Charlotte, NC Event Planning

Key Highlights

Hotels	156
Total Sleeping Rooms	20,984
Committable Sleeping Rooms*	700
Committable Meeting Rooms*	42
Convention Center Space	550,000 Sq. Ft.
Largest Exhibit Space	280,000 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom	40,000 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $122
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $59
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $199
*Maximum for a single hotel

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Charlotte, NC Meeting Planning Overview

Welcome to our Charlotte meeting planning guide – a city guide for meeting planners interested in working with Visit Charlotte.

Exuding a bustling cosmopolitan vibe with a down-home feel, Charlotte offers small town appeal with big city amenities that draw an array of meetings, conventions, tradeshows and sporting events annually. The Charlotte Convention Center features 550,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space and is connected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame via an overstreet walkway. It's also across the street from the 700-room Westin Charlotte. With a convenient location in Uptown (what locals call the down-town area), Charlotte's convention district is a compact area within walking distance of thousands of hotel rooms, culinary options to suit every craving, cultural venues like the Levine Center for the Arts, which houses the Mint Museum Uptown, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture and the Knight Theater, and a vibrant nightlife scene with popular entertainment districts like the EpiCentre and AvidXchange Music Factory.

The Queen City features hundreds of hotel options in the region, including dependable hotel brands, stately bed and breakfasts, and luxury brands like LEED-certified The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte and The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge.

From modern museums to historic plantations and everything in between, unique event venues abound in the Queen City. Known as the center of NASCAR, Charlotte is home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Motor Speedway, which offer a one-of-a-kind backdrop for a race-themed event. Featuring the largest man-made whitewater river in the world, the U.S. National Whitewater Center offers indoor and outdoor meeting space and plenty of teambuilding opportunities both on land and in the water. The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden features a beautiful, lush scenery, perfect for a meeting, event, or reception set amid an outdoor oasis. For the kid at heart, Discovery Place offers event space surrounded by hands-on activities, explosive experiments, groundbreaking exhibitions and a larger-than-life IMAX theatre. And historic homes like The VanLandingham Estate, Morehead Inn and The Duke Mansion serve up quaint Southern charm tucked away in Charlotte's picturesque neighborhoods just outside of Center City.

The Charlotte Douglas International Airport, one of the nation's top 10 busiest airports by take offs and landings, welcomes thousands of convention and meeting attendees each year and is just 7 miles from the Charlotte Convention Center. More than 60 percent of the nation's population lives within a two-hour flight, and most destinations on the East Coast are within a day's drive or ride on Amtrak, making the Queen City an accessible hub and a magnet for growth.

While Center City is walkable and bike friendly, public transportation via the LYNX Blue Line light rail, CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar, and CATS buses offer easy ways to get around town.

*This information was last updated May 2016.

Charlotte, NC Awards

About Charlotte, NC / Additional Info

Charlotte, once known as a sleepy Southern textile manufacturing town, has experienced explosive growth in recent decades. Through the years, Charlotte has flourished to become a sophisticated financial powerhouse filled with Southern culture and charm. One of the fastest growing cities in the country, the Charlotte region is home to an estimated 2.5 million residents.

Some cities are known for their skyline, others for their professional sports, arts, or culinary scene. Still, others are recognized as a great place to conduct business or raise a family. But in Charlotte, the city boasts all of the above and then some.

Charlotte traces its history, as well as its name, back to the late 1700's when the first settlers arrived and named the area after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of British King George III, in hopes of winning the King's favor. The royal nod is also responsible for Charlotte's "Queen City" nickname.

Though the city was the site of the nation's first gold rush, it was not until after the Civil War that Charlotte made a name for itself as a hub for cotton manufacturing and railroad transportation. After the closure of the last cotton mill in 1975, the city evolved into one of the nation's leading banking centers (second only to New York), home to both Wells Fargo and Bank of America.

Today, from its Olympic-level whitewater rafting to its NASCAR heritage, award-winning theme park, and mile upon mile of beautiful scenery, the Queen City is an explorer's paradise. It's a haven of charming eateries and fine dining establishments, churning out everything from signature down-home comfort food to international delights. It's a craft beer mainstay and a booming metropolis for big business. And with Southern grace and metropolitan style, it plays host to a vibrant arts and music scene, renowned museums that tout its intriguing history and a professional sports stronghold that spans NFL Football to Major League Lacrosse.

"Charlotte's got a lot" isn't just the city's destination brand – it's a fact.

Charlotte, NC Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Eastern Time (ET)
Convention Center(s):

Charlotte Convention Center

Hotel at Convention Center? Yes
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 4,571

Airport(s):

Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Destination Type(s):

Luxury Destination
Cultural Destination
Family Friendly
Four Seasons Destination

Special Event Venues
111
Population
809,958
Restaurants
102
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
7.25%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
10-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near Charlotte, NC

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Greensboro, NC	92 mi	1 hr 27 min	46 min	USD $335+
Greenville, SC	102 mi	1 hr 42 min	43 min	USD $335+
Raleigh, NC	166 mi	2 hr 36 min	50 min	USD $202+
Atlanta, GA	244 mi	3 hr 55 min	1 hr 10 min	USD $266+
Richmond, VA	292 mi	4 hr 19 min	1 hr	USD $346+

Charlotte, NC Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	51	54	62	72	80	86	89	88	82	72	62	53
Avg. Low (°F)	31	33	40	49	58	65	69	68	62	50	40	33
Rec. High (°F)	78	81	86	93	97	103	103	103	104	98	85	77
Rec. Low (°F)	-5	5	4	25	32	45	53	53	39	24	11	2
Rainfall (in)	3.7	3.7	4.6	3.0	3.6	3.5	3.8	4.1	3.3	3.2	3.1	3.3

Carolina blue skies can be seen year-round in Charlotte. With an annual average temperature of 61 degrees and the annual average precipitation of 43 inches distributed evenly throughout the year, weather in the Queen City is fair and mild. Winter is welcoming, spring and fall are transformative, and summer is sunny and bright.

Meeting Planning in Charlotte, NC

Charlotte Convention Center

Conveniently located in Uptown Charlotte, just 7 miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the Charlotte Convention Center opened in 1995 as the city’s premier meeting and convention space. The facility offers an award-winning full-service, in-house catering department, concierge service, a visitor information center, gift shop, and a preferred in-house A/V provider with complete inventory of equipment and professional technicians. The Charlotte Convention Center has become one of a growing number of large convention facilities across the United States and the first in North Carolina to “go green.” In addition to procedures implemented like the usage of biodegradable cups made from corn products, the facility has gone the extra mile and added substantial recycling programs, environmentally friendly cleaning products, and energy-saving initiatives.

The Charlotte Convention Center features approximately 550,000 total square feet of space, including:

280,000 square feet of exhibit space that can be separated into four halls.
126,500 square feet of flexible meeting space, which includes 37 meetings rooms, the 35,000-square-foot Richardson Ballroom (can be separated into three rooms), and the 40,000-square-foot Crown Ballroom for a total of 41 breakout rooms.
Pre-function space totaling 90,800 square feet, which includes 20,400 square feet of meeting room pre-function space, an approximately 20,000-square-foot garden, a 17,800-square-foot terrace near the Richardson Ballroom, 15,000 square feet of pre-function space surrounding the Richardson Ballroom, 11,600 square feet of pre-function space surrounding the Crown Ballroom, and an approximately 6,000-square-foot overstreet bridge connecting the NASCAR Hall of Fame complex to the Charlotte Convention Center.
43,000 square feet of concourse space that can be used for registration or other components of your program.
Six VIP show offices overlooking the exhibit halls that totals approximately 5,700 square feet.
Approximately 4,000 square feet of space in the Delish Food Court, which offers Einstein Bros. Bagels, Buon Cibo, Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits, and Starbucks.

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Charlotte, NC Airport Information

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Approximate taxi fare: $29 USD

When it comes to traveling in style and comfort, Charlotte Douglas Airport is undeniably fly. Ranked one of the top 10 busiest airports in the nation and the world in terms of arrivals and departures, the dynamic hub offers nonstop service to popular domestic and international destinations. It has been recognized as the most cost-effective and the second most efficient airport in North America. Bonus: in recent years, it claimed the rank of the world’s fourth best domestic airport in Travel + Leisure’s annual awards.

For good reason, Charlotte Douglas has been named one of USA Today’s best airports for stranded travelers. Wasting time awaiting your departure? Fill your tank with a real taste of the city’s Southern roots. From delicious burgers and barbecue to craft beer, indulge at the variety of local culinary options in the terminals. Need a quick gift or wardrobe fix? Shops carrying everything from designer labels to casual wear abound. Weary from travel? Relax in one of the airport’s famed rocking chairs –a nod to one of 20-plus rotating or permanent exhibits in Charlotte Douglas’ Just Plane Art program –or enjoy a massage at the spa.

Air Canada
American Airlines
American Eagle and American Connection
Delta Airlines

Delta Connection
Frontier Airlines
JetBlue Airways
Lufthansa

Southwest Airlines
United Airlines
United Express
ViaAir

Charlotte, NC Public Transportation

Amtrak

Three routes serve the Queen City daily: The Piedmont connects Charlotte and Raleigh; the Carolinian runs to New York; and the Crescent travels from New York to New Orleans.

Greyhound

Daily service to and from Charlotte is available, with connections to Raleigh, Atlanta, Richmond, and more.

Interstates 77, 85 and 40

Interstates 77 and 85 link Charlotte to hubs across the Northeast, Southwest, and Midwest. Interstate 40 offers a coast-to-coast link and is less than an hour north of the city.

Sprinter Bus

This hybrid-electric bus is an easy and affordable way to get from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Center City, with stops in central locations.

LYNX Blue Line Light Rail

North Carolina's first rapid-rail system connects South Charlotte to Center City, running along 15 stations.

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Bus Service

With more than 70 routes across the city and county, CATS buses serve millions of passengers each year.

Gold Rush Red Line

These free rubber-wheel trolley cars, reminiscent of historic streetcars, connect passengers to Center City and the LYNX Blue Line.

CityLYNX Gold Line

This free streetcar system connects neighborhoods to businesses and educational facilities, including Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, Central Piedmont Community College, and the Charlotte Transportation Center, through six stations. Amenities include: covered and lighted seating, public art, and travel information.

Charlotte B-Cycle

With stations throughout Uptown and surrounding neighborhoods and hundreds of blue bikes, this is one of the largest urban bike sharing programs in the Southeast.

Taxis

At Charlotte Douglas Airport, taxi service is located at the baggage claim level. Passengers may arrange transportation with any taxi service provider, but there are three taxi companies available through the Airport's taxi queue: City Cab, Crown Cab, and Yellow Cab of Charlotte.

Car Rentals

Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty rental cars are available at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Thrifty is located off site and provides shuttle service between their company location near CLT and the terminal. All other rental car companies listed below are located in the Consolidated Rental Car Facility in the level 2 lobby of the Hourly Parking Deck in front of the terminal.

Limo/Car Service

If you need a limo or town car while in town, Charlotte is home to several companies that provide top-notch service, like American Chauffeured, Rose Chauffeured Transportation, CLT Express, SilverFox Limos, Peak Limousine, and Sterling Chauffeured Transportation.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Greensboro, NC	92 mi	1 hr 27 min	46 min	USD $335+
Greenville, SC	102 mi	1 hr 42 min	43 min	USD $335+
Raleigh, NC	166 mi	2 hr 36 min	50 min	USD $202+
Atlanta, GA	244 mi	3 hr 55 min	1 hr 10 min	USD $266+
Richmond, VA	292 mi	4 hr 19 min	1 hr	USD $346+