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June 20-21, 2003 Page 174 The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus traveled to the Embassy Suites Hotel, 5055 International Boulevard, North Charleston, South Carolina on June 20-21, 2003, with members of the Concord City Council and the Cabarrus County Tourism Authority. A bus carrying some of the participants left the Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) at 1:00 p.m. on June 20 for the trip to North Charleston. Present - Commissioners: Absent - Chairman: vice Chairman: Carolyn Carpenter Robert W. Carruth Coy C. Privette Robert M. Freeman Richard D. Suggs Also present were Mr. John Day, Interim County Manager, and Mrs. Frankie F. Bonds, Clerk to the Board. Others present included the following: CITY OF CONCORD: Mayor Scott Padgett; Council Members Lamar Barrier, Randy Grimes, James Ramseur and Allen Small; City Manager Brian Hiatt; and City Clerk Vickie Weant. TOURISM AUTHORITY: Tourism Authority Board members Aubie Cook, Diane Honeycutt, John Cox and Alan Stafford; CVB Executive Director Ann Sternal; and CVB Staff Members Libba Barrineau, Judy Root and Linda Collins THE INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE: Rick Martin, Publisher; and Beth Feeback, Reporter At 5:30 p.m. on June 20, Board members and others in attendance toured the Charleston Convention Center, Exhibit Space and Performing Arts Center. These facilities are located adjacent to the Embassy Suites Hotel. There was a reception at Embassy Suites at 6:15 p.m. followed by dinner with representatives of John Q. Hammons Hotels, Embassy Suites and local officials of Charleston County and the City of North Charleston. After dinner, Timothy E. Scott (Chairman of the Charleston County Council) presented brief comments regarding the Convention Center and its economic impact on Charleston County. The Board and other officials met for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, at Embassy Suites. Immediately following breakfast, a Focus Meeting was held in the Ashley Room at Embassy Suites. A Focus Committee made up of the following individuals presented information and responded to questions: (1) Steve Hilton - Embassy Suites; (2) Bill Mead - Regional Vice President of John Q. Hammons Hotels; (3) Jimmy Wilkinson - Courtyard by Marriott; (4) Judy Parsons - Hilton Garden Inn; (5) Ed Riggs - Charleston Convention Center; (6) John Cawley - City of North Charleston; (7) Charla McDonald - Charleston Convention and visitors Bureau; (8) Mike Hobson - Quality Suites; and (8) Joanie Cole - Embassy Suites. Mr. Mead read a statement from John Q. Hammons welcoming everyone to the facility and the North Charleston area Via a video presentation, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey gave an overview of what the convention center and adjacent hotel has meant to North Charleston and its ability to become a part of the "tourism draw" to the Charleston area. He cited a $32 million economic impact to the community, including new hotels, new jobs and increased revenue from hotel/motel tax, food/beverage tax, etc. Mayor Summey praised the work by John Q. Hammons Hotels, stating "their promise is their product." Mr. Mead discussed the convention center proposed for construction in Concord, specifically a 75,000 square foot facility with a 30,000 square foot ballroom and 15,000 square feet of additional meeting space. He commented on the difference between the proposed convention center and the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center and stated in his opinion there would not be competition between the two facilities. Mr. Mead explained the convention center would host ballroom events and meetings and would not have exhibit space. The meeting was then opened for questions and discussion.