Atlantic City officials know that Philadelphia remains the resort’s largest tourism market even if casinos have sprung up all over Pennsylvania.
So with a new marketing campaign to unveil, they went to Philly to tout the resort as more than just a casino destination.
“We’re here for Philadelphia,” Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian said at a promotional event. “You guys built us because you weren’t allowed to drink and gamble and pick up girls in Philadelphia 160 years ago, so you built the railroad to come to Atlantic City. We’ve got a lot more than that today.”
The new $4 million campaign includes $1 million directly targeting the Philadelphia region.
Liza Cartmell, head of the alliance said Philly remains Atlantic City’s most important marketplace.
“We are Philadelphia’s playground,” she said.
The campaign is based on tourists’ views of Atlantic City based on a research project the alliance conducted in September. The study included filmed interviews with actual tourists.
Tourists in the interviews speak positively of the city calling it a “mythical place” and “a state of mind,” according to the Press.
The alliance is launching the campaign to help offset the negative press the city has received as its casino industry flounders. Four resort casinos have closed this year and more may follow.
Alliance officials also met with editors and owners at the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Business Journal to push a message that despite changes in the gambling industry in the region, Atlantic City’s is uniquely positioned to remain a destination for tourists.
Meanwhile, the alliance continues to hold tours for out-of-town reporters highlighting Atlantic City attractions. A recent tour was held for writers from real-estate news publications highlighting investment opportunities in the city.
