MEDIA
Accolades
Charlotte continues to earn recognition as a premier destination, celebrated for its vibrant culinary scene, acclaimed attractions, exceptional hotels and growing presence in film. The Queen City’s dynamic offerings and welcoming spirit position it among the South’s most notable places to visit, experience and explore.
Population Growth Reported Across Cities and Towns in All U.S. Regions
Charlotte moved up one spot to 14th largest city in U.S. in 2024 and was the 6th fastest growing city in the nation according to the U.S. Census Bureau (May 15, 2025)
These are the Top Cities for Business Travel in the U.S.
Time Out listed Charlotte among the top 20 cities for business travel (2025)
Bravo’s “Top Chef” Heads To The Carolinas For Season 23
Bravo selected Charlotte as the central city for Top Chef Carolinas, Season 23 of the Emmy, James Beard and Critics’ Choice award-winning series (2025)
2025
Destination
- U.S. News and World Report ranked Charlotte No. 9 in Best Places to Visit in North Carolina (2025): Why Go To Charlotte
- Lonely Planet ranked Charlotte’s South End neighborhood as Best Weekend Getaway for Foodies (2025): The 25 best weekend getaways across the USA
- Checkr ranked Charlotte No. 8 among the top 100 cities in the U.S. for job opportunities and earning potential – up six spots from No. 14 in 2023 when the previous report was released (2025): 2025’s Best US Cities for Jobs and Earning Potential | Checkr
- Sports Business Journal ranked Charlotte No. 20 on its Which US Cities Do Soccer Best list (2025): SBJ Unpacks: Which U.S. cities do soccer best?
- Wallet Hub ranks Charlotte No. 4 among large cities and No. 7 overall all on its Most Diverse Cities in America lists (2025): Most Diverse Cities in the U.S. (2025) - Wallet Hub
CommercialCafe placed Charlotte on its Top 15 Primary Markets for Green Office Spaces list (2025): Top U.S. Markets for Green Office Spaces | CommercialCafe - Charlotte Douglas International Airport recognized as the most financially efficient airport in North America for the third year in a row by the Airport Transport Research Society (2025): CLT Named Most Financially Efficient Airport for Third Consecutive Year
- Charlotte is home to seven Fortune 500 companies with a total of 19 companies on the Fortune 1000 list in 2025: 19 companies in the Charlotte Region make 2025 Fortune 1000 list - Charlotte Regional Business Alliance
2025
Culinary
- Esquire named Lorem Ipsum as one of the 15 Best Bars in America (2025): 15 Best Bars in America 2025
- Garden & Gun placed Albertine on its Hot List 30 Restaurants to Try Now (2025): G&G’s Hot List: 30 New Restaurants to Try Now – Garden & Gun
- Southern Living praised the fried green tomatoes at Haberdish as one of the top tomato dishes in the South "Tomato Dishes Worth Reservations" (2025)
- 50 Top Pizza USA ranked Charlotte’s Pizza Baby No. 41, moving up two slots from 2024 (2025): 50 Top Pizza USA 2025
- USA Today ranked Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten No. 7 in 10 Best Beer Gardens in the U.S. (2025): Sip, savor, and socialize at the 10 best beer gardens in the US
- USA Today ranked Charlotte No. 9 in Best Beer City (2025): Discover the hoppiest havens: 10 best beer cities in the US
2025
Attractions
- Time Out named Carowinds to their list of Best Water Parks (2025): 14 Best Water Parks in the USA To Cool Off This Summer
- USA Today ranked Truist Field No. 9 in Best Minor League Ballpark (2025): Minor league, major experience: 10 best ballparks in the game
2025
Hotels
- Forbes Travel Guide named The Ballantyne, The Ivey’s Hotel and The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte as 2025 Star Award Winners (2025): Forbes Travel Guide’s 2025 Star Award Winners
- Cardinal & Pine recognized The Ballantyne among 13 places for High Tea in North Carolina (2025): 13 places in North Carolina for afternoon tea or high tea
2025
Film
- MovieMaker recognized Charlotte among “Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker” (2024): The Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker, 2024