Massive Revel resort casino opens in Atlantic City

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    Atlantic City’s first casino in well over a decade opened Monday.

    The Revel, a $2 billion-plus hotel-casino-resort is now undergoing what it calls an eight-week preview or “shakedown cruise”f that will see the opening of more restaurants and other facilities during that time. The promotion will be capped off by a big bash over Memorial Day weekend that will include Beyonce.

    Revel is adjacent to the Showboat Casino, which should get a boost for a time from curiosity-seekers. The Harrah’s resorts in A.C., including Showboat, are offering even low-roller customers free rooms and other perks in response to the opening.

    For years, shiny Revel tower, minus interior work, stood as a monument to the problems of the A.C. Market. The resort got back on track with the help of a financial package that included participation from the State of New Jersey.

    Revel will be taking aim at an affluent regional market that has probably spent some time in Las Vegas. Delaware should see only a minimal impact, although low-priced rooms and comps offered by Revel’s competitors could steal some customers. Like Delaware’s  casinos, Revel has a no smoking policy. While the number of smokers overall has dropped sharply, the percentage who hit the tables and slots is higher than the norm. Then again, Revel officials have made clear that they want to stake out new territory as a destination resort. 

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    Revel comes armed with an architectural design that actually plays homage to its seaside surroundings. The past attitude at casino-hotels was to do everything to keep customers inside the building and not offer any reminders of a beach scene.

    Revel adds 1,800 luxury rooms to the Atlantic City market, 32,000-square-foot spa and 14 restaurants. The casino has 130,000-square-feet of space.

    Opening with the resort is Bask, Revel’s spa + wellness concept; Ivan Kane’s Royal Jelly Burlesque Nightclub; three of 14 restaurants including Jose Garces’ Distrito Cantina; Robert Wiedmaier’s Mussel Bar; Lugo, an Italian brasserie and two theaters. Garces, a star of cable’s Iron Chef America, will open more dining spots.

    So far, Revel will hold the line on hotel prices with rooms starting around $240 a night during the week. Those prices will also give the staff breathing room in dealing with problems that will pop up when such a large facility opens its doors. It will also allow resort staff to manage the Friday and Saturday night crowds of younger customers who are known to crowd more than a couple of people in a room.

    You can find out more at www.revelresorts.com. – Doug

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