The local and national press got a preview of the Atlantic City Boardwalk’s new Ocean Resort Casino this week.
With the former Revel’s grand opening a little over two weeks away, staff gave the media a look around the 6.4 million-square-foot property.
According to NJ.com, resort adviser Seth Schorr said what makes the property so special is the Atlantic Ocean.
“The days of old dark casinos are a thing of the past,” Schorr said.
The Ocean Resort Casino press preview
Media got a look around the 1,399-room, 48-floor hotel. The sneak-peek included a taste of the 138,000-square-foot casino that will feature 2,200 slot machines and 100 table games.
In the center of it all stood the new sportsbook, run by British bookmaker William Hill.
Schorr told NJ.com the sportsbook will be the heart of the casino. It will create “amazing energy” with lively groups cheering on their favorite teams in the middle of the casino floor.
One reporter from the Associated Press marveled at all the activity going on during the preview.
He noted someone using a drill or a saw almost everywhere he looked.
Plus he said he saw cocktail servers and bartenders practicing their technique, housekeeping staff working on rooms, new workers walking the halls with valuable information in hand, and others in orientation classes.
In other words, Ocean Resort Casino was in full prep mode, busily ironing out the details ahead of its June 28 opening.
A customer service focus? You better believe it
Considering Bruce Deifik, CEO of Ocean Resort Atlantic City, has said customer service issues were a part of why Revel failed, it’s no surprise the staff is focused on fixing that.
Schorr said management is well aware of the property’s previous customer service issues and is addressing them:
“We are putting ourselves in the minds of the guests that are here for the first time. It truly will be changes and improvements to the guest experience.”
Deifik has also been focused on making it easier to get around the property. The casino floor has been reconfigured with straighter sight lines and walkways.
Plus, Schorr said employees called ambassadors are going to be positioned all over the property, not only to tell guests how to get places but to walk them there personally.
Other points of interest at Ocean Resort
Among the additional amenities noted by reporters was a giant fish tank across from the still-under-construction main check-in desk.
On the second floor is a lounge called The Den. The Den will feature billiards, shuffleboard, arcade games, and eSports. In fact, it will host an eSports tournament in October.
Further amenities that drew the attention of NJ.com included a 32,000-square-foot spa, six pools, and a TopGolf virtual driving range.
Both the NJ.com and AP staff writers noted new carpeting at the hotel. Additionally, they made mention of the 16 restaurants that will open on the property June 28. Plus, four more will open their doors when the renovations are finally complete.
One thing that had not changed is the 5,500-seat concert arena, Ovation Hall. It remains as it did back before Revel officially closed its doors in 2014.
Competing with Hard Rock Atlantic City?
Ocean Resort Casino appears happy to let Hard Rock Atlantic City take the lead when it comes to live music and entertainment.
Instead, Ocean Resort’s two-story nightclub HQ2 and the return of Revel’s Royal Jelly burlesque club will comprise the top entertainment offerings. HQ Squared, as it is referred to, plans to feature a lineup of well-known DJs on opening weekend.
Despite sharing the June 28 opening date, the idea of not directly competing with Hard Rock Atlantic City seems to be a part of the new Ocean Resort Casino philosophy.
In fact, Schorr told NJ.com the shared date truly was a coincidence, one that actually works out well for Atlantic City. He said nothing says Atlantic City is growing more than two casinos opening on the same day, just weeks after NJ sports betting got the all-clear.
The first guests will be able to walk into Ocean Resort Casino at 3 p.m. ET on June 28. Looks like they’re in for quite a treat.