Atlantic City Appeals to Canadian Gamblers
In a bid to draw a new crowd to its casinos, Atlantic City in the United States has started pitching to gamblers across the border in Canada.
The Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority is hoping to generate positive publicity for the resorts that have seen a significant downward trend in revenue since the recession.
The authority is entertaining several top travel writers from Toronto in the hope that they will return to Canada with good things to say about the casinos and the hospitality.
To coincide with the visit, WestJet Airlines launched a marketing campaign in both countries that should help bring even more Canadian gamblers to Atlantic City.
The airline launched a new flight service between Atlantic City and Toronto, with the hope that Canadians will see AC as their new Las Vegas.
This is the first scheduled international airline service for Atlantic City International Airport.
WestJest has partnered with several casinos to provide players with some excellent deals. These include a two night air and hotel package with a price tag of only $347, or one way tickets to or from Atlantic City starting at just $39.
"Definitely the push is on through a combination of advertising, seat sales and low cost vacation packages to do everything we can in Canada," said a spokesman for WestJet, Robert Palmer.
"It doesn't mean we're comparing Atlantic City to Las Vegas," he said of the airline's marketing pitch. "But it's Vegas-like in the sense that it offers the same kind of attractions, environment and atmosphere."
The flights will run on a seasonal basis and will stop around May 2010 in a bid to test the market first.
"We start almost all services on a seasonal basis," said Palmer. "We have been successful over the years in part because we take a strategic approach. We don't necessarily jump into a market with both feet."
