Over the past year, the Select CLT team has been hard at work preparing to host Consultant Connect here in Charlotte, which took place last week. Consultant Connect is a boutique conference bringing in the nation’s top site selection consultants and providing a unique platform to boast regional assets and partnerships. In addition, this was also an opportunity for these consultants to see the Charlotte Region in a post-pandemic world with their boots on the ground and not through a computer screen.
In total, we had 10 consultants representing major markets across the U.S. such as Atlanta, Chattanooga, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, and San Francisco. This was an exceptional turnout, as a typical visit usually has 4-5 consultants.
Prior to the start of the two-day conference, Select CLT was afforded the opportunity to host the consultants early to give a deeper dive into what makes the Charlotte Region unique.
Our half-day programming included participation by our 15 regional partners, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and UNC Charlotte. The day started in South End at Lowe’s Tech Tower and ended with a tour and dinner in Camp North End, with regional overviews and networking throughout the day. We were also able to squeeze in a curated tour with Charlotte City Center Partners to showcase Charlotte SHOUT! week. Special thank you to our partners at Lowe’s Tech Center, Camp North End and City Center Partners for your collaboration in making this a one-of-a-kind experience for our guests!
Here are our key takeaways from the Consultant Connect Charlotte visit:
- While the event was held in the urban core, the theme of regionalism was felt throughout the experience. From local EDOs, county, and city partners, to the corporate and higher education partners, this was truly a regional effort that was noticed and highly regarded by the consultants.
- We highlighted the fact that we are a two-state region representing county partners in both North and South Carolina. While many consultants were not aware of upon arrival, we made sure this was an important takeaway from their visit.
- Not surprisingly, many of the consultants thought Charlotte is purely financial services and banking. We were able to change the narrative to a more diverse one through the data. We positioned the Charlotte Region not only as a financial hub but also as an emerging hub for tech, life sciences and innovation with Lowe’s Tech Tower, The Pearl Innovation District and Eli Lilly announcements.
- We also discussed the region’s long history in manufacturing and our transition to industry 4.0 and SMART manufacturing.
- We discussed the future of electric vehicles (EV) and how our region is a sweet spot for EV and related suppliers.
- The group was impressed by the vibrancy of the urban core. Many folks had flown through the airport but had not been in Uptown or South End in several years and were not familiar with Camp North End’s incredible history.
- Local goods and services were weaved into the entire experience as we wanted to showcase the homegrown talent, vibrancy, and creativity embedded within the community. We dined at Leah and Louise, Canopy, and Sophia’s Lounge and included local vendors such as Pure Intentions Coffee, Batch Maker Cookies and Cloister Honey in portions of the event.
By leveraging the opportunity to host Consultant Connect, Select CLT provided strategic information and data that site consultants can keep in mind when identifying potential communities for their clients to consider for relocations and expansion projects, ultimately helping to consistently keep the Charlotte Region visible.
