Gary Joined Me on the AC Mike Podcast — Here’s What He Had to Say About Atlantic City

Hey Folks,

If you’ve listened to me for any length of time, you know I love talking about Atlantic City — the good, the bad, the ugly, and most importantly, what we’re doing to keep moving forward. That’s why I really enjoyed sitting down on The AC Mike Show Podcast with Gary Musich, President and CEO of Visit Atlantic City. Gary has spent decades in and around the Atlantic City hospitality business, so when we started talking about where this town has been and where it’s going, we had plenty to cover. One word kept coming up: experience. Atlantic City will always be a gaming town — that’s part of our DNA — but the future is about giving people more reasons to come here, more things to do while they’re here and, hopefully, another reason to stay one more night. We talked about major events, conventions, entertainment, restaurants, air service, regional tourism and the work happening behind the scenes to keep Atlantic City moving forward. If you care about this town, I really encourage you to watch the entire conversation.

We’re Not a One-Trick Pony Anymore

Gary made a point during our conversation that really stuck with me: Atlantic City has evolved beyond being strictly a gaming destination. Years ago, gaming itself was enough to get people here. Today, people have a lot more choices, so Atlantic City has to offer the things you expect from a mature resort destination — entertainment, recreation, great food, beaches, nightlife and experiences you can’t necessarily get back home. Think about what somebody can do here now. You can catch a concert, eat at a great restaurant, walk the Boardwalk, hit the beach, play golf, see a sporting event or attend a convention, and that’s before you even start exploring everything else South Jersey has to offer. Gary talked about wineries, breweries, ecotourism, boating, golf and attractions throughout the region. I’ve said this before: Atlantic City doesn’t have to compete with the rest of South Jersey. We should work together. Let somebody play golf, visit a winery or explore another Shore town, then bring them back to Atlantic City for dinner, entertainment and another night in one of our hotels. That’s how you turn a quick trip into an experience, and an experience gives somebody another reason to come back.

One More Night Can Make a Huge Difference

This was one of the more interesting parts of our conversation because Gary put some numbers behind the idea. He explained that about 70% of visitors stay one night, but Visit Atlantic City is seeing increased interest in searches for two- and three-night stays. Think about what that extra night means. Another hotel night means another dinner, another breakfast, maybe another show, another round of golf, another afternoon on the Boardwalk and more money being spent with people who live and work here. That economic impact doesn’t stop at the casino doors. It reaches restaurants, bartenders, servers, small businesses, attractions, transportation companies and employees throughout the region. That’s why I liked hearing Gary talk about Atlantic City as part of a bigger South Jersey experience. Get people here, give them plenty to do and make it hard for them to fit everything into one day.

Big Events Mean Big Business

We also talked about something I’ve witnessed firsthand: what happens when a major event hits Atlantic City. The RÜFÜS DU SOL beach concert was a perfect example. I was out there, and the atmosphere was incredible. The hotels were busy. Restaurants were packed. People were playing golf. The Boardwalk was moving. Visitors were spending money throughout the city and region. Gary even told me one place ran out of sandwich meat. If you know, you know — that’s a pretty good South Jersey economic indicator. But seriously, this is why bringing entertainment here matters. It isn’t only about selling a concert ticket. Gary and his team look at hotel rooms, attendance, spending and overall economic impact when evaluating these events. We talked about beach concerts, boxing, WWE, Boardwalk Hall shows, boat racing, the air show and other events because each one can introduce Atlantic City to a different audience. You don’t have to personally love every band, sport or event that comes to town. If it fills rooms, fills restaurants and brings people here who have a great experience, that’s good for Atlantic City.

The Convention Business Is Bigger Than Most People Realize

One of the most important parts of our conversation was the convention business. Gary explained that roughly a million people a year come to Atlantic City for meetings, trade shows and conventions across the destination, and that business is especially valuable because much of it happens midweek and from September through June. That’s when those visitors can really make a difference. They stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, use transportation, shop, hire local services and support jobs that extend far beyond the walls of the Atlantic City Convention Center. Gary also explained why the headquarters hotel connected to the Convention Center is such an important piece of the puzzle. Some major organizations require a certain number of rooms at a headquarters hotel before a city can even bid on their convention. And we’re not talking about next summer. Gary said they’re already responding to opportunities years into the future. That’s why decisions involving the Convention Center campus and its connected hotel aren’t just about one building. They can affect Atlantic City’s ability to compete for major convention business down the road.

Atlantic City Has to Sell Atlantic City

I wanted to ask Gary about something I’ve noticed myself: Visit Atlantic City is showing up everywhere. I’ve seen the messaging online, on streaming platforms and while traveling, and I’ve seen it in New York. Gary explained why putting the actual words Atlantic City front and center matters. Around here, everybody knows what “AC” means. But somebody in Ohio or another part of the country may have no idea what you’re talking about when you start throwing around local shorthand. If you’re trying to grow the destination, tell people exactly what you want them to do: Visit Atlantic City. The strategy Gary described is about creating awareness, getting somebody to consider Atlantic City and then giving that person a reason to take action — book a room, attend an event, sign up for information or bring a meeting here. It sounds simple when you say it that way, but there’s a lot of work behind getting the right message in front of the right person, and I’ve personally noticed how much more visible Atlantic City has become.

Relationships Bring Events to Atlantic City

Another thing that came through during our conversation is how much this business depends on relationships. A promoter can take a concert to another city. A convention can choose another destination. A sporting event has options. Atlantic City has to give those decision-makers a reason to choose us, and that means relationships, partnerships and sometimes getting creative. Gary talked about working with promoters, Boardwalk Hall, casino properties, the city, CRDA and other partners to make events work here. He also gave a great example of just how quickly those relationships can matter: when Florence + the Machine had a Philadelphia cancellation, Atlantic City was able to step in and sell thousands of tickets in a matter of days. Those opportunities don’t just happen because somebody wakes up and decides to come to Atlantic City. People have to be out there building relationships long before the phone rings.

Getting Here Is Part of the Equation

We also spent time talking about Atlantic City International Airport and the importance of air service to the destination. Gary talked about how Visit Atlantic City works with airport and regional partners to support and market service because getting people here conveniently is part of the tourism equation. I use ACY whenever it makes sense, and I love the convenience. For those of us in South Jersey, having choices from our own airport matters, but there’s a larger tourism story too. Every additional market connected to Atlantic City creates another opportunity for somebody to discover us. Gary made an interesting point about supporting those routes from both directions: when local people use the airport to travel somewhere else, they also have to come home. That helps build the passenger base while Atlantic City continues working to attract inbound visitors. Like so much of what we talked about, it comes back to partnerships and recognizing that the region succeeds when everybody starts pulling in the same direction.

Taste Atlantic City — Because You Know We Had to Talk About Food

Anybody who knows me knows we weren’t getting through this conversation without talking about food. Gary and I got into Taste Atlantic City and how the traditional restaurant-week concept has evolved into something much broader. Instead of forcing every restaurant into the exact same format, the idea gives participating businesses more flexibility to create offers when they actually need the additional traffic. Gary said about 80 restaurants participated and shared something else I loved hearing: their survey found many visitors stayed over and ate at a second or third restaurant. That’s exactly what we’re talking about when we say experience. Somebody comes for one reason and discovers two or three more reasons to stay. Maybe dinner leads to another restaurant the next day. Maybe they play golf in the morning. Maybe they hit the Boardwalk or see a show that night. Suddenly the trip isn’t one thing anymore. It’s Atlantic City.

There’s a Lot More in the Full Conversation

I can give you the highlights here, but there’s no way to fit a nearly hour-long conversation into one newsletter. Gary and I talk about the Convention Center, Boardwalk Hall, beach concerts, sports, Taste Atlantic City, ACY, regional tourism, marketing Atlantic City in places like New York, the Today Show coming to town and the people and partnerships behind all of it. We also talk about something that’s important to me: being willing to acknowledge where Atlantic City needs work without letting that become the only story anybody hears about this town. I call it the restorative narrative. You identify the problem, you work on it, and you keep moving. If you live here, work here, own a business here, visit here or simply care about Atlantic City, I think you’ll get something out of this conversation. Take some time, watch the episode, and then send it to somebody else who cares about where Atlantic City is going.

There’s More to Atlantic City Than Ever Before

One thing came through loud and clear during my conversation with Gary: Atlantic City isn’t sitting still. There are challenges. There always will be. But there are also people throughout this city and region working to bring visitors here, create events, fill hotel rooms, support local businesses and give people another reason to come back. And I like hearing that the decisions aren’t simply being made because something sounds good. They’re looking at the data, measuring economic impact, studying travel habits and figuring out what works. Whether you’re searching for things to do in Atlantic City, upcoming Atlantic City events, restaurants, entertainment or other Jersey Shore attractions, check out Visit Atlantic City and see what’s happening. Better yet, come down and experience it yourself.

Help Us Grow The AC Mike Community

If you enjoy these stories and updates from around Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore, I’d appreciate a favor. Please share this newsletter with a friend, family member, coworker or anyone who loves our community. You and I are building something special here by highlighting the people, places, businesses and stories that make South Jersey unique. Every share and every new subscriber helps us reach more people and shine a brighter spotlight on the positive things happening throughout our region. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, be sure to subscribe and join us each week for local stories, events and insider perspectives from around the Shore. And while you’re sharing, send them my conversation with Gary Musich too. These are exactly the kinds of conversations I want more people having about Atlantic City. Thank you for being part of the AC Mike community.

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