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B M & T ••• September/October 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 52 NORTH CAROLINA AREA GUIDES MEETING IN NORTH CAROLINA OFFERS A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES BY SONYA STINSON Each of North Carolina's three geo- graphic regions has a different flavor. The western mountains region is known for the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountain ranges that dominate the landscape, as well as its Appalachian culture and Cherokee heritage. North Carolina's top tourist attractions—the Biltmore Estate in Asheville and Great Smoky Mountains National Park—are located here. North Carolina's three largest cities—Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro—are part of its central Piedmont region, which has a vibrant, multicultural urban character. The coastal region to the east offers a more laid-back vibe, with its 320 miles of barrier island beaches and attractions like the Outer Banks and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. CHARLOTTE Nicknamed the Queen City for its 18th century British royal namesake, Charlotte is a highly accessible desti- nation with non-stop flights from more than 170 cities. Its premier meeting venue, the 600,000-square- foot Charlotte Convention Center, is conveniently located in the city's walkable Uptown area and just seven miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The LEED Gold Certified center contains 280,000 square feet of divisible exhibit space, 50 meeting rooms and two ballrooms. The largest of them, the 40,000- square-foot Crown Ballroom, con- nects to the NASCAR Hall of Fame via an over-the-street walkway. The NASCAR Hall can accommodate groups of up to 2,400 for meetings, receptions and other events. The walkway also links the conven- tion center to the 700-room Westin Hotel, which has more than 46,000 square feet of event space, as well as providing access to the LYNX Blue Line light rail's Brooklyn Village Station. A total of 6,400 hotel rooms are within walking distance of the convention center. The Brooklyn Village Station is named in honor of the historic African-American neighborhood that once occupied the area. Today this section of Uptown is home to the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African- American Arts & Culture, along with several other museums and the Bank of America Stadium. The light rail will take you to popular shopping, dining and entertainment hubs like the NoDa (or North Davidson Street) neighborhood, Optimist Hall and the Market at 7th Street. The four-mile- long CityLYNX Gold Line Streetcar connects to sites like Independence Park, Johnson & Wales University and the historically Black Johnson C. Smith University. Other places to explore the city's Black heritage include the Charlotte Museum of History—which features an exhibit of the historic Siloam School, a preserved early 20th school- house for Black students—and Romare Bearden Park, named for the renowned African-American artist who was born in Charlotte. The Mint Museum Uptown at the Levine Center for the Arts contains the nation's largest public collection of Bearden's work, while the Jerald Melberg Gallery and the Projective Eye Gallery at UNC Charlotte also have examples. The Mint Museum Randolph, the state's first art museum, is housed in what was once the first branch of the U.S. Mint. In the NoDa Arts District, you'll find an assortment of colorful murals and other public art installa- tions, galleries, restaurants, craft brew- eries and live entertainment venues. Discovery Place Science is a great outing for meeting attendees and others traveling to Charlotte with kids. With a capacity for up to 1,800, the full museum can also be rented out for events, while the Tryon Suite can hold up to 300 and the Discovery Place Education Studio can fit up to 75 people. Those looking for a little outdoor adventure might be interested in the U.S. National Whitewater Center, a 1,300 site offering zip lines, activity • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Westin Charlotte 700 Charlotte Marriott City Center 446 Hilton Charlotte Uptown 400 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Charlotte Convention Center Total Meeting Space 600,000 sq. ft. Largest Hall 100,000 sq. ft. Largest Ballroom 40,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 50 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority — (704) 334-2282 https://www.crva.com/ Exterior of the Charlotte Convention Center photo credit: Charlotte C.C