As a local blogger, I like to have my finger on the pulse of all things going on in our area. So you can imagine my excitement when I had the chance to do a "hard hat tour" of the brand new AC Hotel by Marriott, which is set to open next month in Ballantyne's backyard.
I am already a big fan of the AC Hotel and rooftop bar in uptown Charlotte, so I wanted to see what they would offer to my hometown of Ballantyne. Even under construction, it seems like they already have a lot to offer! They are currently hosting a giveaway for an overnight stay, a $50 gift card to the AC Lounge, a $100 gift card to Tifa Chocolate & Gelato, a Chef tasting, and wine pairing at Zinicola, as well as coffee swag from Forte Legato.
To enter their "Locals We Love" giveaway just follow @achotelcharlotteballantyne, @fortelegato, @ballantynevillage, @tifa_charlotte_nc, and @zinicolaitalian on Instagram. Like their "Locals We Love" post in the feed and tag a friend! It's that easy!
My tour of The AC Hotel Ballantyne did not disappoint! When you enter the spacious European-inspired lobby, you will be greeted with a beautiful black marble-topped lounge that will serve as a coffee bar in the morning and a tapas bar at night.
The AC Lounge will feature locally-sourced coffee from Forte Legato in an effort to welcome not only guests but locals too.
The AC Hotel Ballantyne will also provide rooms that have a chic Euro-modern feel. The large picturesque windows will supply guests with a peek at the Charlotte skyline.
The rooms range from standard double queens to corner suites, and of course, the highly-coveted honeymoon suite.
The low-profile furniture gives the rooms an open and spacious vibe for your stay. The AC Hotel Ballantyne will also be complete with a lobby sundries station with grab-and-go goodies, gym, and yoga studio, in addition to their business meeting space and gorgeous ballrooms.
The 16th floor, in my opinion, was the prize jewel of this property. I am excited to see this space finished as it overlooks the Charlotte skyline and the surrounding suburbs.
The 16th floor will also be home to the hotel's high-end dining experience set to open in 2022. The restaurant is slated to be an Asian fusion concept, however, it is yet to be named.
As if there weren't enough reasons to love this new property...it is also female-owned! Jane Wu is the 38-year-old mastermind behind this hotel. She attended school here in the Queen City at UNC Charlotte to obtain her Master's Degree in Mathematical Finance, and after living in Atlanta for a short time, something seemed to be calling her back to Charlotte.
Inspired by Charlotte's exponential growth and expanded development of our light rail, Wu saw an opportunity here. Thus, Panorama Holdings and the AC Hotel Ballantyne were born.
Inspiration, a chic sense of culture, and a welcoming vibe, are just some of the reasons to book a stay. And because the AC Hotel Ballantyne is nestled into Ballantyne Village, it will provide tourists and locals a perfect afternoon of shopping and dining. It could even become the next destination for your stay-cation or date night out!
