Jon Talese is the Co-Founder and Partner of AC Hotel Experts, a company that helps hundreds of visitors find hotel rooms in Atlantic City via the internet and a call center. Jon is on the frontlines of visitor demand and hears what the travelers want in terms of vacations and accommodations - and then does his best to fulfill their expectations. An Ocean City resident for most of his life, Jon for a company called Sausman Hotel Group, which at the time managed the Flagship Hotel. Soon afterwards, he had the opportunity to get into the hotel reservation business and that has been his career for the last 20 years.
How long have you lived in the Atlantic City area?
Family came through Ellis Island 1915, settled in Ocean City 1920. I grew up in Ocean City NJ from age of 11, after college moved back 1985 with my wife Patty and we started our life and family.
What do like most about Atlantic City?
First that it is a gaming destination. That gave me the opportunity to get into the hotel reservation business back in 1987 and that has become my life.
Describe your perfect day in Atlantic City.
Arriving at my office around 8am and smelling Formica’s Bakery baking fresh bread that is destined for the White House Sub Shop (50 yards from my office). At about 10am I smell the Cheese Steaks Cooking! The sky is blue, the sea gulls are calling and I see that there is a big line of cars backed up on the expressway with our customers in them heading into Atlantic City to check into one of our partner hotels.
What originally brought you to AC?
I worked for a company called Sausman Hotel Group, and we had the management contract for a condo hotel opening called the Flagship. That was 1986.
Where do you see the city in 10 years?
What is your part in getting there? I see Atlantic City in mid bloom relative to where it will be as a destination ten years from now. We might see the full beauty of that flower in 10 years, and we will do our part by delivering overnight guests to our partner casino’s, hotels, Inns, and motels to help the destination grow, thrive and prosper.
Tell us about your favorite AC memory.
That’s a tough one. If I resist my instincts to go with a dining or tavern type experience, I would have to say my favorite memory is driving into the city on the expressway on a summer night and as I approach the bay I can take in the city rising up in front of me, dressed up for the big night ahead and I’m taken by how far we have come since I arrived here. This picture in my mind is what other’s have seen and is part of the reason why they come back again and again and bless us all with their hard earned time and money.
What’s your favorite website?
www.Mysportsbook.com
Do you play in the casinos?
If so, what’s your game and where do you play? I have settled into slots, and like to play at the Showboat because we can duck into the Foundation room when we need a drink and a break.
You’ve got two hours to kill on the boardwalk, what do you do?
Would you believe walk into the closest casino and play the slots?
What’s your favorite casino? Hotel? Bar? Restaurant?
In Atlantic City that would be Borgata, Borgata, Knife and Fork Bar, Knife and Fork Restaurant.
What’s your favorite thing to do in AC outside the casinos?
Attend a gate show at the convention center that interests me, shop at the walk, go into the Tun Tavern to meet up with some friends and for some of Ted’s hand crafted beer.
What three words describe Atlantic City best?
Exactly, Atlantic City’s Best! You really need to check us out if you have not been here. Us locals come into town every weekend!
Dealer shows 16 you’ve got a pair of 8s - how do you play them?
I make the dealer take a card. No worries.
What would you most like to change about Atlantic City? I would like to see some neighborhoods developed that appealed to young professionals as well as adults past the child raising years. We need a community that will help us grow, demanding better products and services which create new business’s while supporting what we have already created. They will foster an environment that would be attractive to our visitors as well.
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