In a rare interview with Revel's CEO Kevin Desanctis, the head of Atlantic City's soon-to-be newest casino talks about some of the luxurious features of the resort, its target audiences and when it will open in 2012.
ATLANTIC CITY — Construction of Atlantic City’s first new casino in nearly nine years remains ahead of schedule, but Revel Entertainment is still sticking to a May 15 debut for the sprawling $2.4 billion resort — for now, anyway.
“We’re running probably about a month or so ahead of schedule, and that’s good, but we’re not prepared to move the May date yet,” Revel president and CEO Kevin DeSanctis tells Atlantic City Weekly. “Probably in the next several weeks, we’ll sit down and make a determination. The one thing we don’t want to do is disappoint people and say we’re going to open on a certain date and then open later than that, so we’ll be a little bit cautious about that.”
The massive project that sits on 20 acres of prime Boardwalk property at New Jersey Avenue is being heralded as a potential game-changer for Atlantic City, which has been suffering through a four-year decline in gaming revenues and visitors because of increased competition from neighboring states and the economic recession.
Just as Borgata raised the bar when it opened Atlantic City’s first true Las Vegas-style resort in 2003, Revel is hoping it will take the city to the next level by appealing to a market that continues to ignore Atlantic City as a viable leisure destination, DeSanctis says.
“Revel was really designed as a fully integrated destination resort,” he says. “The thought was to appeal to the 40 million people who have, up to this point, not considered Atlantic City an option.
There’s about 47 million adults within a six-hour drive of Atlantic City, and only about 15 percent of them currently consider Atlantic City an option.”
Revel’s goal is to create a property that will meld a gaming model with a resort and a cruise ship model to create an experience unmatched not only in Atlantic City, but anywhere on the East Coast. The plan is for the towering resort, which will initially open with 1,070 rooms and suites, to offer guests the opportunity to “pair” experiences, DeSanctis says.
“Cruise ships do something that gaming and lodging models don’t do very well,” he explains. “They pair experiences. We will go from pairing experiences, which means if you are a foodie, or someone who likes fashion, or someone who likes nightclubs ... we would like to pair those experiences for you at our place.”
Just about everything at Revel is different from the city’s other casino properties.
Perhaps most striking will be the entrance for guests arriving to check in. While other Boardwalk casinos have their front doors facing away from the ocean, Revel will deliver its guests right to the Boardwalk with a commanding view of the city’s greatest natural resource.
To usher in the historic first day for Revel, the property has booked the band The Raveonettes to perform a free show at 9pm at The Social, located near Revel's imaginative casino floor.
Wiedmaier’s room won’t be the only place to grab a steak at Revel. Chef Marc Forgione, one of Revel’s two TV Food Network “Iron Chefs” (Philly-based Jose Garces is the other) will be opening American Cut, which he described as his spin on a “classic steakhouse.”
"It was a little bit of a culture shock coming from Las Vegas, as you can imagine. But then when I actually spent some time [in Atlantic City] and spent some time in competitors' casinos, I was pleasantly surprised and I feel that, you know, being involved in Revel is a very exciting piece of history for Atlantic City and I think will change how people look and perceive the market."
Monday, April 2, was announced as the starting date of an eight-week preview to Atlantic City’s forthcoming $2.4-billion beachfront destination, Revel
Revel reportedly outbid another Atlantic City Casino to book the popular pop rock band, but it’s unlikely they’ll actually christen the new showroom.
It’s that time of the year again. The votes have been counted and the winners have been named for the 4th annual ACWeekly.com Readers’ Choice Nightlife Awards.
Revel continues to back up its claim that the property will be a mega-casino complex with the announcement that Food Network Iron Chef Jose Garces, acclaimed chef and owner of eight restaurants in Philadelphia, and four more in Chicago and Scottsdale, Ariz. is set to open the doors to three highly anticipated restaurants at Revel.
The firm's CEO, Neil Moffit, recently told the 'NY Post' that "this casino could easily be in the upper echelons of Vegas."
The newest webisode from the fourth-coming mega-resort, “The Idea Behind Revel: A New Kind of Destination,” reveals more of the story behind the production. The video includes intimate looks into the planning, vision and details of the highly anticipated destination.
“This is about jobs, it’s about getting people back to work, it’s about bringing this city back into where it feels, once again, like the preeminent entertainment resort on the East Coast."
"Revel Entertainment said Thursday that it has secured the final $1 billion-plus it needs to finish its half-built casino on the Atlantic City Boardwalk."
Word on the street is that the long-awaited resumption of construction of the Revel Casino Hotel complex in Atlantic City could begin in the very near future. I realize this has been stated before, but this time it looks like it’s for real. I certainly hope so. Remember how the city had a lift when it was thought that Revel had its financing in place a few months ago? I can only tell you that the rumor machine is busier now working on this project than at any other time since it first came to town. Keep your fingers and toes crossed. Update from the blogs 4/2/10... 200 Numbers Don’t Add Up A story that appeared in this week’s issue of GGB News, an excellent source of news about the gaming industry both nationally and internationally, produced an interesting story based on...
The city’s 11 casinos posted a 4.2 percent revenue increase in December, the first monthly revenue increase since August 2008.
When Revel Entertainment opens Atlantic City’s first new casino resort in nine years on April 2, CEO Kevin DeSanctis will be borrowing an entertainment page right out of his old Mohegan Sun playbook. Revel’s guests can expect to find free entertainment in a venue known as The Social, an open, 700-capacity room smack in the center of the gaming floor.
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1. drew said... on Jan 3, 2012 at 10:11PM
“just what AC needs! ANOTHER GAUDY CASINO!!! YAY!”
2. David Spatz said... on Jan 4, 2012 at 07:51AM
“Having toured the property and seen the designs, I can assure you "gaudy" is the last word anyone would use to describe Revel. Why not wait until it opens before passing judgement?
”
3. patricia hendl said... on Jan 7, 2012 at 04:19PM
“perhaps some incentives can be sent to frequent visitors of other casinos. I am a Platinum member at the Harrah's properties. I, for one, am anxious to visit Revel and would love to "stay and Play" if the offer is right. My husband and I check out the Revel's progress each month when we travel to AC. It looks beautiful... and the oceanfront renovation of the beach is awesome. This is going to be a huge boost for the north end of the boardwalk.”
4. PeterD said... on Jan 8, 2012 at 06:23PM
“It's been a tough grind for your Resort but in the end it will begin the rebirth of a great national Treasure..Atlantic City
regards from Brooklyn NY See you all soon.”
5. wayne & janice m said... on Jan 13, 2012 at 02:01PM
“we play in ac twice a week need a new place to go can't wait for u to open. pictures look great .”
6. Rusty R said... on Jan 18, 2012 at 07:32PM
“I'm a Total Rewards Diamond slot player and can't wait for the Revel opening. I'm looking for a change.”
7. Anonymous said... on Jan 20, 2012 at 03:58PM
“As a 7 Star and black card holder in 3 other AC casinos we are looking forward to change in AC. Nice upscale restaurants, entertainment and a smokefree casino to enjoy an evening of play sounds great. I hope you keep the promise of making the place clean and smokefree.”
8. Total Rewards Player said... on Jan 21, 2012 at 11:02PM
“Harrah's does not take good care of their players anymore in many ways. Can't wait to switch to Revel!”