Atlantic City’s Borgata unable to fill new hotel expansion

The faltering economy has claimed another victim: Atlantic City’s newest hotel expansion.

At the Borgata Hotel and Casino, Boyd Gaming Corp. said it would take most of the 800 rooms from its Water Club expansion out of service during slower midweek days in response to declining business.

Rooms will be closed on most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays starting next week and continuing through April, Boyd Gaming spokesman Rob Stillwell told The Press of Atlantic City.

The $400 million hotel expansion opened last summer. Room rates began at $300 to $329 per night for midweek stays and between $500 and $700 for weekends Borgata, in response to the slowing economy and reduced demand, slashed those prices.

“One of the things we’ve noticed in this difficult economic environment is that guests are having shorter booking windows,” Stillwell, describing advance hotel reservations, told the newspaper. “We have less visibility into the future. That’s why we can’t speak beyond next month.”

Guests who had previously been booked for midweek stays at the Water Club will be switched to Borgata’s 2,000-room main tower.

Stillwell said Borgata hopes to resume full bookings at the Water Club in May.