http://66.225.205.104/TL20111011.mp3
Photo: Jaxon Ravens, a delegate representative from Seattle , checks the Hilton University Place's water pressure by flushing a square of toilet paper. Credit: Tanner Latham
The representatives were shuffled through ballrooms and suites. They sat on beds. They asked about the proximity of drugstores and the cost of WiFi. Jaxon Ravens of Seattle even checked water pressure... in the toilet. "I think the water pressure test is a sample or indicative of a much larger process here in Charlotte," says Ravens. "And it's got a humorous aside to it. But at a very basic level, every state delegation that comes here is looking for certain amenities. And some of them are very simple."
Location is key, of course, and Uptown is as prime as it gets. But being merely a 15-minute shuttle ride to the heart of the action is just fine for Ravens. "If you've lived in any large city, you know, if you're 15 or 20 minutes from downtown, it's a blessing. You know? And what we saw in South Park, and what we've seen here in the University district is phenomenal," says Ravens. "I mean, it's just beautiful. It's comfortable. A lot of trees. The streets are open. Good parking. We're not necessarily going to need that, but it makes it easier for our buses to get to and from the convention center or from the arena."
The representatives are in Charlotte until Tuesday. They plan to also tour hotels Uptown, in Concord, and near the Charlotte-Douglas Airport.