Dear Colleagues,

 

Summer 2023 has presented some challenges for gaming, hospitality and tourism businesses in the southern shore region. 

Like many other hospitality and tourism businesses this summer, Atlantic City's casinos saw significant increases in the cost of doing business that impacted their bottom lines. Second quarter (April - June) Gross Operating Profits for the gaming industry in Atlantic City declined by 20% compared to last year. 

Unusual disruptions, such as the series of power outages in Wildwood and smoke from Canadian wildfires that impacted air quality across the region also made business operations challenging.

The equally unpredictable weather, which is always a consideration for shore towns that rely on summer visitors, has been variable this year with several rainy weekends and episodes of extreme heat that may or may not have impacted visitation. 

Yet, there are many reasons to remain optimistic as we see increased diversification and investiment in Atlantic City - for example the opening of Island Waterpark, and the continued expansion of the tourism season into the fall in Cape May. 

There is every reason to look to the future with cautious optimism. 

In this issue we will hear from diverse members of the LIGHT community on topics ranging from the use of public space to a different kind of "AI." The breadth of these articles is a testament to how LIGHT continues to grow and bring new perspectives to the gaming, hospitality and tourism industries of our region. We hope these articles, and the articles available in the International Journal of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism, will serve as an inspiration and resource for you and your team.

The Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality & Tourism (LIGHT), as part of the School of Business at Stockton University, supports the local community by providing the most recent, accurate and relevant data available on issues affecting the gaming, hospitality and tourism industries. LIGHT identifies emerging trends and connects industry leaders with knowledge to guide their decision making.

LIGHT’s experts, drawn from a broad range of disciplines, focus their skills on issues impacting industry stakeholders in the Atlantic County region and throughout the state of New Jersey. They examine the impacts of changing market dynamics and advise on best practices to meet new and unprecedented challenges.

LIGHT’s signature events, such as the fourth annual Shoreview, being presented October 5, 2023, underscore the institute’s commitment to providing opportunities for members of the public to actively participate in conversations about issues currently affecting their livelihoods.

Thank you again for your continuing support. We look forward to bringing you the same great programing throughout the year along with some new and exciting surprises.

 

Sincerely,

Jane Bokunewicz

Faculty Director, LIGHT

 

Jane Bokunewicz

Faculty Director, LIGHT