Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on Wednesday said it has hired Donna Ward to fill the role of vice president of sales.
The resort said Ward will oversee its hotel sales operations, including meetings and conventions in its more than 150,000 square feet of conference and event space.
Prior to joining Hard Rock, Ward spent more than 35 years in sales roles throughout Atlantic City, including with Harrah's, the former Trump Organization and Resorts Casino Hotel.
Most recently, Ward was VP of sales, catering and convention services at Golden Nugget.
Ward has been a volunteer with the Miss America pageant since 1987, and currently serves as chairwoman on the pageant’s board of trustees.
She is a graduate of East Stroudsburg University.
“Hard Rock Atlantic City is thrilled to welcome Donna to our team,” Joe Lupo, property president, said in a statement. “Her commitment to bringing the best meetings and conventions to Hard Rock will not only be invaluable to our property but will also elevate the Atlantic City market as a whole.”
Earlier this year, Hard Rock Atlantic City said it will reinvest a minimum of $20m in capital improvements in the property, including suite renovations, the opening of a new Starbucks, additional slots and table games, a new dining outlet, and a refresh of beachfront amenities.
Officials said the majority of the investment will go towards renovating 66 Celebrity and 25 Roxy suites. In addition, all standard hotel rooms have been improved with new flatscreen television monitors and LED lighting.
Additional gaming units will be created in the Asian and High Limit areas as a positive response to the demand generated from seven consecutive months of gaming revenue growth. The main casino floor and cage areas are to be expanded with added table games and slot machines.
The oceanfront resort said it would upgrade its beachfront amenities to reflect the hard work of the US Army Corps of Engineers’ beach replenishment projects that took place this year.
