Coaster Photo
Margot MacPherson
By ED SALVAS
Margot MacPherson says her main challenge as director of sales at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel is filling its rooms all year. MacPherson joined the hotel on Oct. 30, 2023 and believes the Berkeley is well positioned to do more business in the fall, winter and spring as well as in the “season,” from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
MacPherson came to the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel from a career with Hotels Unlimited, which owns several area hotels, including the Doubletree in Tinton Falls, the Sheraton- Eatontown and Holiday Inn Express in Neptune. She notes that the Berkeley is approaching its 100th anniversary in 2025 and is quick to highlight its amenities for drawing business.
“We have 25,000- square-feet of meeting space, located in the center of the state, we are 28 miles from Six Flags Great Adventure while Atlantic City is a haul.”
Her plan includes going after more corporate business for meetings and seminars booking more than one night. She recently had a group of doctors from Jersey Shore University Medical Center at a conference, a visiting college hockey team from St Louis and hosted a state Police Conference.
The Asbury Park Urban Enterprise Zone held a “Made in Asbury Park, Sold In Asbury Park” showcase on Feb. 10 that attracted several hundred people.
MacPherson also acknowledges there are challenges facing the city.
“We need Convention Hall and the Paramount Theater open, and parking is confusing,” she said. But the Berkeley is large enough with 257 rooms to accommodate larger groups for overnight stays and she believes the location is perfect for business in the daytime and there are many restaurants, clubs and the boardwalk for after hours entertainment.
Reservations are also starting to come in for the biggest draws in Asbury Park. The North to Shore Art and Ideas, June 10-16, TatooFest June 21-23, and Sea.Hear.Now Sept. 14 and 15 which draws 20-30 thousand each day. The Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce annual AsburyFest which had been held in September, was moved up to June 7 to 9 this year to avoid the hurricane season which disrupted the festival in recent years.
