In 100 days, Charlotte has a chance to show its character
We are in this together. When city and community leaders collaborated over two years ago to make our successful bid for the 2020 Republican National Convention, we had a common goal: to showcase our economic strength and the character of our people. In 100 days, that opportunity will be here. While we are facing an unprecedented and unforeseeable health crisis, it has not changed our mission of hosting a safe and successful convention for all attendees this Aug. 24-27 in Charlotte.
As a business owner, husband, and father, the resiliency of Charlotte and our ability to come together and overcome challenges never ceases to amaze me. We bounced back after the great recession in 2008 and with this COVID-19 challenge, we will see that same strength. The Queen City will shine on the world stage due to the thousands of credentialed media that will share our story. This will allow us to highlight our community spirit, economic strength, and our ability to come together for a common purpose.
The 2020 Republican National Convention presents a unique chance to let the world meet Charlotte during a time that is testing our country, our region, our state, and our city. Our commitment to the health and safety of our citizens and visitors, while hosting a memorable and historic event, has never been stronger. Our team continues to work diligently alongside health care professionals, public safety officers, and community leaders to build a plan that enables us to meet recommended guidelines as they are available and flexible enough to adjust to the impacts of a global pandemic.
We stand side by side with our political leaders, businesses, and community volunteers to meet the challenge head on and we are grateful for these strong partnerships. We appreciate their leadership during this challenging time. The Charlotte Host Committee and the 2020 Republican National Convention planners have pledged to adhere to the health and safety guidelines of local, state, and federal authorities. We are fully prepared to adapt to the necessary standards to protect the community we live in and the people that we love.
The common goals to showcase our economic strength and the character of our people remain the same. This is an incredible event that will help the thousands of employees and business owners who need to see our economy regain its strength and power. Our hospitality industry, the hardest hit over the past three months and which employs over 150,000 of our neighbors in restaurants, hotels, and entertainment venues, will get a much-needed lifeline. Large and small businesses, some that have been shuttered for weeks, will be selling goods and services and keeping their employees on the job. This convention will help rekindle our economic engine.
During these difficult times, we should be grateful to live in such a resilient city. We have been inspired beyond words watching how our community has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. The stories coming out of Charlotte show the “can do” spirit and entrepreneurial creativity that has helped us host international events, recruit talent, and attract and retain Fortune 500 headquarters.
As convention planning continues over the next 100 days our focus is safety, public health, and economic vitality. We are working tirelessly with our partners to provide our guests, our volunteers, and our community with the needed tools to showcase our city and let the world meet Charlotte.
The Queen City is where people come together. A place that values and nurtures relationships. We are in this together and together we will let the world see the character of our people.