In 2007, I spoke with Gary Musich, then vice president of convention development for the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority, on the evolving “balance and maturity” of the city’s group and leisure market.
“People are no longer coming here for one-day trips, but for a world-class resort experience,” said Musich, now president and CEO of since-rebranded Visit Atlantic City.
The catalyst was Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. Opened in July 2003 as Atlantic City’s first new property in 13 years, the gold-clad, 2,000-plus room casino-resort from historic Vegas operator Boyd Gaming and MGM MIRAGE (now MGM Resorts International) set a new gold standard for the market.
Integrating gaming with a full suite of entertainment, dining, wellness and nightlife options, Borgata instantly propelled Atlantic City forward. As the destination’s top-performing casino ever since, Borgata, offering approximately 79,000 square feet of flexible space in its Central Conference Center and other venues, was instrumental in elevating Atlantic City’s group business.
In June 2008, Borgata put more “gold skin” (casino slang for money) in the game with its non-gaming sibling, The Water Club. I attended the ribbon-cutting, a two-day affair of site tours, dining and entertainment, with Wolfgang Puck and Jimmy Fallon among the celebrity attendees.
Positioned as Atlantic City’s “first boutique-lifestyle hotel,” the 43-story, 800-room tower was reimagined, rescaled and reflagged in 2023 as MGM Tower, with 757 rooms and suites for its sibling’s 20th anniversary. Recent enhancements at Borgata include the renovated centerpiece B Bar and an expanded gaming floor with new Asian-themed gaming space.
Following a press fam organized around Sting’s performance at Borgata’s 2,400-capacity Event Center last November, I can safely say that “every little thing she does is still magic.”
Connected to Borgata by a luxury-retail-lined hallway, the $55 million transformation of MGM Tower succeeds in retaining the Water Club’s distinctive best-in-class appeal. Blue tones with vibrant color splashes carry from the artfully rendered lobby to guest corridors and the rooms; in my case, an ocean-facing 23rd-floor King that imparted a cool coastal vibe.
Flanking twin escalators behind reception rise to 18,000 square feet of sophisticated second-level meeting space in a dozen-plus rooms. The prefunction area overlooks the tropical-inspired indoor pool and Sunroom restaurant, extending to the outdoor pool.
The former 32nd-floor Immersion Spa is now the versatile Overlook event venue, hosting 150-capacity events with panoramic views from 28-foot floor-to-ceiling windows. Borgata’s Spa Toccare remains the resort’s luxury spa.
[Related: How Atlantic City Continues to Strengthen Its Group Appeal]
Sting Sings!
Selling out two consecutive nights, Sting signified the world-class entertainment that remains a Borgata cornerstone, with the 900-seat Music Box theater also hosting top talent.
Group dining options rock, too, including two steakhouses, contemporary B-Prime and an outpost of NYC’s Old Homestead, America’s original chop house from 1869. Italian-driven Angeline, by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Symon, offers the private 36-capacity Angel Room. Originated by Wolfgang Puck, American Bar & Grille is a personal favorite, along with the Wine Bar and Italian Kitchen, an underground sanctuary in the Food Hall Eatery.
Introduced last year, the modern pan-Asian Noodles restaurant, an MGM import from Bellagio Las Vegas, adjoins the new Asian-styled gaming space. Both feature designs inspired by Asian cultural symbols of good fortune and prosperity.
We learned how to play Baccarat from Jimmy Bruno, Borgata’s vice president of casino operations, in a new group-capable private gaming salon where planners can arrange for an “Intro to Gaming” session with the casino chief.
Next up: the transformation of the former Premier Nightclub space into a state-of-the-art, 18,000-square-foot entertainment destination. Scheduled for this summer, it’s another prime event option that will keep Borgata on a roll.
