Atlantic City Reups $1 Million Incentive Fund Through 2016 to Draw Events to the Area
August 18, 2013
Even before “Superstorm Sandy” struck the Eastern seaboard of the United States, officials in the conventions and meetings business in Atlantic City had been brainstorming about a way to bring more events into their town.
The hurricane brought a tremendous amount of damage in its wake, but, according to Gary Musich, Atlantic City CVA’s vice president of convention development, much of the city was spared.
“There was no damage to any of the hotels or the convention center,” he added, “There was some flooding, but that’s it. There also was no damage to our boardwalk at all. There were some perception issues.”
After the storm hit, there was even more of an incentive, though, to bring events into the region, especially since several meetings and conventions had been canceled. The plans that were being discussed beforehand were put into fast forward.
The Atlantic City Alliance, a private not for profit funded by the casinos, which is responsible for marketing Atlantic City broadly as a tourism destination, approved a special $1 million incentive fund. Together with the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, now a division of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, approved funds will be portioned out to meetings that fit certain criteria as a means to draw them to the city.
“We wanted to show that we were open,” Musich said.
Jeffrey Vasser, Atlantic City CVA’s president and CEO, added, “Getting more citywides is one component (of the fund). Also, we wanted to get Atlantic City top of mind in the industry. We needed a strong incentive program.”
The fund was set up and meetings that qualified needed to book at least a 1,000 room nights, be new or not have visited Atlantic City for at least three years and preferably book mid-week.
The funds were not earmarked toward anything specific, Vasser said, they could be used for transportation, attendee marketing or whatever the event organizer needed them for.
Elizabeth B. Cartmell, president and CEO of the Atlantic City Alliance, said, “Now, we have the opportunity to fill mid-week visits to the destination. We recognize how competitive it is in the convention center environment. We had the challenge of needing to reintroduce Atlantic City and we needed to get people here.”
The incentive worked, with several groups signing on and coming to the city in the past year. “We had immediate results,” Musich said.
In fact, it worked so well the $1 million fund has just been reupped for each year through 2016 in an effort to bring even more events to Atlantic City.
There’s plenty of new space coming online in the future as well, with Harrah’s building a $126 million, 250,000 square foot conference center, Revel Resort Hotel & Casino also recently opened with new meeting space available and Jimmy Buffett is set to open to new facilities as well, according to Musich.
Cartmell said the future for Atlantic City looked bright as well. “There is a flurry of activity into future years,” she added.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
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The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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