14-story South End hotel starts construction
Axios Charlotte | 07.29.2026 Construction started Wednesday on a 14-story, 295-room hotel in South End. Why it matters: Hotel construction has been slow in South End, while office and entertainment have boomed, creating demand for hospitality space. There’s currently only one other full-service hotel, the Holiday Inn. What to expect: The Autograph Collection by Marriott hotel, located on 0.6…
Canadians’ travel pullback costs U.S. tourism billions
Axios | 07.27.2026 Canadian travel to the U.S. fell 25% last year, according to a new Canadian government report, which says early 2026 data show the decline has persisted. Why it matters: The report provides some of the clearest measures yet of the economic cost to the U.S. tourism industry after trade tensions, tariffs and President Trump’s…
$1.3B stadium renovation project could lead to Super Bowl in Charlotte
Associated Press | 07.24.2026 Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper is investing an additional $500 million into ongoing stadium renovations to improve overall fan experience with an eye toward potentially bringing the Super Bowl, NFL draft, 2031 Women’s World Cup and other major sporting events to Charlotte. The investment coincides with the team announcing it has…
NC ranks 9th nationally for summer road trips in new WalletHub analysis
WNCN & WalletHub | 07.08.2026 WNCN reports North Carolina ranked ninth among all 50 states for summer road trips in WalletHub’s 2026 analysis, which compared states across 32 metrics covering cost, safety, and activities. NC’s strongest showing was 4th nationally for access to scenic byways, with top-20 rankings for hotel affordability, attractions, and nightlife per…
Stanley Cup Final brings $13.4 million boost to Raleigh, over 112,000 people packed Lenovo Center
WRAL | 06.24.2026 Visitors from all 50 states and two countries flocked to the Triangle for the Stanley Cup Final, delivering a giant economic boost to Raleigh. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, securing the franchise’s first NHL title in 20 years. Sold-out games…
Raleigh officials open to public funding for MLB stadium
Triangle Business Journal | 06.17.2026 The possibility that sports magnate Marc Lasry’s recent investment in the Carolina Courage could be just the start has invigorated the longshot push for Major League Baseball in Raleigh. Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has long voiced his support for an MLB franchise in Raleigh, and the addition of yet another potential backer in Lasry could bolster…
Immigrant labor shortages stand to harm NC’s urban economies, Kenan Institute report says
WUNC | 06.12.2026 A shortage of immigrant labor is challenging the economies of North Carolina’s urban metros. A new report by the Kenan Institute for Private Enterprise at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill explores how a drop in international net migration is cutting into the labor supply for essential labor-intensive industries, and what could be done…
Dozens of NC school boards approved calendars starting earlier than law permits
WRAL | 06.03.2026 State education leaders reviewed a new state report Wednesday that showed 30 North Carolina public school systems have reported a calendar that starts earlier next year than state law allows. Those school districts are largely concentrated in central and western portions of the state, as business and tourism groups in the eastern part of…
Reacting to Supreme Court, NC House wants to limit tourism occupancy tax spending
WFDD | 06.02.2026 Legislation introduced and approved in the state House Tuesday would block counties from using occupancy taxes to fund public safety and other core services. The bill comes in response to a legal dispute between Currituck County and the hotel industry. The state Supreme Court ruled last month in favor of Currituck in a lawsuit…