“Atlantic City is not all about gaming,” says Gary Musich, VP of sales at Meet AC. “It’s about built-in value.”
Few places come as close to being an “all-inclusive city” with built-in added value for meetings like this New Jersey city, and a number of new developments toot this horn.
The Green Urban Retreat
The new BierGarten AC, an outdoor beer garden set to open next spring just off the Boardwalk is one case in point. The green urban sprawl will hold room for 300 and tucked among the beery bliss will be an outdoor kitchen, two bars, fire pits and games areas. The garden is also in proximity to the Tropicana Casino and Hotel, fresh off of $90 million in renovations that redesigned hotel rooms, upgraded casino floors, added five new multimedia light shows to the Boardwalk, and the latest, new restaurant concepts.
The New Hard Rock Hotel
Next year will see the pulse picking up in Atlantic City’s South Inlet as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City readies itself to open with a bang via state-of-the-art casino space, new dining and entertainment options, including two 7,000-seat arenas, and the usual Hard Rock perks of Fender guitar room service, memorabilia galore and the full-service Rock Spa.
The Heart of the City
Just a whistle away, the third tallest observation wheel in the country is likely to become the heart of the city. The Observation Wheel at the iconic Steel Pier amusement park will feature climate-controlled gondolas and dusk till dawn views of Atlantic City and the Atlantic Ocean.
The Polercoaster
Meanwhile, a new 52,000-sf attraction anchored by the 350-ft vertical Polercoaster rollercoaster has broken ground where the Sands Casino once stood. A bar and restaurant, food court, retail shops and video games will also help attendees unwind after a day of meetings and conventions.
The Tech Park
And when it comes to added value, science groups will have a new place to meet with the opening of the 58-acre Stockton Aviation Research and Technology Park, a 66,000-sf hub dedicated to the advancement of aviation sciences. The building will offer high-speed connectivity to the Technical Center laboratories, state-of-the-art classrooms and conference rooms, and a rooftop lounge.
The Tennessee Beer Hall
An alternative to the Boardwalk scene is also taking shape at the beach block of Tennessee Avenue. The first phase will see the opening of the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, a fun and hip area with dozens of craft beer options, video games and pinball, pool tables and jukeboxes. The brick- and graffiti art-accented building promises an over-the-top cocktail menu, an ocean-facing outdoor beer garden where attendees can enjoy the ocean breeze, and an inflatable movie screen for special events, live music and sporting events. Street fairs, pop-up art exhibitions and festivals will eventually be woven into the mix.
