Mention Atlantic City and what comes to mind? Gaming, Miss America, sea and sand, the famous Boardwalk (which inspired the board game Monopoly)? Today, Atlantic City means meetings - a state-of-the-art convention center, fine hotels, diverse dining options, excellent shopping, historic small towns, and world-class golf courses.

The Casino Redevelopment Authority (CRDA) has invested in the city, upgrading the Boardwalk, developing upscale retail establishments, and new residential areas. "Atlantic City has always been a good place to meet. But it has become more enjoyable as the city continues to add more meeting space, sleeping rooms, and fine dining and upscale retail in addition to the improvements to the city's infrastructure," said Cornelius Larkin, CAE, CMP, executive director of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, New Jersey Chapter.

Atlantic City Convention Center

The Atlantic City Convention Center opened in 1997, and offers more than 500,000 square feet of state-of-the-art exhibition and meeting facilities. Five contiguous exhibit halls, each with their own show office and pressroom, provide a total of 486,600 square feet of show space. The halls are serviced by 29 covered loading docks, designed for crate storage; four drive-in doors; and mechanical elevators. The center's 45 meeting rooms provide a total of 109,100 square feet of meeting space, ranging in size from 672 square feet to nearly 12,000 square feet. The rooms have soundproof panels, assisted listening systems, and voice, video, and data communications. By early 2008, wireless communication will be available throughout the building.

The center is owned by the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority and the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority (ACCVA) and managed by SMG. "Our group opened the convention center 10 years ago. They did a great job in the design and construction," said Darel Cook, director of expositions and meetings for the Promotional Products Association International, who has been bringing Promotions East, a 1,200-booth show, to Atlantic City for 10 years. Robert Paxton, regional commercial manager for General Motors (GM), especially liked the range of meeting rooms, since he runs a training meeting and conference for executives, salespeople, sales managers, and dealers of GM products.

Access to the building is easy. There are 1,600 covered parking spaces. Plus, a railroad station is located inside the building, providing service from Philadelphia, with a dozen arrivals daily, and service from New York starting in 2008. Carl Thompson, CGMP, executive director, Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP), held the SGMP Annual Education Conference at the center in May and found its location ideal. "Our members were able to fly into Philadelphia and go directly by train to the center," he said.

Hotels

Sheraton Atlantic City - the anchor for the convention center, located just across the plaza, this is an upscale business-class no-gaming hotel offering 502 guest rooms and suites and 27,000 square feet of meeting space in 19 meeting rooms. This includes the 11,618-square-foot Crown Ballroom, and the 3,862-square-foot Pearl Ballroom. Often, the meeting space is used in conjunction with the convention center. The location suited Paxton: "There was no temptation to wander off to gamble. We hold our meetings from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; our attendees come to work."

Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa - offers 70,000 square feet of column-free meeting space, including a 26,343-square-foot ballroom, divisible into four sections. One of those sections, Salon D, has a stage that can be lowered by hydraulics. Several smaller meeting rooms and two board rooms are adjacent to the ballroom. The meeting space has 30-foot ceilings and state-of-the-art audiovisual and Internet capabilities. Permanent registration desks, complete with computers, are in the prefunction area. The path from guest rooms to the conference area lies away from the casino. Each of the 2,000 guest rooms has a view of either the ocean, marina, or bay. The Borgata will add 800 guest rooms, five board rooms, and nine meeting rooms when the Water Club Tower, now under construction, is completed.

Harrah's Atlantic City - offers 1,626 guest rooms and 18,505 square feet of meeting space, including the 12,040-square-foot Atlantic Ballroom, divisible into four sections; the 4,354-square-foot Brigantine Room; and two smaller breakout rooms. The prefunction space has beautiful views of the Brigantine Bridge. Planners may also use the 40,000-square-foot pool area for evening functions. Covered with a huge dome, the mosquito-free area features orchids and tropical plants.

Trump Marina Hotel Casino - sits at the Farley State Marina, and attendees can arrive by boat, if they wish. Located away from the Boardwalk, the hotel receives less transient traffic. Completely renovated in 2006, it offers 728 guest rooms and 25,408 square feet of meeting space. The 16,920-square-foot Grand Cayman Ballroom divides into three sections. On the fourth level, the 8,488-square-foot Regatta Room is complemented by seven breakout rooms. The 16 small Catalina rooms on the sixth level are perfect for breakouts.

Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort - located on the Boardwalk, the Taj Mahal is undergoing a renovation, which will add 800 guest rooms when a new tower is completed in the fall of 2008. Presently, the resort offers 1,250 guest rooms and 140,000 square feet of meeting space. The 63,000-square-foot arena can accommodate 6,000 people theater-style. The 30,600-square-foot Grand Ballroom divides into three sections. The 9,840-square-foot Tiara Ballroom, divisible into two sections, and the 7,056-square-foot Diamond Ballroom, divisible into four sections, are nearby. The 20,000-square-foot Xanadu Room seats 1,200 theater-style. Eleven smaller rooms complete the meeting space.

Trump Plaza Hotel Casino - offers 904 guest rooms, all of which were renovated in 2006. The 19,156 square feet of meeting space includes the 10,172-square-foot Imperial Ballroom. Three restaurants located on the same floor as the meeting space can be used for group luncheons, complete with sea views. The fourth-floor theater, seating 850 people, can be reserved for sessions when not used for entertainment events. The beach bar is often utilized for evening group functions.

Bally's Atlantic City - offers 1,753 guest rooms and 80,000 square feet of meeting space, all on the sixth floor. This includes the 14,432-square-foot Grand Ballroom, divisible into seven sections; the 13,000-square-foot Traymore Ballroom, divisible into three sections; the 12,703-square-foot Oceans Ballroom, divisible into two sections (one overlooking the ocean), and numerous other rooms ranging in size from 703 square feet to 6,231 square feet. The prefunction area features two large permanent registration desks.

Caesars Atlantic City - connected to Bally's under cover, Caesars offers 1,140 guest rooms and 38,156 square feet of meeting space. The 17,135-square-foot Palladium Ballroom is divisible into three sections and has 4,500 square feet of prefunction space. The 3,270-square-foot Empire Room A is divisible into four sections, and the 1,134-square-foot Empire Room B, into two sections. Four additional breakout rooms complete the meeting space.

Seaview Marriott Resort and Spa - located on 670 acres just 15 minutes from Atlantic City, this property offers 287 guest rooms and 27,000 square feet of meeting space. The 6,100-square-foot Bayview Ballroom is in a freestanding building, complete with a balcony with columns. Marriott took over the property as a hotel in 1984, adding sleeping rooms and meeting space. The main building contains 18 meeting rooms, including the 6,644-square-foot Presidential Ballroom, divisible into three sections, and the 2,426-square-foot Regency Ballroom, also divisible into three sections.

Help with planning your meeting

The ACCVA markets the destination, provides assistance to meeting planners, and owns and manages the convention center and Boardwalk Hall. This "authority model" is favored by planners. "You are working with one entity, which simplifies planning a meeting. Everyone works cohesively," said Cook. "They are a pleasure to work with and don't hesitate to come to the table to make your meeting work. Moving the Penn Atlantic Nursery Trade Show out of Pennsylvania was a huge decision. But Atlantic City stood out: the location, the facility and the staff," said independent show organizer Sally O'Shea. Cook added, "They are very customer focused and aggressive in letting the city know that your show is in town."

The ACCVA's community awareness program includes welcome signage in 100-plus local businesses and on the convention center or Boardwalk Hall marquises. Qualifying shows also receive welcome signs on the Atlantic City Expressway toll plazas, welcome banners, and ribbons. The ACCVA will send out leads to local businesses for support services, such as transportation, off-site caterers, or DMOs; provide registration services; a restaurant reservations cart for groups of 600 or more; and seamless housing service through a partnership with AC Central Reservations. The convention services staff will coordinate spouse programs, VIP receptions, special events, and group tours. According to Thompson, "The ACCVA is the most outstanding in the world. They are always on top of every detail. Atlantic City is the 'best hidden secret' for meetings on the East Coast."

Getting There and Getting Around

• Atlantic City is within 300 miles of 80 percent of the U. S. population. The New Jersey Transit rail runs from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station directly to the Atlantic City Terminal at the convention center. Major interstate highways, such as the north-south I-95, connect to the Garden State Parkway, then to the Atlantic City Expressway.
• Atlantic City International Airport is just 20 minutes from downtown. Visit www.acairport.com for flight schedules.
• Atlantic City's jitney mini-buses stop at all hotels and attractions. And, of course, you don't want to miss a ride in the famous wicker rolling chairs up on the Boardwalk.

The "Other" Atlantic City

There are many reasons, other than gaming, to come to Atlantic City.

• Dining - Great restaurants are a highlight of Atlantic City. Many of the hotels feature upscale signature-chef restaurants. For example, the Borgata houses the Wolfgang Puck American Grille, Bobby Flay Steak, and SeaBlue, featuring the cuisine of Michael Mina. Here are four more: The new Pier Shops at Caesars - a mixed dining and upscale shopping venue - offers several restaurants that welcome groups, including Continental and Buddakan, operated by the Starr Restaurant Organization. The Knife & Fork features some of the most beautiful dining rooms in Atlantic City and fine gourmet cuisine. Located in The Quarter, Cuba Libre is a tropical-themed retail and restaurant venue adjacent to the Tropicana Hotel. Despite its name, the restaurant offers items that will suit any palate and can accommodate 800 on two floors for a reception. Groups from 100 to 123 can be accommodated in private rooms. The Flying Cloud Restaurant serves 112 people on an outdoor patio, up to 175 in the dining room, and can be bought out for an event.
• Antiques and Historic Villages - Within minutes of the city, historic Smithville offers antique shops and craft exhibitions. "Antiquing is a big thing here," said Gary Musich, vice president of convention sales for the ACCVA. Groups often arrange tours to Smithville. The historic Smithville Inn seats up to 250 for dinner. ‰ Wineries - Near Smithville are the Tomasello winery and Renault winery. Tuscany House on the Renault property accommodates up to 300 for dinner. Plan a winery tour followed by dinner. 
•  Golfing - The Atlantic City area is home to some of the finest golf courses on the East Coast. For further information, contact the ACCVA (www.meetinac.com) or the Greater Atlantic City Golf Association (www.gacga.com).
• Back to nature - The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Oceanville, just across the back bay from Atlantic City, offers more than 43,000 acres of coastal habitat actively protected and managed for migratory birds. Eight miles of nature trails through wetlands and woodlands are perfect for hiking, biking, or bird watching.