The Atlantic Club’s three-day study tour to Charlotte (13 – 15 May 2026)  is a concentrated field lesson in how a high-growth Sun Belt market is reshaping consumer demand, real estate, staffing models and brand strategy - at speed.

Charlotte’s appeal starts with the fundamentals: rapid in-migration and metro expansion. The city and wider metro area continue to attract young, working-age professionals, creating frequent, social-led hospitality demand.

The city’s food-and-drink scene has matured quickly. Areas such as South End demonstrate how transport links, mixed-use development and hospitality density create all-day, all-occasion trading. Breweries, café-led concepts, cocktail venues and chef-driven restaurants coexist and compete - driving standards higher.

For UK multi-site leaders, the learning isn’t about copying US concepts. It’s about seeing how operators design for day-to-night trading, social occasions, drinks execution, and brand storytelling in a fast-moving, competitive environment.

The Atlantic Club has built a reputation for well-curated three-day tours that compress months of research into practical insight: how growth markets change location strategy, how experience is built into the P&L, how operators handle labour pressure, and how brands win when customers are new to town.

Led by veteran industry commentator and tour leader Peter Martin of Peach 20/20 the value lies in interpretation as much as inspiration - understanding what translates back to the UK and what does not.

Charlotte has developed a strong bench of operators who combine creativity with commercial discipline. We’ll meet the principals – founders and board executives from the region’s most dynamic growth businesses, brands and leaders. Full itinerary to follow but the names and companies include:

• Kindred – Led by Joe and Katy Kindred, nationally recognised for turning a small-town restaurant into a destination brand with emotional pull and operational excellence.
• Built On Hospitality - Multi-concept restaurant and hospitality group creating socially driven food and beverage experiences across Charlotte and beyond.
• Restaurant Constance – Chef-driven, modern American cooking with ambition and polish, reflecting the city’s culinary coming-of-age.
• Brixx Wood-Fired Pizza - Wood-fired pizza brand expanding nationally from Charlotte roots, a case study in regional brand growth
• Sycamore Brewing – A large-format, social-first brewery model built for volume, events and all-day 

Charlotte offers a rare opportunity to watch the future of hospitality being built in real time. For leaders responsible for growth, brand relevance or multi-site performance, it is a city packed with insight and opportunity.

For more information email Christine Martin.