MGM Changes Atlantic City Leadership Again, Names New COO At Borgata

Travis Lunn is the new president and chief operating officer of Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, MGM Resorts International announced Wednesday.

Most recently, Lunn served as a regional president and COO in Mississippi, overseeing Beau Rivage Resort & Casino and Gold Strike Casino Resort. Other leadership roles include Las Vegas stints at MGM Grand, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, The Venetian and The Palazzo.

“It’s an honor to be joining this incredibly talented team,” Lunn said in a statement Wednesday. “Borgata is a world-class resort destination with a brand recognized nationwide for its spectacular accommodations, culinary program and entertainment offerings. I can’t wait to jump in and connect with all of the employees, guests and local community members.”

Another new leader at Borgata

Lunn is the third person to serve as Borgata’s top executive since July 2017. He is also the third consecutive executive to lead Borgata without any prior experience in Atlantic City.

Melonie Johnson, Borgata’s former president and COO, is returning to MGM National Harbor. Johnson arrived in Atlantic City in April 2020. At the time, the property and the other eight Atlantic City casinos were all closed. So when the Borgata reopened in July 2020, Johnson was the one running the show.

Preceding Johnson was Marcus Glover. He also came to Atlantic City from Beau Rivage.

Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International assumed 100% ownership and operational control of Borgata in 2016. Previously, MGM jointly operated the Atlantic City luxury casino with Boyd Gaming Corporation.

Boyd owns Valley Forge Casino Resort in neighboring Pennsylvania,

Still AC’s top dog

Borgata remains the market leader in Atlantic City, a place it has held for much of its 18-year history.

Through November, Borgata has generated more than 23.5% of all land-based gambling revenue from Atlantic City’s nine casinos.

More recently, MGM Resorts has capitalized on the growth of online gambling in New Jersey. In 2021, Borgata’s reported online revenue is tops in the market, accounting for $375 million of the $1.23 billion statewide total.

BetMGM, a 50/50 partnership between MGM and Entain plc, is responsible for the bulk of Borgata’s reported online gambling revenue.

AP Photo/Mel Evans