Atlantic City Goes Bust
The East Coast’s gambling mecca was dealt a bad hand this year. Four of Atlantic City’s 12 casinos closed by mid-September, including Revel, the high-end casino resort that opened in 2012 and cost $2.4 billion to build. The bankrupt casino was sold at auction in October and might reopen, but the city still faces increased competition as more states legalize gambling.
Hotel Boycott
The Dorchester Collection—a group of fashionable hotels including the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Le Meurice in Paris—was snubbed by guests and event planners after its owner, the Sultan of Brunei, enacted antigay laws and brought back stoning as a form of capital punishment. Advocates of the ban included Ellen DeGeneres and Anna Wintour.
Big Moves
High-profile events are often linked to their host cities but can shake things up with a change of scenery. This year saw announcements of three major moves from New York: The James Beard Awards are leaving for Chicago next year, as is the N.F.L. draft, and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show decamped to London for its show in December.
