Cabarrus County Convention Prepares for DNC Delegates

(February 15, 2012)- Cabarrus, NC – With 11 DNC delegations staying in Cabarrus County, the hospitality industry is eager to fulfill its role as the consummate host.

“Our entire community is thrilled to welcome these delegations to Cabarrus County for the Democratic National Convention. I feel confident that our top notch hotels and our southern hospitality will provide them with an experience that will leave them wanting to come back for more! This is an exciting time for Cabarrus County, and the Charlotte region,” said Donna Carpenter, president and chief executive officer of the Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Bureau projects an estimated $6 million economic impact to Cabarrus County. Based on room nights and average rate for those rooms during the four days of the convention, this estimate was calculated by an event impact estimating tool from Destination Marketing Association International. On a regular basis, the Bureau uses this calculator to determine direct and indirect estimated economic impact numbers for meetings and conventions held in Cabarrus County.

Carpenter continued, “The Democratic National Convention will have significant economic impact and will offer us the opportunity to showcase Cabarrus County as a true visitor destination. We are looking forward to working with all of these delegations leading up to September and making this the best convention ever!”

Cabarrus County is an ideal location for convention delegates thanks to its accessibility to Uptown and the wide variety of lodging, dining and attractions. Cabarrus County is home to two of the Charlotte region’s most visited attractions, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Concord Mills as well as many other major attractions like Historic Downtown Concord, the NC Research Campus and Reed Gold Mine.

“We’re excited to welcome the DNC delegations from Alaska, District of Columbia, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Texas, and West Virginia to the City of Concord in September. Thousands more will join us on Labor Day for the family festival kick-off event at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” said Concord Mayor Scott Padgett. “The people of Concord work and play hard. There is always a feeling of excitement, energy, and high expectations in the community. We like to call it High Performance Living, and we know the fine DNC delegates will be excited to come back for more.”

Cabarrus County hotels are enthusiastic to welcome delegates and showcase their properties on the world stage. It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come around often and local hoteliers are ready to make the most of it.

“We have been working extremely hard over the last several months, and with yesterday’s announcement, we are very pleased to see all of our efforts come to fruition,” said Vinay Patel, senior vice president of operations and sales, SREE Hotels. “As a community and a region, the DNC Convention is a phenomenal opportunity to showcase what we are and who we are as a destination.”

SREE’s Concord hotels include SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn and Courtyard by Marriott.

Great Wolf Lodge and the Embassy Suites are Cabarrus County’s largest hotels with 402 and 308 rooms respectively. Both general mangers are confident that delegations staying in their venues will be pleased.

“Our resort is a great fit for the Texas and Montana delegations in particular and we have a great opportunity to make them feel at home,” said Phillip Cunningham, general manager of Great Wolf Lodge. “Great Wolf Lodge provides an exciting atmosphere for any convention and we are confident that the DNC delegates staying in our hotel will have an unforgettable experience in Cabarrus County.”

“The Embassy Suites will be hosting approximately 500 delegates from Michigan, Maryland and Rhode Island in conjunction with the Courtyard by Marriott Concord and the Residence Inn Concord,” said Terry Crawford, general manager of the Embassy Suites Charlotte-Concord Golf Resort & Spa. “We are committed to making their experience in Concord an outstanding one with our luxurious accommodations, state-of-the-art meeting facilities, friendly staff and accessible location.”

Cabarrus County hotels hosting delegates are clustered at Bruton Smith Boulevard located at Exit 49 off of Interstate 85. The delegation accommodation list includes two of Griffin Stafford’s Concord properties – Hilton Garden Inn and Wingate by Wyndam.

“We are very pleased that the Democratic National Convention will impact not only hotels in Mecklenburg County but also hotels in surrounding areas,” said Doug Stafford, partner in Griffin Stafford Hospitality. “Our hotels in Concord are hosting delegations as well as groups that are affiliated with the convention which is especially meaningful because it will fill rooms during the Labor Day holiday week.”

Cabarrus County hotels will host the following state delegations:
Hilton Garden Inn Concord
Alaska
District of Columbia

Wingate Inn Concord
Kansas

Embassy Suites Charlotte-Concord Golf Resort and Spa
Maryland
Michigan
Rhode Island

Courtyard by Marriott Concord
Maryland

Residence Inn Concord
Michigan

Great Wolf Lodge
Montana
Texas

Spring Hill Suites Concord
New Mexico
Texas

Sleep Inn and Suites Concord
Puerto Rico

Hampton Inn & Suites Concord
West Virginia

As a destination marketing organization, the Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau is dedicated to promoting Cabarrus County as a visitor destination and enhancing the complete visitor experience. We also represent and support the interests of the local tourism industry and promote public awareness of the importance of tourism. Visit our website at www.visitcabarrus.com for more information.