Newly named president and CEO of Resorts Atlantic City, Gary Van Hettinga, makes it clear that Atlantic City's oldest casino is an "asset that has a lot of potential."
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Newly named president and CEO of Resorts Atlantic City, Gary Van Hettinga, makes it clear that Atlantic City's oldest casino is an "asset that has a lot of potential."
Speaking at the Atlantic City Hotel & Lodging Association luncheon held at Resorts on Thursday, Sept. 27, Van Hettinga — who is also president of Mohegan Gaming Advisors, which manages two Mohegan Sun casinos in the Northeast — discussed his feelings about the future and present state of Atlantic City and its casino industry, his new property and its partnership with the other Mohegan properties, and how Atlantic City should increase its room rates to attract more business and tourists.
The Connecticut-based Mohegan Sun gaming company is now in of charge of operations at Resorts, taking over late this summer, with several key executives from Mohegan already replacing execs from the former Resorts regime, including Aaron Gomes, who took a job in Australia, Stephanie Nielson, Sherry Amos, and others.
Van Hettinga says Resorts and the Indian-owned Mohegan Sun is a synergy that will include an exciting, new cross-marketing program to allow customers at Resorts and Mohegan Sun’s two casinos in Connecticut (Foxwoods) and Pennsylvania (Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs) to use their hotel, dining and entertainment comps at all three properties.
Van Hettinga states that Mohegan did a lot of market research before entering into an agreement with Resorts, and executives from the company have been in and out of the Atlantic City casino for a while, checking it out.
The new executives at Resorts, says Van Hettinga, are very impressed with the employees there. He called them a "big plus for us," with regard to the deal.
Partially owned and run by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority since August 2012, Resorts, on Jan. 10, opened two new players’ club lounges — the Epic Lounge and Paramount Lounge — that combine the elegant feel of a club Boardwalk Empire’s Nucky Thompson would appreciate but with the modern touches — like flat-screen TVs — that current casino patrons will enjoy.
"While it is 75 percent Christmas songs, it has an Elvis Presley tribute and it has some Bobby Darin stuff in it and a tribute to Dean Martin. I also do a tribute for the survivors of Hurricane Sandy and a tribute to our veterans."
Plus, Resorts' new Rewards Program partnership with Mohegan Sun, the Album of the Week (The Wallflowers) and Drew Toonz.
Executive VP of Operations, Gomes Gaming/ Resorts Casino Aaron’s career in casino operations began in Las Vegas. He is a product of the MGM Mirage Management Training Program specializing in slot operations. During his tenure with The Mirage Casino Resort, Aaron, 28, worked as a slot attendant, a slot technician, a slot supervisor, a slot shift manager, a slot marketing analyst and casino marketing executive. In 2007, Aaron joined the Gomes Gaming team as vice president of marketing and operations to develop,...
Dennis Gomes’ reputation as a pioneering leader with a zest for life only partially accounted for how well-liked and respected he was as an individual, which is why his sudden passing at age 68 on Friday, Feb. 24, shocked and saddened many nationwide, particularly those in the Atlantic City region where he lived and worked.
Dennis Gomes, CEO and co-owner of Atlantic City’s Resorts Casino Hotel, died overnight on Thursday, Feb. 23, of unconfirmed causes, according to reports and information released by Resorts spokeswoman Courtney Birmingham.
“I only wore this suit for you guys,” says Gomes, tugging at his collar. “When I’m working, you’ll never catch me in a suit.”
Atlantic City is staring down the barrel of Labor Day weekend after experiencing the single most diverse array of live entertainment ever presented here during one summer. Not just during the last 34 summers of the casino era, either, but throughout its entire gaudy, bawdy and, occasionally tawdry 160-year-old past.
Mitchell Etess, CEO of the Indian Tribe casino company, which operates casinos in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, says it's the perfect time for a strategic partnership with Resorts and get back into the Atlantic City market.
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1. Anonymous said... on Sep 28, 2012 at 02:49PM
“Mr Gomes rest in peace. All your good work just went up in "peace pipe" smoke!”
2. WTF? said... on Sep 28, 2012 at 02:54PM
“higher room rates is the answer for AC? How about free parking to lure customers to casinos; or how bout LOWER priced rooms so people can afford them for a night or two or more???”
3. I agree said... on Sep 28, 2012 at 03:25PM
“agree..... keep the low prices on hotel rooms, eliminate parking fees and loosen your slots. People will return to AC properties instead of going to Pennsylvania and other near by states.”
4. Donatella said... on Sep 28, 2012 at 03:43PM
“Why be greedy and continue to loose business to Pennsylvania, NY state, Connecticut, etc. Bring back the loose slots, free parking and better comps. Your old fans will return to AC.”
5. Jonas Lieakasna said... on Sep 28, 2012 at 04:03PM
“I think Donatella said it best....”
6. Anonymous said... on Sep 28, 2012 at 04:26PM
“You have to understand- Mohegan Sun has been operarting in Connecticut for 20 years. The insurnace capital of the world. If you don;t earn 6 figures a year you can't live in Connecticut. Raise the room rate? 12 casinos competing with each other and Pa & NY. Makes a lot of sense. Increase insurance premiums to people that can't afford insurance. Make sense.”
7. Chicken Little said... on Sep 28, 2012 at 04:39PM
“I find it amusing that so many lay people claim to know more about the gaming business than the experienced professionals from across the country who have been involved with actually running and managing the business.”
8. Anonymous said... on Sep 28, 2012 at 09:11PM
“This guy is so out of touch with what AC needs. The powers that be at the rest of the AC casinos will be in celebration as he destroys Resorts and pushes business their way. He is a bean counter, an accountant, not someone in touch with a gaming business, a cheap suit who has been behind the destruction of the gaming business over the last many decades. His type will ruin any casino given the opportunity; the only plus for Resorts will be Margaretville”
9. Anonymous said... on Sep 29, 2012 at 06:58AM
“If they raise the room rates and stop the comps I may come down but will not gamble. I gamble where I get the comps and when I pay for a room, I consider that my gambling money.”
10. Anonymous said... on Oct 1, 2012 at 04:55PM
“No comps we no go to much money for gas and tolls from NY to also have to pay for room, Freebies are GREAT!!!”
11. Theycallmeflip said... on Oct 3, 2012 at 11:05AM
“Mohegan Sun in CT is in a downward spiral in gaming revenue. They just canned the CEO there and are laying off another 300 employees. I wonder if they were using the same strategy there.”