Jim Wood, president and CEO of Meet AC, Atlantic City, New Jersey’s destination marketing organization, announced he will step down at the end of 2019 to take care of his wife, who suffered a severe fall earlier this year.
According to Meet AC, the DMO’s Board of Directors will conduct a national search for a replacement but had not issued a timeline for the process at the time of publication.
Wood became the first CEO of Meet AC in 2014, and in 2015 he formed the Atlantic City Sports Commission within Meet AC.
Major successes of that organization include attracting MPI’s 2016 World Education Congress and the 2016 TEAMS Conference & Expo, according to Meet AC.
“Jim has been a driving force in continuing to position Atlantic City as a top destination for the meetings and conventions market,” said CRDA Executive Director and Meet AC Board Chairman Matt Doherty. “We wish Jim and his family the best in the future.”
The major driver of tourism revenue in New Jersey, Atlantic City accounted for 17% of $44.7 billion in statewide visitor spending in 2018, according to the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism.
Other successes during Wood’s tenure include the booking of more than 1.8 million room nights, which resulted in a nearly $1.9 billion economic impact into Atlantic City.
Wood also navigated the destination through the closing of multiple major casinos and increased the number of hotel rooms booked for meetings and conventions for the fourth consecutive year in 2018, and is on pace to record another increase in 2019, according to Meet AC.
Major new hospitality industry developments in 2018 include Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Ocean Resort Casino and Stockton University’s new beachfront campus, focused on hospitality and tourism education.
“It has been my pleasure to lead a great staff,” said Wood. “The organization is in great shape for the future.”
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