How Visit Atlantic City Is Rethinking What Blended Travel Really Means

Bleisure, blended travel, a workcation — whatever you prefer to call it — the mix between attending a business conference and enjoying some personal time is integral to the meetings industry. 

Hybrid trips are expected to play an even bigger role in the meetings industry’s future. In Skift’s State of Travel 2024 report, research from Euromonitor estimates global spending on blended travel will hit $360 billion by 2027, up more than $200 billion from spending levels in 2021. With that uptick in blended travel on the horizon, Visit Atlantic City has launched a new strategy to engage those hybrid travelers throughout the pre-trip journey.  

“Atlantic City prioritized its website to provide a cohesive destination experience,” Karina Anthony, executive director of marketing for Visit Atlantic City, said. “The website serves as the authoritative source for all things Atlantic City, integrating leisure, meetings, and event information into a single platform. By offering a booking engine, tailored content, and streamlined navigation, it addresses the diverse needs of visitors across multiple demographics.” 

Honoring the Past and Evolving for the Future

One commonality the diverse cast of visitors may share is an appreciation for Atlantic City’s rich history. “Maybe their grandparents vacationed here or attended historical events in our destination,” Anthony said. “Some visitors may have had their own milestone celebrations in Atlantic City.”

The new website celebrates the home of those memories while offering a glimpse of the exciting updates that welcome travelers today. “Atlantic City balances nostalgia with a modern image by weaving its rich history into contemporary experiences,” Anthony said. “We like to highlight historical sites, unique seaside experiences, and iconic landmarks — such as the country’s first Boardwalk — while pairing them with vibrant, updated visuals, such as upscale dining, trendy entertainment, and beachfront attractions.”

In addition to the organization’s website enhancements, the team offers a mix of media, such as the award-winning Atlantic City Voices podcast and in-house influencer videos, to tell the story of the one-of-a-kind celebration that awaits visitors here. “Atlantic City is the life of the party,” Anthony said, “ready for you to celebrate life’s greatest moments.”

Inspiring the Trip & Simplifying Itinerary Planning for Blended Travel

As attendees gear up for some of those moments, the Visit Atlantic City website offers them a chance to imagine themselves — and the joy they’ll feel — in one of the East Coast’s top destinations. They can climb the 228 steps to the top of the Absecon Lighthouse (the tallest in New Jersey), ride the iconic Steel Pier Wheel for a 227-foot-tall view of the coastline, build a sandcastle with the kids on the beach, and more. 

The Visit Atlantic City website is now designed to help visitors narrow down where exactly to make those moments happen. For the first time in 13 years, it’s a centralized place where attendees can handle all their accommodation needs with a new booking engine — an especially valuable tool for attendees turning a one-day meeting into a three-day family getaway. Additionally, an “Add to Trip Builder” tool empowers attendees to easily curate a personalized list of sights, sounds, and dining experiences all in one place to check off their Atlantic City bucket list items.

Attendees are increasingly seeking experiences that go beyond the conference. Skift reports that 74% of consumers say experiences impact how they plan their trips. For example, activities like dolphin watching or exploring the African American Heritage Museum of Southern NJ  allow attendees to fully immerse themselves in Atlantic City’s local culture. The new website places a big focus on high-quality photography, which is the most direct pathway to inspiring today’s travelers: Skift research shows that photography plays the biggest role in influencing travel decisions.

Challenging Assumptions

“Many people are familiar with or hold preconceived notions about our seaside destination,” Anthony said, “but the most common reaction upon visiting is, ‘I had no idea.’” 

The new Visit Atlantic City website is designed to challenge those notions long before arrival. It’s not just the second-largest gaming market in the U.S. — it’s also home to a cast of museums, galleries, and one-of-a-kind memorials. It’s not just a place to stroll the first boardwalk in the country — it’s also where major developments are constantly raising the bar for the visitor experience. It’s not just a place with manufactured innovation — nearby getaways to nature-focused experiences, like the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, will satisfy any appetite for outdoor adventuring.

With more than 200 conventions and events already slated to take over Atlantic City this year, plenty of meeting and event attendees will discover how the destination delivers a place to focus on business and forget all about work. With its combination of business and leisure offerings and a fresh approach to engaging visitors, Atlantic City is set to be a top choice for meetings and events in 2025 and beyond.

To learn more about Visit Atlantic City’s new approach to attendee engagement and what it will mean for your next meeting, reach out to the organization today. 

This content was created collaboratively by Visit Atlantic City and Skift’s branded content studio, SkiftX.