Charlotte, known as the “Queen City,” is the reigning monarch of money and fast cars. The second-largest U.S. banking center and one of the country’s most famous NASCAR cities, Charlotte is also expanding its meetings and conventions offerings.
Currently in the midst of a small development boom that will soon see the opening of three new full-service properties, Charlotte is making a strong bid for more meetings business. New properties carrying
Ritz-Carlton, aloft and Twelve brands are set to launch by the end of 2008, adding nearly 500 hotel rooms and thousands of square feet of meeting space to the city’s inventory.
Center City, Charlotte’s downtown area and convention hub, already offers 4,100 guest rooms, and there are 30,000 in the greater metro area. Some of the largest players within the city limits are the 400-room Hilton Charlotte Center City, which recently completed a major renovation; the 700-room Westin Charlotte; the 438-room Charlotte Marriott City Center; and the 374-room Omni Charlotte.
Just outside the city, the IACC-certified Ballantyne Resort offers 214 guest rooms and 20,000 square feet of meeting space as well as a spa and an 18-hole golf course, both of which heartily welcome groups.
Large group venues include the 73,000-seat Bank of America Stadium, the 17,000-seat Charlotte Bobcats Arena and Charlotte Convention Center, which features 280,000 square feet of exhibit space and 90,000 square feet of meeting space, and is planning a 100,000-square-foot expansion within the next two years.
In the meantime, the convention center is showing its commitment to progress by forming a “Green Team” to research, plan and implement procedures to lower the environmental costs of events held in the venue.
Several recent and upcoming new attractions also add luster and help planners keep attendance high. Charlotte cemented its claim as the home of NASCAR when it was chosen as the future home of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, currently under construction and set to open in 2010. Racing fans don’t need to wait until then for a fantastic new destination; Raceworld USA, which opened last year, gives groups a chance to get behind the scenes at a working track.
The city is understandably proud of its exciting new developments.
“Charlotte has become a cosmopolitan Southern city that delights people with Southern hospitality and world-class customer service,” says Mike Butts, executive director of Visit Charlotte. “Planners now have a new option in the South with a very tight hotel package, an award-winning convention center, trendy restaurants, and major city amenities in an affordable package.”
Visit Charlotte is already seeing the effects of the strong pull its hot new attractions and unique off-site venues have on meetings.
“Besides the U.S. National Whitewater Center, there’s our new NBA arena located in the convention district that brings in performers such as the Rolling Stones, Elton John and Van Halen; three new cultural arts facilities in the convention district; and the historic Duke Mansion for intimate gatherings,” Butts says. “The NASCAR Hall of Fame attached to the convention center and opening in early 2010 provides a built-in venue geared to accommodate meetings and conventions because it will be managed by the same team that runs the convention center. The interactive displays and exhibits in this venue will entertain everyone with all that is exciting about the high speed of NASCAR. We have already had groups book because of the new ballroom and built-in entertainment this facility will provide.”
Hard work, a powerful vision for the future and cooperation at all levels have paved the way for the city’s surge in popularity as a meetings and conventions destination, according to Butts, and the city expects the trend to continue.
“We are working with regional government officials and the hospitality industry to develop the Charlotte region as a tourism destination,” Butts says. “All of this bodes well for the meeting planner. Charlotte has become a force to be reckoned with in the industry when competing for meetings and conventions, luring events away from some of those more ordinary destinations. We will continue to grow and provide a new and exciting alternative for events in the mid-Atlantic and Southeast.”
One thing that hasn’t changed about Charlotte is the unbeatable convenience of its location. It is the largest city between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.
“The airport is only 14 minutes from Center City, offering over 600 flights a day to 160 different destinations,” Butts points out. “The mid-Atlantic location makes the city easily accessible to all of the East Coast, with almost two-thirds of the nation’s population within a day’s drive.”
Transportation around the city itself is easier than ever, too, with the launch of the LYNX light rail system last November. The 10-mile line currently connects the suburbs to Center City, with future expansions planned, including a connection to Charlotte/Douglas International Airport.
Convenience, continued growth and a wide range of lures will keep Charlotte on planners’ radar in the future, Butts adds.
“What people will experience here is the expected Southern hospitality blended with very surprising, cosmopolitan, big-city offerings and atmosphere,” he says. “Meeting planners on their first visit always say, ‘I had no idea all you had to offer here!’ So whether it is barbeque or sushi, NASCAR or Picasso, Charlotte excels at delivering everything as it should be.”
Cabarrus County
Listen closely to the heart of any car racing fan, and you’ll hear the sound “Cabarrus, Cabarrus.” This is the place where their dreams of speed and power can all come true.
“Cabarrus County is in the Heart of NASCAR Country and boasts the world’s largest concentration of motorsports attractions,” says Sharon Campbell, vice president of sales and marketing at the Cabarrus County CVB. “Even those who are not NASCAR fans enjoy getting an insider’s look at the world’s fastest-growing sport.”
The county is home to the legendary Lowe’s Motor Speedway, which presents planners with several unique paces for events, including NEXTEL Cup Garage and Busch Garage, each offering 22,000 square feet of space.
Other racing-themed group activity options include the Richard Petty Driving Experience, located at the speedway, which allows participants to get behind the wheel or ride along in NASCAR-style cars at more than 160 mph, and PIT Instruction & Training in Mooresville, which offers racing-related education and team-building adventures.
The largest meeting venue available is Cabarrus Arena & Event Center, with 130,000 square feet of flexible expo and meeting space.
For those few who need a break from the high-velocity thrills of racing, other activities include wine-tasting tours at nearby Yadkin Valley wineries, golfing, panning for gold at Reed Gold Mine, or a trip to Shoppertainment, a mall offering 200 stores in Concord Mills.
Cabarrus County is also experiencing its own mini building boom. The biggest news for planners is the 42,000-square-foot Concord Convention Center, which opened adjacent to the Embassy Suites Golf Resort Hotel & Spa in 2007.
“One of the fastest-growing visitor destinations in North Carolina, Cabarrus County will add nearly 1,450 hotel rooms by mid-2010, bringing its total room inventory to nearly 3,400,” Campbell says. “New hotel properties currently planned or under construction include the Great Wolf Resort and several limited-service hotels.”
Aside from the new developments, Campbell says the area boasts numerous selling points for groups.
“Cabarrus County is less than a half-hour’s drive from Charlotte Douglas International Airport and offers a variety of meeting and convention space, ranging from elegant to rustic, sleek to industrial,” she says. “Home to Lowe’s Motor Speedway and most NASCAR teams’ race shops, the area provides a dynamic backdrop for meetings and conventions and offers team-building programs."
For More Info
Cabarrus County CVB 704.782.4340
www.visitcabarrus.com
Visit Charlotte 704.334.2282
www.visitcharlotte.com
