy Capital of the World, and James’ Candy Company, offering dozens and dozens of flavors, is the perfect place to get your fix. For $5, you can enjoy a 30- to 40-minute tour to see how the candy — as well as James’ caramels — is made. Steel's Fudge has been an Atlantic City staple since 1919, when Elizabeth and Howard Steel started selling the confection prepared from an old family recipe that’s still in use today. Flavors range from traditional options like chocolate, chocolate walnut and vanilla to more unusual choices such as pumpkin, pistachio and chocolate turtle caramel. Once featured on the Food Network, Steel’s also offers salt water taffy, popcorn and macaroons. Ices from TLC's Polish Water Ice boast a creamy texture and are made fresh daily. New flavors are added to the menu every year; this year, look for sour blast blue raspberry and cola. Vanina’s Ice Cream is a one-stop shop for all the classic shore treats you can think of: soft and hard ice cream (atop a waffle, if you’d like), fried Oreos, fried cheesecake, fried pickles, smoothies, slushies, fresh-squeezed lemonade and funnel cake.

• Just steps off the Boardwalk — starting with the beach block of Tennessee Avenue and extending into St. James Place and New York Avenue — lies The Orange Loop. Promoted as "the best of the new Atlantic City," the three-block expanse is chock-full of one-of-a-kind restaurants, bars and live music venues. The Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall provides a hip alternative to the glitzy Atlantic City bar scene. This spring, the Rhythm & Spirits cocktail and pizza bar will debut in this lively enclave. Live music and craft cocktails will be the order of the day; an indoor bar and entertainment area plus an outdoor entertainment area and a food truck round out the venue’s offerings.

• Solving mysteries is the fun on tap at Escape AC, housed in the Tropicana. Players are given an hour to discover clues, solve puzzles and break out of one of four Atlantic City–themed rooms: The Poker Room, Casino Cage, the Boardwalk and Backstage. Success rates for sleuths vary between 5 percent and 25 percent. Escape AC accommodates groups of up to 200 people, with 40 players hunting for the way out per round.

• Thrilling obstacle courses across 80 acres of forest fields await at AC Paintball. Large groups of up to 100 players can test out the Black Ops course, while smaller teams can square off on the Hyperball Field. Bookings can be made for full- or half-day experiences.

• Nearby Ventnor offers several great dining options. At Domenico’s (609-822-1300) guests can enjoy traditional Italian favorites (try the Lobster Sinatra, which is sautéed with littleneck clams, shitake mushrooms and pignoli nuts in a light cherry tomato broth on a bed of spaghettini). Stella Restaurant features innovative menu items like Medjool dates stuffed with goat cheese, almonds, applewood bacon and arugula; meatballs with creamy polenta and fontina in a pomodoro sauce; homemade sweet fennel sausage with orecchiette pasta and roasted peppers; and shrimp with smoked bacon, soft polenta, shiitake mushrooms, lemon, garlic, parsley and scallion.

• Bourre brings a New Orleans vibe to the area with frozen Hurricanes and other drinks from the Big Easy, along with Cajun barbecue cuisine.

• Over-the-top cocktails like the Alice In Wonderland-themed Unusual Tales G&T; the Bright Idea, served in a lightbulb with a flamingo straw; and the Kentucky Supper Club, made with Woodford Reserve and Sweet Vermouth Foam, are the order of the day (and night) at 2100 Bar & Lounge at Caesars.

• A taste of Brooklyn Italian cuisine can be savored at Cafe 2825. Staying true to the owners’ Brooklyn and Southern Italian roots, the famous eatery serves fare prepared from fresh, authentic ingredients. House specialties include Sunday Gravy (homemade meatballs, bracciole and Italian sausage in red gravy, accompanied by rigatoni) and Chicken Sorrentino ala Jacquelina (francese-style chicken breast layered with eggplant, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella cheese and fresh tomato), among others. Café 2825 is also known for offering “tableside experiences,” such as the preparation of burrata-style fresh mozzarella cheese straight from the curd; it’s then sliced and served warm with sauteed tomatoes and homemade ricotta topping.

Among other top restaurants in Atlantic City are: 

1. Capriccio - Italian
2. Buddakan - Asian fusion
3. Dock's Oyster House - Seafood, American
4. White House Sub Shop - Delicatessen, American
5. Knife & Fork Inn - Seafood, American
6. Chef Vola's - Italian
7. The Continental - Bar, American
8. Kelsey & Kim's Southern Cafe - American
9. Eastwind - Singaporean, Asian

Featured Meeting Venues

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The Stella Awards Winner 2019

Harrah's Resort Atlantic City

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Guest Rooms - 2,590

Meeting Rooms - 60

Largest Conference Room - 49,447 sq. ft.

Total event space - 179,500 sq. ft.

Room Rate Range - $117-$2,916

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Ocean Resort Casino

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Guest Rooms - 1,399

Meeting Rooms - 20

Largest Conference Room - 76,702 sq. ft.

Total event space - 160,000 sq. ft.

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Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Guest Rooms - 2,000

Meeting Rooms - 14

Largest Conference Room - 63,172 sq. ft.

Total event space - 150,000 sq. ft.

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