AC Hotel and Residence Inn Charlotte City Center — Photo by Marriott

McKibbon Hospitality, an award-winning leader in the hotel development and management industry, today announced that its first dual-branded hotel, the AC Hotel and Residence Inn Charlotte City Center, has officially opened its doors. The 22-story hotel tower brings 300 rooms to Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. 

McKibbon Hospitality partnered with Vision Ventures on the development, and Cleveland Construction served as the general contractor. The project brings the first AC Hotel to Charlotte and features independent rooftop bar and lounge, Nuvolé Rooftop TwentyTwo, and an adjacent penthouse suite for rent, Suite TwentyTwo.

The AC Hotel boasts 184 rooms on levels 5-12 of the tower, including some with outdoor terraces overlooking Uptown Charlotte. It also features 2,400 square feet of meeting space that opens to the outdoors. The AC Lounge is open to the public and offers a Mediterranean-inspired menu with small plates, craft cocktails, beer and wine. The Residence Inn features apartment-style accommodations on levels 14-21 of the tower with 116 rooms, a mix of studios and one- and two-bedroom suites that include full kitchens.

The project's art collection was personally selected by John McKibbon, chairman of McKibbon Hospitality, and Paul Picarazzi, principal of Vision Ventures, who worked with art consultant Liz L. Barr, principal of Art Resources, to select the local artists. The collection includes paintings, sculpture, hand-blown glass, and 3-D art on canvas. Some of the more than 20 local artists include internationally-acclaimed mixed-media artist Stephen Wilson; 3-D canvas artist Paul Rousso; mixed-media artist Lori Love; oil painter and landscape artist Paul Hastings; and thirteen-year-old glass artist, Elijah Kell.

McKibbon and Picarazzi also collaborated on Nuvolé Rooftop TwentyTwo, with consulting from Chef Peter Pollay of Mandara Hospitality Group in Asheville, NC. Nuvolé Rooftop TwentyTwo will offer locally and regionally inspired small plates, handcrafted cocktails, beer and wine, local art, and outstanding city views. The adjacent penthouse suite available for short-term rentals, Suite TwentyTwo, will boast two bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms and generous space for entertaining.

The hotels celebrated their official opening by welcoming first guest and NBA executive Barbara DeCristofaro in advance of the NBA All-Star weekend coming to Charlotte in February of 2019.

Hotel website