An at-a-glance guide to leading meeting&convention destinations CityFile
CHARLOTTE I
A Dynamic Destination Full of Surprises
N ANTICIPATION OF HOST- ing the Democratic National Convention in 2012, Charlotte’s
surge of new developments— from hotels to exciting cultural attractions—have meeting profes- sionals taking a second look at the vibrant Southern city. In August 2012, the 172-room Hyatt Place Charlotte–Uptown will open, while the new Mint Museum Uptown, part of the Levine Center for the Arts, opened in late 2010. Just steps from the Charlotte Convention Center, the Levine Center for the Arts also includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Knight Theater, and Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture. For event rentals, the center’s three rooftop venues offer views of downtown. Charlotte is also home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, a four-level tribute to the sport’s heroes. The Hall of Fame
At a Glance
CONVENTION FACILITIES Charlotte Convention Center Total event space: 850,000 square feet Total exhibit space: 280,000 square feet (divisible into four halls) Ballrooms: Two—35,000 square feet and 40,000 square feet Meeting-room space: 90,000 square feet Maximum number of breakout rooms: 37 Registration and prefunction space: 43,000 square feet Number of hotel rooms within walking distance: 4,219
makes a unique backdrop for evening receptions, while Glory Road, a banked ramp with sixteen historic cars, can accommodate up to 680 people for receptions and 360 for banquets. Groups can also rent out the Hall of Fame’s 278- seat Belk High Octane Theatre. For exhibitions and conven-
SPACE TO SPARE: The Charlotte Convention Center hosts a wide range of events in its 280,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, 37 meeting rooms, and two ballrooms.
tions, the airy, light-filled con- courses of the Charlotte Convention Center offer 280,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space as well as 37 meeting rooms, a 35,000-square-foot ballroom, and the new 40,000-square-foot Crown Ballroom, unveiled last year. Conveniently connected to the
NASCAR Hall of Fame via pedestrian skywalk, the center is within walking distance of 4,200 hotel rooms downtown. Other center conveniences include the new Delish food court with three quick-dining options: Bojangles’ Famous Chicken and Biscuits, Buon Cibo, and Einstein Bros. Bagels.
ADDITIONAL MEETING
FACILITIES NASCAR Hall of Fame Levine Center for the Arts Bojangles’ Coliseum Charlotte Motor Speedway Bank of America Stadium TimeWarner Cable Arena U.S. National Whitewater Center
HOTELS Total hotel rooms: 32,193 Largest properties: TheWestin Charlotte (700 rooms) Charlotte Marriott City Center (434 rooms)
Hilton Charlotte Center City (407 rooms)
Omni Charlotte Hotel (374 rooms) Aloft Charlotte Uptown (175 rooms) Hotel Sierra (163 rooms) The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte (146 rooms)
70 pcma convene October 2011
ATTRACTIONS Levine Center for the Arts (including Mint MuseumUptown, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, Knight Theater, Bechtler Museumof Modern Art); NASCAR Hall of Fame; NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center; Charlotte Motor Speedway; Billy Graham Library; U.S. National Whitewater Center; Levine Museum of the New South; Discovery Place; Carowinds
AIR TRANSPORTATION Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (CLT), a US Airways hub, offers more daily flights per capita than any other U.S. airport, with nonstop service to 138 destinations worldwide.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit Charlotte; (800) 722-1994; fax: (704) 331-2758; www.charlottesgotalot.com