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Selling Charlotte: Luring convention business costs taxpayers millions

The Democratic National Convention will be Charlotte’s most prestigious event, bringing tens of thousands of visitors and worldwide exposure.

Thames: Inside look at conventions business
Editorial: Consider being unconventional
Graphic: Convention Center-related business
To win business, Charlotte must pay to play
CRVA says it will overhaul its visitor spending claims
By Steve Harrison | E-mail | August 31, 2012
The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority plans to overhaul how it tracks visitor spending for conventions and other events in response to an Observer investigation about its past practices of inflating claims of economic impact.
Luring convention business costs taxpayers millions
Visitor spending more fiction than fact
Special Report: Selling Charlotte to visitors
DNC economic impact: Boom or bust?
By Steve Harrison | E-mail | August 20, 2012

In visitor spending, the Democratic National Convention will dwarf other conventions Charlotte has hosted.

Charlotte won't hide the homeless during the DNC
ACLU webinar: Know your rights at DNC
Far fewer jobs than promised
By Steve Harrison | E-mail | August 20, 2012

When the Convention Center opened in 1995, it was forecast to generate enough new money from visitors’ spending to support 6,270 jobs.

Far fewer jobs than promised
DNC economic impact: Boom or bust?
Viewpoint: Observer fails to tally full value
Special Report: Selling Charlotte to visitors
Visitor spending more fiction than fact

When Charlotte lands a convention, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority touts how many dollars visitors are expected to leave behind, with the results often in the millions or tens of millions.

Viewpoint: Observer fails to tally full value
Far fewer jobs than promised
Graphic: Charlotte Convention Center-related business

Charlotte Convention Center-related business

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To win business, Charlotte must pay to play

If Charlotte has landed a big convention, the group is likely getting a discount to come.

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