Long hovering a bit lower on the list of major urban areas with exciting downtown entertainment options, Atlanta is undergoing a transformation that is bringing lots to see and do for attendees traveling to Georgia’s largest city, which is often called the “Capital of the New South.”
For starters, groups can get a taste of the city’s hometown soft drink, Coca-Cola, at The New World of Coca-Cola, an attraction that moved to its new digs next to Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia Aquarium in May. Visitors here can taste different types of Coke from around the globe and planners can organize dinners and receptions in its many group-friendly spaces.
Situated only a few steps away, the aquarium is a delight for kids of all ages, showcasing creatures such as playful beluga whales and iridescent jellies to impossibly large whale sharks that guests can see by walking through an aquarium tunnel. Beyond displaying its seafaring friends, the venue also plans to finish a 10,000-square-foot expansion of its event space in October.
Another visitor hot spot is The High Museum of Art, located about two miles from the aquarium on the city’s main drag, Peachtree Street. The museum regularly entertains even the most discerning art buffs with world-class traveling exhibits, and groups are definitely in the picture in its sprawling atrium and lobby, perfect for private receptions and dinners.
Growth Aplenty
Besides its already-impressive array of attractions, Atlanta is also turning up the heat with a bevy of mixed-use developments and new and improved accommodations offerings.
Attendees who venture down the leafy Peachtree Street quickly realize why the strip of land is such as visitor draw. One-of-a-kind shops and cafes, many featuring al fresco seating, are common sights in the area, which continues to be redeveloped.
One unique hot spot is Atlantic Station, a 138-acre development located between the city’s downtown and Midtown neighborhoods, which was the former site of the Atlantic Steel Mill but opened in 2004 as a high-end, pedestrian-friendly complex bursting with shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. The area can also be cordoned off for special events.
New and improved hotels can be found on almost every corner of Atlanta, and one of its most popular chains, Renaissance Hotels & Resorts, is doing it in threes.
The Renaissance Waverly Hotel (in suburban Atlanta), Renaissance Concourse Hotel, (located next to William B. Hartsfield International Airport) and the Renaissance Atlanta Hotel Downtown have all either gone through major upgrades recently or are going through them now.
The 497-room Renaissance Waverly completed a facility facelift in March and sports a luxurious spa, well-appointed guest rooms and the convenience of the meetings-friendly Cobb Galleria Centre all under one roof. The area around the hotel is also going through a growth spurt with the Sept. 15 opening of the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
Situated in the heart of the city, the stylish Renaissance Atlanta Hotel Downtown completed a property makeover last November and sports 31,000 square feet of space for group gatherings, including floor-to-ceiling windows in all of its 25th-floor meeting spaces, perfect for a sunset dinner with a skyline view.
Rounding out the trilogy, the Renaissance Concourse Hotel is not just another airport property. The AAA Four Diamond venue, which has soundproof walls and windows and plans to finish an upgrade in early September, often showcases its stellar food and beverage offerings to groups by hosting station-style events where attendees can taste various flavors in one room. After dinner, visitors can take a glass of wine out on their room balcony and watch planes take off and land at the airport, right in the property’s backyard.
In addition to its Renaissance offerings, Atlanta will also welcome an upgrade to the Ellis Hotel in October, as well as a major renovation to the Atlanta Marriott Marquis next year and three new W hotels, in downtown, Midtown and Buckhead, all slated to open in 2008.
