A place to stay
Even the most ardent , all-night gambler needs a place to stay , and AC has seven casino hotels , plus a good number of non-casino properties , from small inns to large resorts .
I stayed at the Tropicana , and while I enjoyed a spacious room and the casino , what most impressed me about this NTA-member property was not the quarter slot machines , but The Quarter . This attractive complex has more than 50 dining , drinking and shopping options , and it ’ s laid out in a cool homage to the streets of Old Havana . I did all my shopping there ( which was mostly limited to take-home chocolates ).
I dined with my Visit AC hosts at Carmine ’ s , a family-style Italian restaurant located in The Quarter .
“ We have the wow factor ,” said Lynn Manzi , Carmine ’ s special events director . “ That ’ s the first word out of a guest ’ s mouths when the food arrives on a platter .”
Carmine ’ s does extensive group business . “ During the season I host as many as a thousand buses ,” Manzi said . “ Our bus customers come in the spring and summer to see a show and have a good time . The groups come back in the fall , when the shows change , and then they come at Christmas . It ’ s a different experience every time .”
During the peak of a storm that dumped an inch of rain on AC , we visited another NTA-member property , Resorts Casino Hotel . Despite the winds and fog outside , we had a delightful breakfast with Meg Lewis , the hotel ’ s executive director of marketing and bus operations , and Donna Bell , bus marketing tour and travel manager . This place is ideal for groups . “ Our casino is 38 steps from where buses drop off passengers , and we have two theaters , which seat 300 and 1,200 ,” Meg told me . “ We partner with Mohegan Sun , and we have a single owner who continues to put money back into the property .”
Groups that visit in August for the city ’ s annual airshow can access Resorts ’ exclusive viewing area with covered seating , and the hotel provides lunch . Resorts accommodates groups throughout the year , of course .
“ Tour operators can make their own packages here ,” she said . “ The basic one is a show , a meal each day and slot plays , and they can add on a meet-andgreet with the entertainer .”
A site inspection with Donna included a history lesson . “ The room renovations are fantastic , elegant and comfortable , and I love the nostalgia with this place and with this city ,” she said . “ Ocean Tower has lots of adjoining rooms because it was used by the military .”
Near the end of World War II , the hotel was requisitioned by the federal government and became the Atlantic City Air Forces Training and Reception Center Hospital . Many of the rooms have unique configurations , some with huge closets . Departing Resorts , we visited more hotels , and everywhere we went , the locals talked about the freakish weather — but more about groups visiting the destination .
“ Ideally , tour operators would package
Atlantic City midweek and the major cities on weekends ,” advised Karen Tarnovski , tour and travel sales manager for Caesar ’ s , Harrah ’ s Resort and Bally ’ s , all of which are connected . “ Come stay with us on weekdays , when Philly is expensive . Then stay in Philly — or in New York City — on weekends , when it ’ s cheaper there .”
We returned to the Resorts complex for lunch with Debbie Gutjahr , sales manager at Jimmy Buffett ’ s Margaritaville and Landshark Bar and Grill .
Landshark is a beach bar that sits across the boardwalk from Margaritaville . It has a breezy atmosphere with indoor areas , a deck and seating right on the beach .
“ We create a space for groups , depending on the group ’ s size and the bar package ,” Debbie said . “ I do a lot of full buyouts , especially in the off-season .”
Margaritaville , too , offers lots of options , including a buffet for up to 120 guests , with an interior wall and outside doors that can be open or closed . “ When our doors are wide open , it ’ s a whole different feel ,” Debbie said . “ We want to do more with groups , and I ’ ll customize something to make the most of any budget .”
I recommend building a budget that includes the Caribbean chicken egg rolls . And key lime pie .
Another cool space we explored was The VÜE . Located in the Claridge Hotel , it ’ s the only rooftop bar in Atlantic City . “ It ’ s great for the airshow and fireworks displays ,” said Jessica Jarvis , sales manager for hotel .
Rolling into town
The Wheel is opening this spring , and while 2018 visitors will be excited , the tourism community is ecstatic .
“ We ’ ve been talking about The Wheel opening for a couple of years , and after some delays , the clouds have parted and it ’ s really ready ,” says Heather Colache of Visit AC .
The 227-foot attraction , third tallest on the East Coast , is set to be open weekends through April , and then run every day starting in May .
“ This view — there ’ s nothing like it on the Jersey Shore . Our wheel is 300 feet out into the ocean , and you can see for miles up and down the coast ,” says Sharon Franz , sales and marketing director for Steel Pier , where The Wheel is located . “ It ’ s such a smooth ride ; you don ’ t even know you ’ re moving .”
Patrons will move , though . Seated in climate-controlled gondolas , they ’ ll make five revolutions during the 15-minute ride . Franz says that tour operators will get a discount , and packages can include a grab-and-go lunch or a beverage in a souvenir cup .
“ The Wheel means a lot to us , and we partner with Steel Pier on several projects ,” says Meg Lewis of Resorts Casino Hotel , which sits beside the pier and its many rides and activities .
MEET AC
Before the attraction ’ s 14,000 LED lights illuminate the evening sky , visitors can take a late afternoon ride . “ The view of the sunset on The Wheel is spectacular ,” Franz says . “ You have to get up that high to see the western sky over the buildings .”
NTAonline . com 31