It seems like travelers are divided into two camps. Either they’ve traveled through Atlanta, home to the busiest airport in the world, but never stopped long enough to explore the actual city itself, or they are among its faithful friends that cannot visit enough. From the beautiful homes in Buckhead and the vibrant art scene in Midtown, to having a pulse on all that is hip and cool in Little Five Points, the fifth-largest city in the U.S. has something for everyone. Visitors can explore Atlanta’s rich history, partake of scrumptious Southern food and enjoy watching one of the city’s popular professional sporting teams (Go Braves!). Yep, it’s safe to say that this is a place that gets into your soul and stays there, ya’ll.

Why Atlanta?

• Over 100,000 shade trees have been planted and distributed throughout the city by the nonprofit Trees Atlanta, giving it the nickname “City in a Forest”. According to the National Forest Service, Atlanta is the most heavily forested urban area in the country with 47.9 percent of the city being covered in trees.

• The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is said to be the world’s busiest airport and is as large as 45 football fields. It is within a two-hour flight of 80 percent of the U.S. population and serves 150 U.S. destinations in addition to more than 75 international ones.

• Atlanta has the third largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the U.S.

What’s New?

• The Georgia Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere, is showcasing a new exhibit Sharks! Predators of the Deep. This exhibit features 1.2 million gallons of water, and its expanded facilities allow for even more event space within the venue.

• Celebrity chefs Andrew Zimmern and Robert Montwaid recently opened Atlanta’s latest food hall, The Works, featuring over 30 diverse eateries in the Upper Westside. With over 22,000 square feet of space to roam, this spacious indoor/outdoor facility is an ideal place to meet up with a group to experience Atlanta cuisine at its finest.

• Atlanta Motor Speedway recently completed a multi-purpose bar and hospitality area to host up to 300 people for events. This addition, 20 rows up from the track, is an ideal place to catch a race with a group of conference attendees who are seeking an adrenaline rush while technically on a work trip..

See

Atlanta History Center

What started as a small historical society in the 1990s has blossomed into a collection that includes 33 acres of Goizueta Gardens, four historic houses, and various exhibitions and programming. With a mission to connect people, history and culture, the Atlanta History Center invites groups to tour, host events or sit in on special programming that ranges from author talks to educational classes and everything in between.

National Center for Civil and Human Rights Museum

Take a curated Civil Rights tour exploring areas of interest and use it as a chance to grow and learn as a group. While the city of Atlanta is jam packed with historical factoids to absorb, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights Museum would be a great place to start. A visit takes approximately 90 minutes to two hours and features fascinating pieces of history. For example, the Voice to the Voiceless Gallery is the home of 1,000 books from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s personal library as well as various handwritten notes.

Centennial Park District

A visit to Atlanta, and especially a first visit, is not complete without a trip to this walkable and vibrant area that is anchored by Centennial Olympic Park. Some bucket list top attractions for attendees include the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola. Both options offer group amenities like discounted ticketing. The aquarium, in addition to its group-friendly booking process, also has space to hold group events, meals and presentations.

Do

Chattahoochee River Experiences

Scratch the itch to get outside and explore nature in one of Georgia’s most beautiful regions. And the best part is groups don’t have to travel outside of Atlanta to get to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, which offers a vast array of kayaking, fishing, biking, bird watching and even tubing experiences. For groups stuck inside a meeting room all day, the option for a little time out in nature is priceless.

Porsche Experience

Groups with a need for speed need look no further than this 1.6-mile circuit that showcases the all-powerful performance of Porsche at the brand’s Atlanta Experience Center. From a wet, low-friction circle to an off-road circuit, try out all six sections of the course to get the full Porsche road warrior experience. Time to get back to business? The Porsche Experience Center is ready to host groups of basically any size offering a variety of venues on-property, exquisite, in-house catering, and modern meeting rooms with stellar views of the racetrack.

Attend a Sporting Event

The city of Atlanta is still buzzing after the recent World Series victory of its beloved Braves. And whether a group wants to eat peanuts and Cracker Jack at the Braves' Truist Park or fly high with the footballin’ Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, there are endless options to catch a sporting event in Atlanta. Other professional sports teams include the Atlanta Hawks (basketball), the Atlanta United (soccer), the Georgia Swarm (lacrosse) and the Atlanta Dream (women’s basketball).

Eat

Ponce City Market

Take the guesswork out of planning meals for attendees and set them loose inside a vibrant collaboration of retail shopping, restaurants, and even residences to tour and taste. Walking or biking distance from Midtown, this cornucopia of cuisine features restaurants including Miso Ko, Minero, Hop’s Chicken and W.H. Stiles Fish Camp (just to name a few). If a group has mixed tastes and is limited on time, this is a great way to divide and conquer during mealtimes.

Buttermilk Kitchen

The term Southern food often brings fried chicken to mind. And although this restaurant is small, it has big potential to leave a large lasting impression on your group thanks to owner and chef Suzanne Vizethann’s willingness to accommodate. Whether groups want to rent out the restaurant or have her to come to another venue to serve up her signature dish alongside savory and sweet sides, the meal ends with happy diners who may just want to venture back to their hotel room for a post lunch or supper siesta.

Kevin Rathbun Steak

This might be one of the most high-end steakhouses in Atlanta, but that doesn’t mean the restaurant doesn’t bend over backwards for their big groups. From happy hours to multi-course dinners, the team at KRS is all about creating unforgettable memories for groups big and small. Make sure to check out the Candle Light Wine Cellar, which can accommodate groups up to 40. Restaurant buyouts in addition to patio events showcasing great views of the Atlanta Beltline are also available.

Stay / Meet

InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta

There is a certain level of confidence for meeting planners when booking with a brand as revered as InterContinental. Add to that the modern Southern luxury of this Buckhead property and groups are all but guaranteed to enjoy their time in Atlanta thanks to the property’s 31,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space. They even offer spacious floor plans for attendees’ comfort when planning for groups up to 1,100. Amenities at this property include a saltwater pool, world-class spa and the Bourbon Bar, with 70 hand-selected bourbons.

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center

Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta within the Centennial Park District, this luxury Four Diamond hotel offers skyline views and chic, big-city vibes. Not only is this property connected to State Farm Arena and the Georgia World Congress Center, but it is also the closest hotel to Mercedes-Benz Stadium if plans include a professional football or soccer game. With over 1,000 guest rooms and 45 meeting rooms options, planners are set up for success from the start.

Château Élan

Located just over an hour from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, this luxurious retreat is an ideal option for people from near, far, and everywhere in between. This resort and winery is situated on 3,500 acres and features endless options for recharging the batteries near the 50,000 square feet of newly renovated indoor/outdoor meeting spaces. From planning a unique wine event, featuring grapes grown in Braselton, to hitting one of the property’s three golf courses or even booking a spa treatment, work and play is redefined here.

Nobu Hotel Atlanta

Located in Phipps Plaza, this Rockwell Group-designed hotel offers 152 guest rooms and suites, a Nobu restaurant with a bar and lounge, a rooftop swimming pool with pool deck event space, and a spa and fitness center offering state-of-the-art equipment.  The meeting and outdoor event space can accommodate a variety of event options from corporate board meetings to lavish gala events. The conference center, located on the lobby level, offers 8,000 square feet of function space.