What's doing
Need to know who's performing, playing or celebrating in New Jersey during your meeting? Check out
visitnj.org/events Atlantic City
New Jersey's Casino Reinvestment Development Authority Board has given preliminary approval for Harrah's Resort Atlantic City to build a conference center with 100,000 square feet of meeting space. The proposed $134 million, two-story facility would be built adjacent to the 2,590-room gaming resort in the city's Marina District and would open in 2014. The center will provide approximately 50,000 square feet of meeting space on each level. At present, Harrah's has 10 meeting rooms.
The New Jersey Casino Control Commission has approved a deal between Mohegan Gaming Advisors and Atlantic City's 942-room Resorts Casino Hotel. Under the agreement, MGA will take over all day-to-day operations of the property for a five-year period, in addition to acquiring a 10 percent ownership interest in the casino-hotel complex. The measure marks the first time a Native American entity has become involved in the ownership and operation of an Atlantic City casino. MGA is a subsidiary of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, which owns the Mohegan Sun casino resort complex in Uncasville, Conn., and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
In other news at Resorts Casino Hotel, the property will open a Margaritaville complex, based on the brand created by famed entertainer Jimmy Buffet, in May 2013. Plans call for a new casino, a restaurant, the Five O'Clock Somewhere Bar, a clutch of retail stores, and the LandShark Bar and Grill, along with a coffee shop. In addition, the resort's boardwalk façade will be re-themed with the signature Margaritaville brand.
Hard Rock International has decided against building a new casino hotel in Atlantic City "due to current market conditions," the company said in a statement. "We have been evaluating Atlantic City as a prospective location for a hotel-casino development and have not eliminated this location for a future endeavor." Plans for a 850-room property already had been pushed back six months at Hard Rock's request; it had been approved as part of a program that allows the development of smaller-scale casinos on the Boardwalk.
The 2,133-room Tropicana Atlantic City Casino & Resort currently is upgrading its guest rooms, restaurants and casino floor. The renovations are slated to debut this month.
The mammoth, $2.4 billion Revel casino resort opened this summer with 1,800 guest rooms, 160,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 90,000 square feet of outdoor function space (including a pool, a "SkyGarden" and a fire-pit area). In addition to its casino, the resort offers the Bask spa with 32 treatment rooms, plus 14 restaurants, three clubs and a private beach.
The former Atlantic City Hilton Casino has been rebranded as the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel. Hilton Hotels & Resorts announced last May that the 804-room gaming property would no longer fly the Hilton flag.
Meeting Hotels
Meeting and incentive properties in this storied gaming mecca include the 2,590-room Harrah's Resort Atlantic City; 2,133-room Tropicana Atlantic City Casino & Resort; 2,032-room Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel; 2,000-room Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa; 1,800-room Revel; 1,756-room Bally's Atlantic City; 1,331-room Showboat Casino Hotel; 1,140-room Caesars Atlantic City Hotel Casino; 942-room Resorts Casino Hotel; 904-room Trump Plaza; 809-room ACH Casino Resort; 800-room Water Club, a Signature Hotel by Borgata; 728-room Golden Nugget Atlantic City; 502-room Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel, and 331-room The Chelsea.
For a more complete listing of area properties, visit mcvenues.com.
Convention Center
Atlantic City Convention Center; exhibit space, approximately 486,600 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 45; (888) 222-3683
Taxes
Luxury tax, 9%; sales tax, 4%; occupancy fee, 1%; tourism promotion fee, $2 per room for casino hotels, $1 per room for others; total tax on hotel rooms, 14%, plus tourism promotion fee
Group Venues
Revel has a number of venues available for private group events. Among them is HQ, the resort's hip, upscale nightclub. Groups of up to 1,000 people are accommodated. (855) 348-0500
Another trendy nightspot, The Anthem Lounge, has opened at the 2,133-room Tropicana Atlantic City Casino & Resort. The club features a 360-degree cylindrical screen and a photo booth with a live feed that displays images in real time. Private events for up to 150 are accommodated. (609) 576-5206
Contact
Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority; (888) 228-4748
North Jersey
A 150-room Courtyard by Marriott has opened in Newark, featuring the Refreshing Business lobby environment with media pods, free Wi-Fi and several lounging areas. The property is within walking distance of the Prudential Center and Newark Penn Station. The hotel has four meeting rooms and two boardrooms.
The 154-room Residence Inn by Marriott, Secaucus, is slated to open in early 2014. The property will be part of the Harmon Meadow mixed-use complex.
Formula One, the London-based car racing organization, has postponed the Formula One Grand Prix of America, which was set to take place June 2013 in the North Jersey towns of Weehawken and West New York. The event is now slated for June 2014; organizers say they needed extra time to upgrade the roads that comprise the course.
Meeting Hotels
In Secaucus, properties include the 305-room Crowne Plaza Hotel & Exhibition Center Meadowlands/Secaucus, 261-room Embassy Suites Secaucus, 167-room Courtyard by Marriott, 151-room La Quinta Inn & Suites and 82-room Candlewood Suites.
At Newark Liberty International Airport are the 585-room Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott, 504-room Sheraton Newark Airport Hotel and 372-room Hilton Newark Airport.
Properties in East Rutherford include the 427-room Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel and Conference Center, and 167-room Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel.
Also in the area are the 429-room Westin Jersey City Newport, 347-room Sheraton Suites on the Hudson in Weehawken and 225-room W Hoboken.
Convention Center
The Meadowlands Exposition Center (Secaucus); exhibit space, 61,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, five. (201) 330-7773
Airport Transit
Newark Liberty International Airport, about 10 miles from downtown Secaucus. Transfer cost by taxi, $30-$35
Taxes Secaucus: room tax, 15%; sales tax, 7%; total tax on hotel rooms, 15%
ContactMeadowlands Liberty Convention & Visitors Bureau, (877) 652-8287