What's new in Charlotte, North Carolina this spring

26/03/2018 08:00

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Charlotte may just be on the cusp of its breakout moment, according to Food & Wine. Unabashedly, we think the city has been the South's best hidden gem. Charlotte's thriving banking economy and outdoor amenities attract droves of residents—not to mention all their friends and family. Touting $6.7 billion in visitor spending in 2016, Mecklenburg County is the Carolina's leading tourism hot spot. Our secret? A premier hotel development market with names like Kimpton and Grand Bohemian in the heart of Center City. Visitors can experience uncapped accessibility to restaurants, entertainment and a flourishing craft beer scene thanks to an ongoing light rail project. And they'll also find an inclusive attitude that celebrates African-American chefs who are culinary leaders in Charlotte's innovative food culture.

MORE ROOM AT THE INN
Approximately 7,600 new hotel rooms are slated for the Charlotte region through 2020. In 2018, 17 hotels, a total of 1,907 rooms, are projected to open; these include the 300-room dual-branded AC Hotel and Residence Inn Charlotte City Center in Uptown and a 123-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites in South End. In 2019, Center City's Stonewall Station project will welcome two 181-room hotels—a Home2 Suites by Hilton and an EVEN Hotel. And slated for early 2020 is the 254-room Grand Bohemian Charlotte, which is slated to break ground this quarter. Read more here.

CATCHING THE LIGHT RAIL AND A BITE
Charlotte's LYNX Blue Line light rail extension (BLE) opened the same day Spectrum Center hosted the NCAA basketball tournament. The BLE adds 11 stops and 9.3 miles to its current footprint, connecting the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to South Charlotte. While the city's overall culinary scene has exploded with notable additions, including Zeppelin and The Suffolk Punch, the BLE has facilitated the development of a corridor of restaurants, breweries and other watering holes best explored by rail. Notable stations include New Bern, Bland and 36th Street. Read more here.

THE SOUL OF THE COMMUNITY
Over the past year, African-American chefs and restaurant owners have become voices of inclusivity in the Charlotte region's food community. At the same time, the city has experienced an uptick in events featuring restaurants owned by African-Americans. Examples include Soul Food Sessions, also recently touted by Food & Wine, Charlotte Black Restaurant Week and Black Food-Truck Fridays. Read more here.

New in Charlotte is a regular update on tourism-related developments in the Charlotte metro area including hotel and venue construction, culinary accolades and openings, the city's major events, and upcoming attractions. Additional information about what's new in Charlotte can be found here and additional photos can be found here. Didn't find what you're looking for? Reach out to our team for more story ideas or visit charlottesgotalot.com/media.

Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) works to deliver experiences that uniquely enrich the lives of our visitors and residents. Through leadership in destination development, marketing and venue management expertise, the CRVA leads efforts to maximize the region's economic potential through visitor spending, creating jobs and opportunities for the community. Brands supported by the CRVA include the Charlotte Convention Center, Spectrum Center, Bojangles' Coliseum, Ovens Auditorium, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte Regional Film Commission and Visit Charlotte in conjunction with the region's destination marketing brand. For more information, visit charlottesgotalot.com.

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