New Sheraton, Le Meridien Hotels to Open in Charlotte, USA 

Starwood plans to open both a Sheraton and Le Méridien hotel in Charlotte in the United States, as part of a US$20 million conversion and renovation project in the city's CBD area.

Sheraton Charlotte Hotel and Le Méridien Charlotte will each occupy one tower of a massive hotel complex currently operated as The Blake Hotel.

The Sheraton Charlotte Hotel will open on 15 August 2013, followed by Le Méridien Charlotte in January 2014.

Located at 555 South McDowell Street, the dual-hotel complex is walking distance to the Time Warner Cable Arena, the Charlotte Convention Center, the light rail system and the offices of Bank of America, BB&T and Wachovia.

Charlotte/Douglas International Airport is seven miles away and nearby attractions include the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the shops at Carolina Place and Bank of America Stadium.

Sheraton Charlotte Hotel and Le Méridien Charlotte will each have their own porte-cochere, entrance and lobby and will share a 24-hour fitness center, spa, indoor and outdoor pools and pool bar, underground parking and 55,000 square feet of meeting space.

There will be a total of six restaurants between the two towers following the opening of both hotels, including a lobby bar and full-service restaurant in the Sheraton tower, and Le Méridien's Hub and signature Latitude Bar.

Le Méridien Charlotte will also feature a rooftop bar.

Allison Reid, Senior Vice President of North American Development at Starwood, said, "This strategic conversion project gives Starwood the opportunity to both debut Le Méridien and expand the Sheraton portfolio in Charlotte, the second largest banking center in the United States after New York City."