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B M & T ••• March/April 2021 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 24 of-the-art meeting spaces. What visitors may not know about the nation's fifth-largest city, is that its welcoming and innovative history laid a foun- dation for the melting pot-culture that exists there today. Phoenix is home to influences from around the globe, thanks to Black movers, shakers and tastemakers who are enriching this community as purveyors of the arts. Another well kept secret is Phoenix's growing prowess as a world-class meetings destination. Anchoring the area's meet- ings infrastructure is the Phoenix Convention Center, the first public venue in Arizona to receive GBAC STAR™ accredita- tion. Recognized as the gold standard of safe venues, GBAC STAR™ provides third-party validation to ensure the imple- mentation of rigorous protocols in response to bio-risk situa- tions. The GBAC Accreditation program enables facilities to maximize product use and best practices for sanitization and train staff to implement them at the level needed to thorough- ly sterilize and clean environments in the era of Covid-19. The Center's North and West Buildings are connected in the lower level exhibit hall and via a sky bridge on the upper level. The combined space contains 2 large ballrooms, 81 meeting rooms and 502,500 sq. ft. of exhibit space. The Phoenix Convention Center is excited to expand its offerings that are ideal for clients who value a flexible space with endless possibilities. This 80,000+ sq. ft. of urban out- door event space, referred to as Canyon on Third, sits between the Convention Center's North and West buildings providing an enclosed and guarded area that can be cus- tomized based on meeting and event needs. In addition to the flexibility, the space can accommodate a variety of activi- ties and is the perfect place to take full advantage of the Phoenix weather. There is no shortage of things to do and experience after the meetings are over. The downtown dining landscape is equal parts eclectic, noteworthy and underrated. A closer look reveals chefs who are working to connect and enrich their city, one bite at a time. No visit is complete without an evening of entertainment. Phoenix's downtown core offers countless nightlife options, including two stages that honor this city's roots while building bridges for the talent of tomorrow. This season marks 50 years of the Black Theatre Troupe (BTT) illuminating the African-American experi- ence on its stage. For more information, contact Lorne Edwards, Visit Phoenix Senior Vice President of Sales & Services, at (602) 452-6210 or email him at ledwards@visitphoenix.com. CHARLOTTE, NC The Queen City lives up to its name, offering visitors and locals the finest experiences—without overcharging them. For starters, quick, direct flights and short drive times from many major cities make accessing Charlotte a cinch. Bonus: Charlotte Douglas International Airport is just 7 miles from Uptown. Nationwide, meetings and conventions make up nearly a $300 billion industry with millions of convention goers attending tradeshows, expos, annual meetings, corporate gatherings and more across the country. Competition against other destinations is fierce in this arena, so it's important that Charlotte can differentiate itself from the rest of the pack of similar sized cities. There are several competitive advantages for Charlotte that encourage planners to bring meetings and events to the region. This represents areas such as the motorsports concen- tration in the Charlotte region, which serves as a one-of-a- kind, dynamic selling point that inspires site selection and generates excitement for visiting groups at places like the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Furthermore, the city's compact, walkable cityscape, accessibility and convenience at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, climate, affordability and the city's safety are all distinct competitive advantages that influ- ence meeting planners to choose Charlotte. The 550,000-sq. ft. Charlotte Convention Center is locat- ed across the street from the 700-room Westin Hotel and is also connected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame via an over- street walkway. The facility features 280,000 sq. ft. of total exhibit space, it's largest meeting room weighing in at 40,000 Charlotte Convention Center.