The March 1 forum provided a public outlet for Atlantic City residents, business persons, students and visitors to help contribute to a new marketing campaign, which will launch this spring.
Liza Cartmell (All photos: Lew Steiner)
ATLANTIC CITY — The Chelsea hotel’s Crystal Ballroom was packed with proud Atlantic City residents for the “Do AC Proud” public forum held on Thursday, March 1.
Hosted by the Atlantic City Hospitality & Lodging Association, the Greater Atlantic City Chamber and Longport Media, community leaders, business leaders and local residents gathered to share their favorite stories about growing up in Atlantic City, what they love most about the region and their hopes and plans for the future.
The forum provided a public outlet for people to help contribute to the newly formed Atlantic City Alliance’s (ACA) marketing campaign, which will launch this spring.
Attendees were greeted by images of the historic Steel Pier's future, which were on display in the ballroom.
Long-time resident and Atlantic City advocate Tom LaMaine served as moderator and host while participants shared their positive testimonies about what makes their city by the sea so unique and special and why others should be there with them.
When it comes to other scattered casinos in neighboring states LaMaine said, “They’re the Wawas, we’re the Super Market.”
Participants spoke of a God-given right to enjoy free beaches, the ocean and the salt air. Stockton students, business owners, managers and residents that have found their home at the Jersey shore boasted about having “sand in their shoes.”
A genuine love for the area was expressed by each speaker through a variety of stories.
Liza Cartmell, CEO of the ACA, took a moment to recognize the recent loss of one of the city’s great casino. community and family man, Resorts Atlantic City CEO Dennis Gomes.
He was "one of Atlantic City’s biggest cheerleaders,” Cartmell said.
On Tuesday morning, April 9, the ACA, CRDA and ACCVA teamed up for a presentation at the Sheraton to unveil new DO AC spring/summer campaign and highlight other new initiatives in the city from Margaritaville to Revel's new beach bar. Watch the new ad videos here.
"We think we have the money set aside. We've identified the funding. We believe we have a good site but we may determine that there are other sites that we need to review as well."
The ACA’s Liza Cartmell talks about the first year of the DO AC campaign and changing people’s perception about the resort.
As New Jersey Gov. Christie might say ‘Why fly to the desert when you can Do AC this fall?’
Although A.C. tourism has taken a well-publicized hit based on increased competition elsewhere, funnel cake continues to enhance the saltwater air, rolling chairs move like motorized vehicles, and the resort continues to offer amenities that landlocked gambling boxes simply cannot.
The Catanoso brothers were already seasoned amusement-park veterans when they reopened Atlantic City’s Steel Pier with 14 rides in 1993, a scant 22 days after signing a five-year lease that extended to the year the famous Pier turned 100.
'There's so much that's going on that's good and it really has enabled us to build a campaign that is very positive and is very upbeat and that does really talk to all of the really positive things that are going on.'
For Catanoso, the interest of casinos in embracing the amusement pier is a hopeful sign. Operators of family attractions have long been battling it out alone.
As the bus rolled across southern New Jersey, Doug Potash could feel the anticipation build as he drew closer to Atlantic City. It was Friday, July 1, 1966, the start of the Independence Day weekend....
It was the middle of World War II and the radio show was called Night Trick, a network-feed broadcast on Atlantic City's WFPG (World's Famous Playground) from the Steel Pier. Announcer Ed Hurst, who ...
Although the Tourism District Master Plan is due Feb. 1, it won't be presented to the public on that date. However, the CRDA will present the master plan to the public on Monday, March 26, at noon.
In this economic climate, optimism about Atlantic City’s future can swing as wildly as the stock market does on each little bit of economic news. The city still faces growing out-of-state competition, gaming revenues are still down and the country’s persistent economic problems are keeping any tourists destination’s hopes for a rebound low.
The perception is that it’s all about gaming [in Atlantic City]. And clearly it’s much more than that so that’s the opportunity, to make sure that doesn’t happen."
Further, as Atlantic City Weekly has learned earlier this week that two key associates at the CRDA who were spearheading an Arts District campaign for Mississippi Avenue in the Ducktown neighborhood of the resort, are both no longer with the CRDA,
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1. Anonymous said... on Mar 6, 2012 at 01:08PM
“Atlantic City will have a bright future is we let the young minds that are adapted to this new generation help lead it!”
2. jennifer said... on Mar 7, 2012 at 10:44AM
“i agree! It is people that are passionate about atlantic city that will see to it that it flourishes. We need to move over and let young people who are familiar with the new mediums and way of thinking and have a love for AC, transform this city”