UPDATE on Monday June 29th: Governor Phil Murphy halted indoor dining just days after announcing he would allow dining venues to resume their indoor dining on July 2nd. This has caused complete devastation to small businesses and casinos, so much so that Borgata decided to postpone their opening until further notice - please see their statement below:
OFFICIAL RELEASE: BORGATA HOTEL CASINO & SPA TO REOPEN JULY 6 Employee and Guest Health & Safety at Forefront of Atlantic City Resort’s Reopening
(Atlantic City, NJ – June 23, 2020) – Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa – an MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) (“MGM Resorts”) luxury resort and casino – will reopen to the general public at 10:00am on Monday, July 6 following its closure earlier this year amidst the coronavirus crisis. A hosted, invitation-only event will take place ahead of the public reopening. Borgata’s amenity offerings initially will be limited with plans to open additional venues in the coming weeks and months.
“We are proud to be part of this resilient community that has remained strong and caring during these challenging months. When we reopen our doors, we do so with excitement to welcome back our employees and guests, and with an unwavering commitment to their health and safety,” said Melonie Johnson, President of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. “Summer is a special time in Atlantic City, and we look forward to playing a part in offering some much-needed entertainment.”
Health & Safety In May, MGM Resorts released its comprehensive “Seven-Point Safety Plan,” a multi-layered set of protocols and procedures designed in conjunction with medical and scientific experts to mitigate the spread of the virus, protect customers and employees and rapidly respond to potential new cases. As time passes, the company will continue to evaluate and evolve its safety protocols. Key initiatives from the MGM Resorts plan as well as specific to Borgata include:
Employee screening, temperature checks and COVID-19 specific training.
Employees and guests will be required to wear masks in public areas. Masks will be provided free of charge.
Guest health screenings upon entry.
A physical distancing policy will be implemented, with floor guides serving as reminders.
For areas where physical distancing presents challenges, polycarbonate barriers will be installed, or other measures will be used to reduce risks.
Standalone handwashing stations designed by MGM Resorts conveniently located on the casino floor.
Guestroom Attendants will wear masks and gloves while cleaning each room and will change gloves between guest rooms.
In addition to increased and enhanced routine cleaning of guestrooms and public spaces based on CDC guidance, electrostatic sprayers will be utilized in many large public spaces so that disinfectant is applied efficiently.
Digital menus will be available to view on personal mobile devices via QR codes in the resort’s food and beverage outlets.
To minimize groups congregating while they wait, restaurant guests will receive text message notification when their tables are ready.
MGM has compiled its own internal team and processes to respond if a guest or employee tests positive for COVID-19. We ask that if a guest tests positive after visiting one of our properties, they alert us through a special email address (covid19@mgmresorts.com).
We will immediately report any positive test results to the local health department and assist with contact tracing to support the health department investigators.
Per the Governor’s guidelines, the property will adhere to a 25% capacity limit during this initial phase of reopening.
A glimpse at what guests can expect:
ROOMS & SUITES: Borgata’s hotel will open in a limited capacity.
GAMING: Place your bets at Borgata Casino, with over three acres of entertainment, including slots, table games and the Race & Sports Book. To promote physical distancing, every other slot machine will be disabled, and polycarbonate barriers have been installed at many of the table games. Poker will not be available in this first phase of reopening.
DINING: Enjoy a selection of Borgata’s dining venues, including Angeline by Michael Symon, Old Homestead Steak House, Moneyline Bar & Book, Borgata Beer Garden, Bread + Butter, Borgata Baking Company, Starbucks, and The Marketplace. Guests will utilize digital innovations such as QR codes for menus and text messaging for reservations.
RETAIL: Available retail outlets will include Whim, Carrello, Borgata Collections, Misura, Tumi and Carina.
PARKING/VALET: The self-park parking garage will open; the surface parking lot will remain closed. Valet parking will not be operational at this time.
Days and hours of operation at all venues will vary. For a full list of offerings, and to make reservations, please visit theborgata.com/updates