How to Access the Most Exclusive VIP Amenities in Atlantic City
A weekend (or hopefully longer) in Atlantic City will no doubt be a weekend full of glamorous cocktail dresses and dapper suits, dining on the freshest and most vibrant seafood, and entering spaces beyond velvet ropes that hold the promise of a night of spectacular entertainment. All of this is available to those in the Atlantic City scene who know how to access it. The question is…do you?
Accessing the Highest Level of VIP AC Amenities
Atlantic City is always buzzing. Even in the winter when the ocean is angry and grey, and rain pours down onto the boardwalk, there are indoor entertainment spaces that never really slow down. What you need to know is how to secure your place in the upper echelons of AC nightlife and an invitation behind every curtain, velvet rope, and VIP door in the city. It’s not as complicated or challenging as it may seem, but it does take tenacity, persistence, and a long-term goal-oriented mindset. Here is how you can access the most luxurious amenities in Atlantic City.
1. Join and Climb Loyalty Program Tiers
Loyalty programs are almost never a bad thing. You join a club, and you’ll likely get a regular newsletter and access to some kind of benefit. The kind of benefits you’ll get will vary wildly from location to location, but one thing is almost always true: you’ll need to climb up the tiers of your reward or loyalty program to get access to the best offers.
In a town where the majority of the nightlife is either casino-based or in some way connected to a casino (on-site bars, clubs and restaurants, casino theaters, and casino hotels), a casino loyalty program is probably the best place to start.
Take the BetMGM casino, for example. The Borgata casino, hotel, and spa offers a loyalty scheme that empowers every experience had by a guest there to become more than just that one experience. The Milestone Rewards program, like most others, starts you off at a low tier but provides opportunities for you to earn more rewards and climb that ladder. There are military and veterans benefits, chances to earn bonus points when you purchase gift cards and rewards partners (from travel to accommodation and more) that you can work with to earn even more points and climb the ladder to better offers and more exclusive experiences.
2. Find the Best VIP Ecosystems
Every VIP ecosystem is different. Each hotel, hotel and casino combo, restaurant, club, or social club of repute will have its own VIP ecosystem: a scheme or schemes across its many locations or spaces that delivers rewards (which come in many forms: discounts, freebies, upgrades, exclusive experiences, etc) to its loyal customers. Loyalty could mean different things in this context as well: in some ecosystems, it may be the amount spent, in others it may be the number of visits or points accumulated by the above, so you’ll need to do a little bit of research into each option.
What you need to do is find the ecosystems that offer you the most for the least: the biggest benefit for the least amount of effort or commitment. Once you’re a part of that ecosystem, work it! Take full advantage of every benefit that is afforded to you and make your way up to the highest level. This isn’t just about joining a loyalty program, it’s about understanding how partners and experiences connect to that programme and making sure that they work in your specific, personal favour.
3. Get Connected
As the saying goes, “It’s not what you know, but who you know”. This is just as true in Atlantic City as it is anywhere else in the world, so if you want to get access to certain amenities, you need to take careful note of the people holding the keys. The first piece of advice is a simple one to follow, and that’s to be as courteous, kind, and friendly to all the staff at any venue you visit: people are much more likely to want to help a kind patron who tips well. The second is that you should prepare to become a high roller if you want to make connections in the luxury and nightlife scenes. Money talks, and it’s the big spenders (also referred to as whales)that any venue will want to keep happiest.
There are a number of “facilitators” that will be capable of granting access to exclusive locations and experiences.
- Club managers
- Club promoters
- Your hotel’s concierge
- Casino hosts
Make it a point never to disregard anyone (this is excellent general life advice, even when there’s no “benefit” to you) wherever you go: from the housekeeper to the CEO. People who work in the service industry are usually good at reading those they come into contact with and will likely know if you’re being genuine or just playing at being nice to get to luxury amenities.
All That’s Left…
…is to enjoy the fruits of your labour! Sit back and relax with bottle service or sleep late in your upgraded suite before a day of sunbathing by your VIP cabana. The most luxurious amenities in Atlantic City are available to you if you know how to look and who to ask.
