How the new Moxy hotel in Charlotte wants to bring cool vibes to uptown
Uptown Charlotte doesn’t necessarily evoke trendy vibes, like South End or NoDa. But old is just a state of mind and uptown’s new, colorful and Instagrammable hotel is ready to prove that.
The Moxy Hotel, a brand of Marriott International, is putting on its final layer of lipstick and cologne, as director of sales and marketing Giovanna Kannady put it. In less extravagant terms, the hotel at 125 S. Brevard St. is nearing completion and is set to welcome guests by mid-summer.
But speaking simply isn’t in the brand’s vocabulary.
Between the bright art work, funky room designs and the planned entertainment, Kannady said Moxy is going to bring a bit of fun to corporate uptown.
“Charlotte is ready for a brand like this,” Kannady said. “If you think about all of the different hotels that we currently have in the market, the vibrancy of the brand and the direction of which Charlotte is going from a hospitality perspective… it’s growing the leisure market. And leisure is outperforming corporate business travel.”
The Moxy Hotel digs
The hotel was developed by TMGOC Ventures, which purchased the property in October 2022 for $6.5 million, according to Mecklenburg County property records.
On a recent tour of the 13-story, 208-room hotel, Kannady gave The Charlotte Observer a rundown of what guests can expect to experience once it opens.
Instead of a lounge on the first floor, guests get their first look at how colorful the hotel will be with a Charlotte-themed mural designed by Charleston artist Tripp Derrick Barnes.
A crowned panther is front and center with a hornet zipping past the Charlotte skyline with gold bars, hop plants and dogwoods laced along the edges. All are odes to Charlotte’s history. And if you look closely, you’ll see a pop of pink mixed in with the city buildings that represents Moxy.
The 13th floor is where guests check-in. Yes, there is a 13th floor but no bad omens there. Bar Moxy, the hotel bar, is the center point, where guests check-in, grab a complimentary drink and head out to the rooftop deck.
“It sets the tone for the vibe of the hotel when you check in,” Kannady said. “We’re looking at having live music, trivia nights. We’re in conversation with different community groups to host other activities here…
“This is not just about partying. This is about engagement with the community, offering activities inside of our hotel for guests as well as locals to enjoy.”
Bar Moxy is open to the public and the hotel wants it to be a place where uptown visitors can hang before and after an event.
Kannady added that the 13th floor can also be separated into sections to be rented out for events, though the whole space will never be closed off.
As for the rooms, they are on the smaller side. That’s because Moxy expects guests to explore the city, instead of sleep their vacation away.
Each room comes with a pullout desk and peg hooks along the walls for ample storage. The artwork is on rippable paper and can be taken home. And if guests are having a hard time sleeping, they can use the phone to call in for a bedtime story.
Room rates will start at about $159 per night but may fluctuate depending on the season, Kannady said.
Is Moxy a millennial hotel?
Yes, The Moxy Hotel is geared toward millennials and Gen-Z tourism. There’s alcoves all along the bar area for Instagram photos and the murals are photo-worthy.
But millennials and Gen-Zers are also key drivers of Charlotte tourism, according to the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.
They typically visit during non-peak times, are considered engaged with events and dining, and are likely to return multiple times per year, authority officials said.
But Kannady said the hotel is really for people seeking a good time, regardless of age.
“I think that whoever has a fun heart is going to love it here,” Kannady said. “It’s not necessarily a big party but it is a playful, spirited environment where you can come and have a really good time.”
Economic impact of leisure travel
Part of Moxy’s decision to build in uptown versus South End is the increase Charlotte has seen in its leisure travel market, Kannady said.
And that market is being fueled by events and the major venues in uptown including the Lovin’ Life Music Fest, Bank of America Stadium, Spectrum Center, the Charlotte Convention Center and NASCAR Hall of Fame.
In the 2024 fiscal year, which ended last June, the city generated $1.1 billion from leisure tourism and events, according to a Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority report.
Overall, Charlotte had 32 million visitors last year, higher than Asheville and Charleston combined, authority officials said. Those visitors spent $8 billion.
And uptown is experiencing a revitalization period in hospitality and tourism.
The Carolina Theatre has finally reopened. Both Spectrum Center and Bank of America Stadium are undergoing renovations. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is also looking at renovating its space.
Event-wise, Charlotte will be hosting four games of the FIFA Club World Cup this month.
And Duke University’s opening basketball game will be at Spectrum Center on Nov. 4 at the first Dick Vitale Invitational against the Texas Longhorns.
With the tourism numbers and events, it makes sense for Moxy to set up in the heart of what it thinks will be the city’s “burgeoning entertainment district,” said hotel general manager Colby Lemieux.
“This is where so many people from Charlotte come in to work and enjoy special events, anniversaries,” Lemieux said. “We’re proud to put our flag in the ground here and say this is going to be a great spot for people to come in pre-game, post-game city events.”
This story was originally published June 10, 2025 at 5:50 AM with the headline "How the new Moxy hotel in Charlotte wants to bring cool vibes to uptown."
