Merrillville-based White Lodging will break ground in July on a new hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The new Autograph Collection hotel will round out Charlotte’s South End, which is a fast-growing, mixed-use neighborhood.

“Charlotte’s South End represents exactly the kind of vibrant, experience-driven neighborhood where an Autograph Collection hotel can truly thrive,” said Conner White, vice chairman and chief investment officer White Lodging, in a press release. “Our investment here will reflect the same commitment to quality and community that has defined our work in uptown Charlotte with the J.W. Marriott.”

The JW Marriott Charlotte in Uptown includes several restaurants that have earned the respect of regional and local connoisseurs.

The South End hotel is the fifth Autograph Collection property in White Lodging's portfolio, which includes more than 60 hotels in 17 markets. More than 340 Autograph hotels operate independently in more than 50 countries and territories.

The 295-room luxury hotel is the third White Lodging property in North Carolina. The hospitality company acquired the 353-room Sheraton Raleigh earlier this year. It is planning a renovation that will start in early 2027.

The South End hotel will focus on wellness, and will include 10,000 square feet of meeting space and a restaurant on the ground floor. The neighborhood has evolved from an industrial district to mixed use.

“The South End market has matured to a point where a project of this caliber is not only viable but essential,” White added. “We see tremendous opportunity to serve guests with a property that is deeply connected to the neighborhood’s energy and identity.”

White Lodging expects the hotel to open in late 2028.

White Lodging also plans to open the Hotel Trinity Austin, Autograph Collection, in Texas this year.

White Lodging was established in 1985 by the late Bruce White. The privately held company owns and manages hotels in Austin, Chicago, Denver, Nashville, Indianapolis and Louisville.