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June 20-21, 2003 Page 175 <br /> <br /> Mr. Wilkinson, Ms. Parsons and Mr. Hobson responded to questions <br />regardin9 the impact of Embassy Suites on hotels in the area. All indicated <br />that Embassy Suites has had a positive impact on their facilities, including <br />increased sales and a partnership that exists between the nearby hotels and <br />the Convention and Visitors Bureau in marketin9 the area. <br /> <br />Mr. Mead responded to a number of other questions and addressed the <br />following issues: 1) Attraction of regional meetings to the Concord facility; <br />(2) Marketing of the convention center and the Cabarrus Arena and Events <br />Center; (3) Succession plan for the operation of John Q. Hammons Hotels if <br />something should happen to Mr. Hammons; (4) Lack of competition by the <br />Charlotte Convention Center; and (5) Accessibility of the proposed Concord <br />location and nearby facilities such as the Airport, Concord Mills, Lowes <br />Motor Speedway and the ~olf course. Mr. Mead stated in his opinion the only <br />thin~ "wrong" with the proposed Concord facility is that the convention <br />center should be larger. In conclusion, he advised that Mr. Hammons wants <br />to know soon if local officials plan to move forward with the proposed <br />convention center. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hilton ~ave a PowerPoint presentation on the room nights sold at <br />Embassy Suites and the economic impact of the hotel and the convention center <br />to the community. There were 64,936 room nights sold in 2002 and an economic <br />impact of $32 million. <br /> <br /> Mayor Padgett emphasized that Mr. Hammons wants a decision quickly on <br />plans to construct the convention center in Concord. He stated Mr. Hammons <br />would like to start the project in October with a period of 16 to 18 months <br />from groundbreaking until opening of the facility. <br /> <br />Mr. Cawley thanked those in attendance for visiting North Charleston. <br /> <br /> Ms. Sternal expressed appreciation on behalf of the Board, City Council <br />and Convention and Visitors Bureau for the hospitality shown to all during <br />the visit to North Charleston. <br /> <br /> The focus meeting ended at 10:30 a.m., and the bus left Embassy Suites <br />at 11:00 a.m. for the return trip to Concord. <br /> <br />Clerk to the Board <br /> <br /> <br />