Vol. 4, No. 3, March 2007
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In Like A Lion
From basketball to the host awards, exciting things are happening in March
We are excited to be hosting the teams and fans of the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship at Boardwalk Hall March 7 through March 10. I know those attending will enjoy the games and then get to experience a little bit of Atlantic City afterwards.
Whether you are an alum, a fan, or just want to see what it’s all about, I encourage you to check out March Madness, Atlantic City-style.
When I joined the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority nearly five years ago, Atlantic City was just starting to reach new heights in popularity with exciting new entertainment, events, dining and shopping being offered. We decided that it was also the perfect time to emphasize marketing the area as a top-quality venue for sports.
The popularity of college basketball is one of the main reasons the Authority pursued making Atlantic City home to the Atlantic 10 Basketball Championships for two consecutive years—and possibly longer. That popularity, coupled with teams from universities that are located in our feeder markets, make it a great fit for Atlantic City.
The A-10 Conference consists of defending champion Xavier University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, the George Washington University, La Salle University, University of Massachusetts, University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph’s University, St. Louis University and Temple University.
Of course, Boardwalk Hall—recently named the top-grossing mid-sized venue in the world by Billboard and Venues Today magazines—will make the perfect home to the A-10 Basketball Championships.
But college basketball is only the beginning. Based on a recent visitor profile study that showed only 1 percent of Atlantic City’s visitors come to the region for golf, we realized we were not reaching a key market that could help Atlantic City grow even more. As a result, beginning in 2007, the Authority was named as the marketing arm of the Greater Atlantic City Golf Association.
Made up of championship golf courses, casinos and hotels located around the Atlantic City region, the golf association’s members offer a wide range of accommodations, specials, golf and vacation packages, tee-times and entertainment options.
We have many great initiatives in the works for the golf association. Under the guidance of our golf tourism marketing manager, Brian Hoey, we have already made the 2007 Atlantic City Golf Pass available online. This year’s pass will save you more than $1,000 for the price of only $40 per pass. All you have to do is log onto www.gacga.com, click on the 2007 golf pass logo and then follow the directions for the pass to be mailed to you.
That makes it easy to enjoy some of the best courses in the area. Don’t take my word for it—course members currently include the highly rated Golf Digest’s Places to Play: Blue Heron Pines Golf Club West Course (4 stars), The Links at Brigantine Beach (3 1/2 stars), Harbor Pines Golf Club (4 stars), Mays Landing Golf and Country Club (3 stars), Sand Barrens Golf Club (4 stars), Shore Gate Golf Club (4 1/2 stars) and Twisted Dune Golf Club, rated the #1 Public Golf Course in the state by Jersey Golf Magazine.
Popular and award-winning golf courses aren’t the only members of the golf association. Casino and hotel partners include Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Tropicana Casino and Resort, Comfort Inn North, Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Holiday Inn Boardwalk, Ramada Limited and Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that it’s time once again for our annual Host Awards, sponsored by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority. For those of you who don’t know, the Host Awards provide a way for managers to recognize those employees who represent the highest standards for the hospitality-related profession in Atlantic City.
The awards are presented in 22 different categories, including Best Bartender, Best Host/Hostess, Best Retail Sales Associate, and Best Casino Games Personnel, to name just a few. The nomination deadline is Friday, March 23.
For additional information and a nomination form, visit www.atlanticcitynj.com and click on the Host Awards logo. Finalists will be recognized at an awards ceremony taking place on Wednesday, May 16. It’s the 10th year for the Host Awards and the perfect time to join us to salute and encourage excellent customer service in Atlantic City.
