CHARLOTTE, NC—McKibbon Hotel Group, along with development partner Vision Ventures, ushered in the official start of construction on the AC Hotel and Residence Inn hotel tower being built atop the EpiCentre here.
John McKibbon, chairman of McKibbon Hotel Group, and Paul Picarazzi, principal of Vision Ventures, hosted local business and community members to commemorate the beginning of construction with a sky-breaking ceremony. Jennifer Roberts, mayor of the City of Charlotte; Cheryl Myers, chief planning officer of Charlotte Center City Partners; and Mike Butts, VP of sales and executive director of Visit Charlotte, also participated in the event.
“We are excited to celebrate the official start of construction on the dual-branded AC Hotel and Residence Inn hotel tower alongside city leaders and our entire development team,” said John McKibbon. “We look forward to seeing this project continue to come to life and to introducing the AC Hotel brand to the Charlotte market, which will create a unique hotel option for visitors and offer exciting new public spaces for locals to enjoy.”
AC Hotels is a European brand with nearly 100 properties located across Spain, Italy, Portugal and France. The Charlotte property is among more than 60 AC Hotels currently approved or under construction in the U.S., in addition to the five already open. The AC Hotel Charlotte City Center will be the second AC Hotel in North Carolina, following the Asheville location, which is also developed and owned by McKibbon.
AC Hotels feature European-inspired aesthetics and an upscale, urban-inspired design with an emphasis on high-quality materials. The AC Hotel Charlotte City Center’s entry level, main lobby and lounge area will showcase 20-ft. ceilings and a 30-ft. long bar with a large video wall behind it to show major sporting events, digital art in motion or local events.
The AC Lounge offers craft beers, signature cocktails, specialty wines and small plate food offerings. The hotel will also feature a Workspace on Demand area, in addition to complimentary WiFi in all of its public spaces and guestrooms.
“The official start of construction on the dual-branded AC Hotel and Residence Inn hotel tower is another milestone in bringing new and exciting development to Uptown,” said Paul Picarazzi, principal, Vision Ventures. “With the mix of restaurant, bar and retail space, the tower will be more than a place for visitors, but one of the premier gathering spots for residents in what is already a thriving downtown scene.”
The overall design of the hotel tower combines the AC Hotel and Residence Inn brand cachet with 19th century European modernism, according to the company. Construction of the new 22-story tower is scheduled for completion in fourth quarter 2017. The tower includes a 184-room AC Hotel and a 116-room Residence Inn, a two bedroom/two-and-a-half bath super suite rented through McKibbon; a rooftop restaurant and bar independently owned and managed by McKibbon; restaurant space for lease on the fifth level and retail space for lease on the first level. On the fifth floor, there will be a large, open-air area adjacent to the hotel that will be rented to a third party.