Day 1 – June 2
Highlights:
1. Checking into the Westin Charlotte hotel, only about a 20 minute ride from the airport. The Westin Charlotte is new, clean and has a fantastic lobby bar. I know the lobby bar will be the place to meet come next February!
2. Visiting potential welcome reception venues with Gary Wareheim of Dixie Chemical.
a. Mint Museum – front runner of a venue choice. One block from convention center – brand new, beautiful building with the potential to start the mixing and mingling for Informex week off on the right foot.
b. Nascar Hall of Fame – not to be missed for race car fans! Oh my, there is SO MUCH history behind this very American obsession. Great for visiting, not my first choice for a welcome reception. I’m afraid y’all would be so engrossed in the exhibits that you would forget to network! Oh, and the fact that you can’t take food or drink off the bottom level not good.
3. Dinner. Bonterra. If you like to eat, you need to go during Informex. 200 wines by the glass. Beautiful setting in a restored church. Private dining for 6 in the wine cellar.
4. After Dinner. Strike. Bar in a bowling alley. Sound questionable? I was a skeptic until I experienced it live. Fantastic setting for a private party of 75 ppl – with a separate room with 4 lanes. Very classy indeed.
Day 2 – June 3
Highlights:
1. 40 people – how great is it to spend time with exhibitors when they aren’t anxious to get back to networking with their customers? I personally have never had such a great time getting to know my clients. I wish you all could have been there!
2. Lunch @ convention center. Surf & turf – filet, shrimp in a clam shell with white wine sauce. Hallelujah, great food in a convention center!
3. Proximity. Westin and Hilton hotels across the street from convention center. Dinner spots another block away. Oh, and did I mention the light rail that serves the downtown and can by used for finding other dinner spots? How cool will it be to be back in a city where you know everyone on the street after hours?
4. Epicenter – collection of bars, restaurants, Aloft hotel, even a CVS – 2 blocks from the convention center. Bars include one owned by Dale Jr, outfitted with a mechanical bull. Never know who might take a turn next February!
5. Dinner. Chima. Meat. Brazilian meat. Dinner with 19 of my favorite work friends. Afterwards rolled over to Dale’s bar. Live band to help get the dancing going and work off 2 meals filled with steak!
Walking back to the hotel late at night, the streets were filled with people! Who knew that downtown Charlotte could be so happening? I loved it!
Thanks for reading –
JJ
PS – if you would like more details about any of the bars or restaurants please feel free to contact me, jennifer.jessup@ubm.com.
