‘Meet AC’ Rebrands to ‘Visit Atlantic City’ to Better Reflect Tourism Mission

Posted on: January 18, 2023, 02:21h. 

Last updated on: January 18, 2023, 12:50h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

“Meet AC,” the marketing brand of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Bureau, is no more. The bureau revealed Tuesday that its promotional arm is now “Visit Atlantic City.”

Meet AC Visit Atlantic City casinos CRDA
Meet AC is now Visit Atlantic City. The convention agency says its new branding better represents its overall mission of growing tourism and business in the seaside gaming town. (Image: Casino.org)

“Visit Atlantic City,” tourism and convention officials say, better reflects the agency’s core mission of attracting business gatherings and leisure travelers. While “Visit Atlantic City” will carry on “Meet AC’s” goal of increasing convention traffic, the refreshed brand will better allow the town to market its non-MICE attractions.

As Atlantic City is going through a major reinvestment to create a safer, culturally-rich and sustainable community, the time was ripe for us to review our branding and reinvest in ourselves,” said Larry Sieg, president and CEO of Visit Atlantic City.

“While our primary focus remains on bringing meetings and events to the destination, our new name broadens the enticement to choose us. In addition to having one of the largest convention centers on the East Coast, we also offer an unmatched array of experiences where attendees can meet, connect and let loose with our famous boardwalk and beaches, glitzy casino resorts, and world-class entertainment options,” Sieg added.

Gaming Funds Destination Marketing

“Meet AC” was established in June 2014. The nonprofit is a public-private partnership between the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) and the nine casino resorts.

The only agency of its kind in the US, the CRDA is funded through casino taxes. The CRDA is responsible for reinvesting those funds into projects that facilitate economic and community development in Atlantic City.

Each casino directs 1.25% of its brick-and-mortar gaming revenue to the CRDA. The authority says its mission is “to attract visitors to Atlantic City by presenting world-class entertainment, events, and conventions at Historic Boardwalk Hall, the Atlantic City Convention Center, and other local venues.”

David Rebuck, director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, and James Plousis, chair of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, are among the CRDA board members.

Visit Atlantic City’s newly launched website — visitatlanticcity.com — provides an array of planning resources for event and trip organizers.

Worthy Investments

The CRDA says its “Meet AC” arm greatly helped the nine casinos in 2022. The authority said “Meet AC’s” 2022 economic impact was north of $300 million.

For every dollar invested by the casinos, Meet AC said it returned $34 to Atlantic City’s economy. Meet AC and the Atlantic City Sports Commission helped organize 209 events and competitions last year, resulting in more than 264,500 room nights and almost a half-million visitors.

“We have doubled our numbers in terms of room nights and economic impact since the pandemic hit in 2020, showing that in-person events are a crucial part of doing business across almost every industry,” Sieg continued. “We still have work to do to surpass our pre-pandemic numbers, but we’re confident in our current trajectory and growing interest we’re seeing from the meetings and convention industry that this goal is within reach.”