Staff report
A Gold Hill inn is taking part in a program set up by Lowe’s Motor Speedway to relieve some of the costs related to attending the fall race.
The Bed & Bike Inn of 15750 Matton Grove Church Road is part of the deal that includes hotels, souvenirs, concessions and others involved with the Bank of America 500 race on Oct. 11.
Ellen Whiteside, who has run the inn with partner Tim Beebe for about 2 1/2 years, said the Visit Charlotte group sent an e-mail looking for hotels to join the promotion.
“We don’t get a lot of race business, so I said, ‘Sure, I’ll participate,’ ” Whiteside said.
They have seven rooms and aren’t full for that weekend yet.
“Most hotels jack their prices way up for that weekend,” she added.
So her $100 a night rate should offer race fans a good deal, especially if they want to take the back way to the speedway and miss some of the other expected traffic.
Race officials are pulling out all stops to try to get fans in the seats.
“Consumers are constantly faced with very difficult economic decisions and we’ve worked hard to make attending our race a more affordable entertainment opportunity. It should be about fun, not finances,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “We’ve been able to make this a group effort. Not only have we put together a ticket package that will save race fans 30 percent, they will also enjoy reduced prices on hotel rooms, concession items and souvenirs.”
In an unprecedented move, 35 hotels within about 30 miles of Lowe’s Motor Speedway have agreed to reduce rates by 15 percent and waive minimum stay requirements.
“Collaborative efforts such as this are the essence of the Charlotte region,” said Tim Newman, chief executive officer of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. “We are proud to represent the hospitality industry in this unique promotion. The hotels understand the importance of NASCAR here in Charlotte, and truly embrace it by giving fans the extra incentive to enjoy the fantastic sport that helps define this region.”
“Lodging is a major expense for race fans and we greatly appreciate the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority working with its member hotels to roll back prices,” Smith said.
For $159, fans get four reserved Diamond Tower seats for the race, four hot dogs and four 20-ounce Coca-Colas. That’s a savings of 30 percent if the same tickets and concession items were purchased separately. Each person purchasing the Family Four-Pack will get a coupon for a free 12-pack of Coke Zero from a participating Circle K store.
A Lowe’s Motor Speedway T-shirt and hat that would normally sell for $48 will be available for $20.
The Bed & Bike Inn is at 704-463-0768, or visit www.bedandbikeinn.com. To take advantage of the savings, call Lowe’s Motor Speedway at 1-800-455-FANS or visit www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.