Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1507211
B M & T ••• September/October 2023 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 56 THE TAR HEEL STATE COMBINES SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY, OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AND BIG CITY VIBES TO CREATE BEST POSSIBLE MEETING DESTINATION B Y R U F U S M C K I N N E Y Whether it's for business or pleasure, a first-time visit or repeat trip, groups of all sizes agree North Carolina is an ideal meeting destination. This destination is within a day's drive or flight from cities throughout the East, and the diverse and plentiful facilities, venues and group- friendly attractions mean there's a perfect match for every meeting. Whether you're coordinating travel for 20 or 200, you'll find many North Carolina attractions readily welcome groups with amenities like motor coach-friendly park- ing and group rates. There's a reason family and friends meet back in North Carolina for vacation year after year. The mountain cabins, beach rentals and diverse things to see and do set the scene to reconnect. • • CHARLOTTE • • Charlotte's a breeze to access from most major cities, and it's a cinch to navi- gate once you're there. With a beautiful, compact convention district, cozy and affordable hotel scene, and a bustling public transportation system that offers access to the city's gems, the Queen City reigns supreme as a destination for meet- ings, conferences, trade shows and events. Steps from Uptown's hotels, attrac- tions, dining and nightlife, the Charlotte Convention Center is an accessible meeting and convention space with a bustling cityscape on its doorstep. Conveniently located in Uptown Charlotte just 7 miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, this venue is the city's premier meeting and conven- tion space. The 600,000-square-foot Charlotte Convention Center is located across the street from the 700-room Westin Hotel and is also connected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame via an overstreet walkway. The facility offers a full-service, in-house food and beverage department, visitor info services, a UPS Store, a pre- ferred in-house A/V provider with com- plete inventory of equipment and profes- sional technicians, and more. Both welcoming and energetic, Charlotte draws a diverse group of meet- ings, conventions, trade shows and sport- ing events every year. Its compact, walka- ble downtown, called Uptown by locals, is home to diverse attractions, professional sporting venues, innovative culinary offer- ings and thousands of hotel rooms, mak- ing Center City a premier destination for planners who aim to impress. It's easy to understand why planners love Charlotte's variety of unique event venues. This city offers endless possibili- ties to make a lasting impression with your attendees. Bojangles Coliseum has played host to entertainment icons, rock legends, sporting greats, political leaders, graduates, convention-goers and even rodeo stars. With a capacity of 10,829 the landmark dome opened in 1955 as Charlotte's first coliseum. It serves as a unique venue perfect for coordinating ele- ments of trade shows and large scale conferences Another venue planners might consid- er as a unique meeting space is the his- toric Ovens Auditorium. Multiple genera- tions of Charlotteans have walked through the doors of these historic ven- ues, which have become a defining piece of Charlotte's storied history and bright future. With a square footage of 4,750 and a capacity of 2,447 those venues are perfect for small to medium size events like weddings, fraternal gatherings and other moderate size gatherings. A haven for talent, Charlotte is a can- vas for artistic expression. State-of-the- art performance venues set the stage for mesmerizing productions spanning Broadway to local theater. Eye-catching public art begs for photo ops. And renowned art museums showcase work by the greatest visionaries from across the globe and across time. Murals all over the Queen City pay tribute to important events and figures in Black culture. They tell the stories of struggles and triumphs of communities, like the Historic West End of Charlotte, while promoting pride in cultural identi- ty. With every brush stroke, these murals have the power to transcend time, often unfolding and elevating the stories they tell. Abel Jackson partnered with Big Trouble Studios to create a bright and col- orful mural on West Trade Street. It high- AREA GUIDES N O R T H C A R O L I N A Charlotte Convention Center photo credit: Charlotte CC photo credit: Charlotte CC