Second-Tier City, First-Class Service: Why Planners Choose Atlantic City

Ask any meeting planner about what’s on their minds at night, and you’ll probably hear about money: 90 percent of planners say potential cost increases are a top concern right now, according to a recent Skift survey. The bottom line has always been top of mind, but the current climate of economic uncertainty is putting even more pressure on planners to control expenses. 

The answer to alleviating that stress begins with taking a second look at second-tier cities. That “second-tier” label, however, can be misleading. A lesser-known destination doesn’t deliver any lesser of an experience. In fact, one meeting planner who designs experiences for a well-known retail company discovered that it can be the opposite: A smaller destination like Atlantic City can create big opportunities.

The planner — who preferred to remain anonymous for this article due to corporate sensitivity — recently chose Atlantic City for the ability to “maximize value.”

“Because of the lower cost and flexible rates, we had more funding to do different themed dinners and custom entertainment options that otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to afford,” the planner said. “It created a more meaningful event.”

Gary Musich, president and CEO of Visit Atlantic City, says group rates are typically $200 less during peak times and even lower during off-season periods. “The cost of other services, including labor, is highly competitive,” Musich says, “and we continue to focus on providing a quality experience.”

For new business considering the destination, the cost-effective upside gets even better, thanks to a suite of flexible incentive offerings available for both hotel and convention center meetings. “The incentive is based on the overall value of the event and is calculated on the number of contracted rooms,” Musich says. “Planners can use the incentive in any manner, including marketing the event or paying down costs of services or transportation.”

Beyond the Budget: Delivering What Attendees Want, Too

Planning an impactful meeting isn’t simply about counting dollars, though. The destination needs to help today’s busy professionals feel like all the work they do can pay off with rewarding time away from home. With that in mind, Atlantic City has focused on redefining the blended travel space to truly blur the lines between professional and personal. Attendees don’t have to plan ahead to come early or stay late: In Atlantic City, they can easily appreciate the sense of reward during the program. Head to the rooftop pool at the Ocean Casino Resort during an afternoon break, book a quick treatment at Rock Spa & Salon at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino before dinner, stroll the country’s first and oldest boardwalk, and more — attendees can easily incorporate personal time into their itineraries due to the convenient 48-block set-up of dining, entertainment, and attractions.

Another key selling point for some attendees is the chance to eliminate some transit time. When the retail company hosted its summit in February, many of the approximately 200 attendees — which ranged from divisional vice presidents to executive leaders — took advantage of the convenience of driving. As more attendees seek the ease of departing on their own schedules, Atlantic City’s location can make a big difference: Nearly one-third of the nation’s population can drive there within a few hours. 

For attendees who don’t want to get behind the wheel, there are plenty of options, too, including nonstop service to Atlantic City International Airport and nearby Philadelphia International Airport and a train line that drops passengers off next door to the Atlantic City Convention Center. 

Paving the Way Toward an Even Brighter Future

Atlantic City has a rich history to celebrate, but hospitality leaders here are making even bigger strides as a forward-thinking meeting destination. The city is well ahead of the curve with one of the biggest priorities for every group: taking care of the planet. With the LEED Gold-certified Atlantic City Convention Center and a wide range of volunteer opportunities for eco-friendly-focused teambuilding outings, Atlantic City knows how to make sustainable meetings happen. And earlier this year, the convention center unveiled a $70 million ambitious energy upgrade program with new solar arrays and LED lighting enhancements that build on the destination’s status as a renewable energy innovator.

While the footprint of meetings gets smaller, the places where those meetings happen are getting better. Ocean Casino Resort, for example, is investing $50 million in room renovations, a casino expansion, and new restaurants this year. In 2026, Tropicana Atlantic City will debut the reimagined 604-room Solana Tower. Around the boardwalk, planners will see other signals of the next chapter of celebrations here. 

“With our hotels and casinos investing $1 billion over the past two years, the quality of the product has never been better,” Musich says. “Every property has upgraded its room product.”

The major upgrades at those 18,000 citywide rooms are translating to major wins. The city expects a record-setting number of convention attendees in 2025. Looking ahead, that record seems poised to be broken. The Northeast Spa & Pool Association (The Pool & Spa Show — the largest show of its kind in the United States) and American Bus Association (ABA) recently committed to Atlantic City for 2032.

As Atlantic City continues to evolve to meet the new demands of meetings and events, one piece of the destination will stay the same: a unique approach to service that makes every planner feel like a VIP. “The sales people are fabulous,” the planner said after welcoming attendees to the leadership summit at Ocean Casino Resort in February. “I’ve created personal relationships with some of the people I’ve worked with, which speaks volumes — especially for a local company. They will keep us coming back for more.”

For more information about why you’ll find everything you need in Atlantic City, visit https://www.visitatlanticcity.com/meetings/.

This content was created collaboratively by Visit Atlantic City and Skift’s branded content studio, SkiftX.