Our shore communities are bracing for a massive influx of visitors this Memorial Day weekend, and the numbers tell an impressive story: every single hotel property in Atlantic City is sold out.
"Every property is literally sold out right now in Atlantic City for the weekend, and that's a wonderful start of our Summer," said Gary Musich, the CEO of Visit Atlantic City.
The sellout comes despite weather forecasts predicting rain for the holiday weekend. But for many visitors, the allure of the shore transcends perfect beach conditions.
"It's always nice to be at the shore, the ocean is just mesmerizing and makes me happy," said Susan Carpineta, who traveled from Northeast Philadelphia to get an early start on the long weekend.
Robin Olesky, visiting from King of Prussia, echoed that sentiment: "I just love hearing the crashing of the waves when you're on the beach, there's nothing like it."
Businesses Prepare for the Rush
Along the iconic boardwalk, business owners are preparing for what's traditionally one of the busiest weekends of the year. At Beach Apparel, Abdul Rauf was readying his store for his 18th season serving shore visitors.
For Rauf and other boardwalk merchants, Memorial Day weekend can make or break the early season. But there's one factor they can't control: the weather.
"We had a lot of rain last year, and it looks like it's going to be the same this year too, but let's see what goes," Rauf said. "We need 80 degrees every day."
The strong bookings reflect the success of a major marketing push. Visit Atlantic City has invested millions of dollars in advertising campaigns designed to position the resort town as a destination for family memories and summer experiences.
Official Kickoff and Safety Preparations
Mayor Marty Small will officially unlock the ocean Friday afternoon in a ceremonial welcome to the unofficial start of summer. The Atlantic City Beach Patrol has spent the week preparing equipment and will have lifeguards in the stands beginning Saturday, May 23.
For some visitors, timing their trip is everything. Leslie Browne and Eric Devore spent two nights enjoying the resort town but planned to head back to South Philadelphia on Friday to beat the weekend crowds.
"One of our favorite things to do is just people watch, enjoy the people, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the boardwalk pizza," Devore said.
Rain or shine, it's clear that our community is ready to embrace the shore season. With hotels at capacity and businesses stocked and staffed, Atlantic City is poised to deliver the summer memories visitors are seeking—even if they need to pack an umbrella along with their beach towels.
