With the return of large-format, in-person meetings and events, Atlantic City has shown strong signs of recovery. The destination recorded more than 230,000 room nights booked for meetings, conventions, events and motorcoach groups in 2021, and Meet AC — the organization that drives economic development through conventions, sporting events, film production and group tourism — projects an additional 23,211 room nights and more than $40 million in future spending in the coming months.
Construction is progressing on the new North Beach Mini Golf, scheduled to open in summer 2022. Located next to Altman Playground and within a short walk of the Absecon Lighthouse, the 18-hole course will incorporate historical design elements that highlight notable Garden State landmarks and local points of interest.
© Meet AC
Ocean Resort Casino, which completed a $15 million casino floor remodel last year, has started work on a new sports venue. The $4 million project will combine an entertainment bar and lounge with an immersive gaming and sports-wagering experience, and is slated to open in summer 2022.
The annual Atlantic City Airshow, “A Salute to Those Who Serve,” will return on Aug. 24 with Meet AC as the premier sponsor. As the world’s leading midweek beachfront airshow, the event attracts more than 500,000 spectators each year and features a roster of military and civilian high-performance aircraft and helicopters from across the nation.
Making its first appearance in Atlantic City in five years is the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet “Rhino” East Coast Demo Team. The team, comprised of pilots, weapons systems officers and maintenance crew, will perform high-intensity maneuvers that demonstrate the aircraft’s mobility, versatility and power, flying as close to the limits of safety as permitted.
© Meet AC
Atlantic City will also expand its attractions with Island Waterpark, set to become the world’s largest indoor beachfront waterpark. Housed at the Showboat Hotel Atlantic City, the 103,000-square-foot facility will offer a variety of waterslides, lazy rivers and pools, along with retail spaces, party rooms and lounge areas. A retractable glass roof will allow year-round operation. The waterpark is expected to open by Memorial Day 2023.
After plans were approved to demolish a property at 151 South New York Avenue, construction has begun on a new six-story, 14-room project called Cardinal Restaurant & Hotel. Expected to open in 2023, the development is part of multiple investments in the “Orange Loop,” an area that includes properties along St. James, Tennessee and New York Avenues. This hotel will be the second non-casino project on New York Avenue in the past year, following plans to restore the historic Morris Guard Armory property.