Charlotte Hotels offer discounts to CIAA Fans
Charlotte Area Hotels Agree to Reduce Room Rates for 2009 Tournament
Shera L. White
September 16, 2008

HAMPTON, Va () - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) announced that twenty-four Charlotte area hotels have agreed to reduce their room rates by 15 percent and will waive any minimum-night stay requirements during the 2009 CIAA Tournament Week.

"The CIAA realizes these are tough economic times," said Leon Kerry, CIAA Commissioner. "Any relief that we can provide to CIAA fan's and alumni's purse strings during Tournament Week will help them focus on the fun and festivities of the event. We appreciate what Tim Newman and the CRVA have done."

The CIAA Tournament has enjoyed unprecedented success since conference officials moved the event to Charlotte in 2006. After registering an economic impact of just over $15 million in 2006, the 2008 Tournament drew a record breaking $30.7 million economic impact to the Queen City. 

"In hopes to be able to attract even more CIAA fans to the market, these additional hotel options offer an economical option for tournament attendees," added Tim Newman, CRVA CEO.

The CIAA recently inked a three-year deal with Charlotte to host the Tournament until the year 2011. 

"Our goal at the CIAA is continue to grow the Tournament and we do not want anything deterring our fans from coming to Charlotte in February and having the time of our lives," says Commissioner Kerry.

A list of the participating twenty-four hotels are provided on the CIAA Tournament Web site, www.ciaatournament.org, specifically located on the "Buy Tickets" page.

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) was founded in 1912 and is based in Hampton, Virginia.  The CIAA is America's oldest historically black college and university conference and is made up of 10 HBCUs situated along the Eastern Seaboard.  For conference news and updates, visit www.theciaa.com, and for information about the CIAA Basketball Tournament, visit www.ciaatournament.org.