Meeting on the Bay
WATERFRONT CONFERENCE CENTER AT HARRAH ' S RESORT ATLANTIC CITY Friedmutter Group
BACK IN 1929 , THE OPENING OF THE ATLANTIC
City Convention Center on the Boardwalk of that famous town recognized that the city needed a place where people could attend meetings and shows in the off-season to keep the city ’ s hotels full year-round . Now called Boardwalk Hall , the venerable building still entertains .
In the 1980s , a second convention center was built in Atlantic City for the same reasons , and it has served the same purpose , despite the slump and casino closures in the gaming industry there .
But the need to fill rooms in the winter and shoulder seasons goes beyond one citywide center , so executives at Caesars Entertainment decided a building more focused on its properties was essential . So it was decided that the Waterfront Conference Center at Harrah ’ s Resort Atlantic City was a good investment .
Harrah ’ s Resort is one of the city ’ s most successful properties , even during the gaming downturn of the 2010s . With attractions such as The Pool at Harrah ’ s , a multi-purpose space serving many needs , retail , dining and gaming , the property ’ s 2,000 hotel rooms needed a boost . The Waterfront Conference Center provided that boost immediately .
When it opened in September , Caesars Entertainment CEO Mark Frissora said that more than 90,000 room nights had already been booked for the next year , compared to only 7,000 the previous year .
“ For Atlantic City , this is an opportunity to attract a new type of customer to the city and significantly increase hotel occupancy , as well as drive revenue for local restaurants , retail outlets and other businesses ,” he says .
The Waterfront Conference Center , at over 100,000 square feet of meeting space , is now the largest conference-hotel complex from Baltimore to Boston , providing an attractive new option for the $ 280 billion national meetings industry that has a $ 16 billion foothold in the Northeast .
The Harrah ’ s Waterfront Conference Center can accommodate up to 5,000 attendees and has the flexibility to convert from meetings , to banquets , to large assembly spaces . The 100,000 square feet of flexible meetings space offers versatile area volume that can be broken down into 56 separate small meeting rooms with up to 300 different configurations — reception , banquet and pre-function space .
With Atlantic City counting less on gaming revenue , it is hoped that the Waterfront Conference Center will inspire other of the city ’ s casinos to get into the meetings and conventions game .
OWNER : Caesars Entertainment ARCHITECT : Friedmutter Group CONTRACTOR : T . N . Ward Co . INVESTMENT : $ 126 million
Gulf Coast Grandeur
SCARLET PEARL CASINO RESORT , D ’ IBERVILLE , MISSISSIPPI
SOSH Architects
AFTER 20 YEARS SPENT TRYING TO SECURE A casino , the Gulf Coast community of D ’ Iberville , Mississippi anticipates the opening of the Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort before New Year ’ s Eve 2015 .
The 500,000-square-foot resort destination was designed by SOSH Architects to compete with existing coastal casinos by offering various forms of recreation beyond gaming . The goal and concept of the Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort project was to celebrate the enchanting past , intriguing present and joyful future of Mississippi by creating a destination not only focused on gaming , but also on family entertainment .
The project ’ s core comprises an 18-story , 300-room hotel tower and a 60,445-squarefoot casino with 1,350 slot machines , 45 table games and 10 live poker tables . In addition , guests can enjoy a variety of amenities such as a spa , fitness center , 10,000-square-foot event center , outdoor pool and waterfall — plus a 42,000-square-foot , 36-hole professional miniature golf course . Guests can also sink their teeth into an assortment of dining options including a 175-seat gourmet restaurant , a 250-seat buffet as well as three other signature restaurants , and a 24- hour café / coffee shop .
The iconic 225-foot-tall all-white glass façade of the hotel tower is dotted with wave patterns reminiscent of the surrounding waters , celebrating the resort ’ s location on the Gulf Coast . The natural views of the surrounding area create an added luxury to the resort . As the tallest building in D ’ Iberville , the spectacular glass structure will be visible from far distances , allowing for a sense of arrival as guests approach the destination .
While the building ’ s glass façade expresses a contemporary interpretation of historic Southern architecture , the interiors salute Southern hospitality with open , bright and family-friendly spaces . The design generously
quotes local styles , materials and colors to ensure that visitors feel welcome to come back time and time again .
Scarlet Pearl successfully blends the importance of family entertainment destination with the glamour and excitement of a brand new casino .
OWNER : Lands Holdings 1 , LLC ARCHITECT : SOSH Architects CONTRACTOR : Roy Anderson Construction INTERIOR DESIGN : SOSH Architects INVESTMENT : $ 250 million
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