The Atlantic City Alliance continues the tough mission of bringing visitors back in.

Mario Tama, Getty Images
Mario Tama, Getty Images
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Casino revenues have been in decline for a number of years and the once popular and jam-packed gaming resort is number three.

Las Vegas and Pennsylvania come up on top. The Alliance will continue to use its DO AC campaign this year with some adjustments. There is also a new challenge.

According to recent polls, many out of state residents believe, incorrectly, that the Atlantic City Boardwalk was either totally wiped out or suffered extensive damage in last October's Superstorm Sandy. That couldn't be further from the truth.

In fact, Liza Cartmell, the President of the Alliance says, "There was only minor damage to some spots and the casinos could have probably re-opened the day after Sandy hit. This misconception is one of the reasons people are staying away. Atlantic City is open for business and ready for you. The city did suffer some damage in the residential areas but the tourism district was virtually untouched."

In the coming weeks, the Alliance will be modifying the DO AC campaign, spreading it further than the original. Cartmell says, "the destination city is open and ready for gamers, shoppers, food lovers - anyone. We have seen that many of the day trippers want to know what's happening in terms of shows and attractions. We will add that component to the print, online and TV campaigns."

As a result of Sandy, the Alliance is getting some extra help from the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism, which is also dealing with declining visitors and misconceptions about devastation in other areas.

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa President and Chief Operating Officer Tom Ballance has become Chairman of the Board of Trustees. In addition, Revel Entertainment has been admitted as the eighth member of the Board, and three new Trustees have been designated: Revel Entertainment Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kevin DeSanctis; Resorts Casino Hotel Chief Executive Officer Mark Giannantonio, and Harrah's Resort Atlantic City Senior Vice President and General Manager John Smith.

The ACA is privately funded and led by a Board of Trustees that includes one representative from each casino corporation family.

The Atlantic City Alliance was established in 2011 as a private, not-for-profit corporation whose primary mission is to develop and implement a full-scale, broad-based, multi-year marketing program for Atlantic City. For more information visit the DO AC website, Facebook page, and on Twitter.

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