So trust me when I say that I don’t intend for this blog to be a news breaker as to whenever a new website launches - but there is just something to be said when a company or hotel flips the switch to their new website because for people like me who get very excited over hotels - it gives us more information to digest about the latest and greatest hotel.

Today I noticed that The Chelsea in Atlantic City has done just that - flipped the switch to their website which previously was a one page splash page taking reservations for events, and offering very simple information on the hotel. Now the site is a full fledged site offering room descriptions, restaurant names, and best of all - pictures of what to expect when the hotel finally opens Memorial Day Weekend.

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The excitement about this hotel is growing - its the first “destination” hotel in Atlantic City that does not have a casino component, and even without the Casino I can easily see The Chelsea being booked solid almost every night.

I have to admit - I’m a tad bit disappointed in the decor of the hotel because I was expecting an older, nostalgic looking decor - instead it looks very modern looking, not futuristic, but contemporary/modern, although - I really don’t know what I would expect nostalgic looking decor to look like.

I found it interesting that there are two main room categories - Chelsea Luxe and Chelsea Lite. In other words, while the former Howard Johnson and Holiday Inn are now one combined hotel - there still is a difference in the quality of the room, although all the rooms in both categories are “stylish”, have complimentary wireless internet access, flat screen TVs, mini-bars, triple-sheeted beds and individual climate control systems (I don’t know any hotel nowadays that doesn’t have the last feature - from the Motel 6 all the way to the Four Seasons).

I’m very curious to see what the differences are in the room quality between the Lite & Luxe, or is it just a bigger room with a better view? For those who are not familiar with the former Holiday Inn & Howard Johnson, the Holiday Inn (Where Luxe rooms are located) is a 20-story high-rise hotel right on the boardwalk, whereas the Howard Johnson (where Lite rooms are located) was a 5-story hotel located behind the Holiday Inn.

The website continually is promoting the social life that is within The Chelsea and is primarily focused on the “Fifth Floor” which is being promoted as thee place to be:

Like a delightfully unpredictable house party, guests can roam from room to room endlessly exploring a flowing space punctuated with nooks, crannies, and hotspots such as the Terrace Lounge, the “must go” location for the over-21 crowd on the lookout for a sophisticated, hip experience outside of the casinos, the Living Room, the Bar, and the Game Room.

They are setting up The Chelsea to be a nightlife destination and I think its a refreshing change from what’s currently in Atlantic City. Not that I have a problem with Atlantic City’s nightlife (almost every casino has a club, and of course - all serve alcohol throughout the gaming floor) it’s just nice to see an environment that does not revolve around gaming in Atlantic City. It’s a place where people can go and relax and be in a busy, city environment - almost like you’d find in any major city around America. Atlantic City does not currently have that.

All in all, I hope that this will bring other Boutique hotels into Atlantic City, which will raise its popularity and profile from being more than just a gaming town - to being a destination where you can gamble if you’d like.

This type of development is what Atlantic City needs to stem the flow of dollars which are now starting to go to the new casinos in Pennsylvania.

W Hotel Atlantic City anyone?

andrew@alconic-inc.com