Already a haven of cool venues, “Hotlanta” has heated up even more as a meetings hub with the infusion of several new and recent group-friendly lures.
“More than $1.5 billion in new development opened [in 2014] in Atlanta,” says Mark Vaughan, executive vice president and chief sales officer for the Atlanta CVB. “New facilities like the Center for Civil and Human Rights and College Football Hall of Fame were developed with the meeting planner in mind to offer unique spaces for special events and programs just steps away from the Georgia World Congress Center and downtown hotels.”
Here’s a closer look at some of Atlanta’s most recent newcomers for planners to ponder, beginning with a serious bastion of civil rights history.
NATIONAL CENTER FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS
“Events held at the Center for Civil and Human Rights are memorable and meaningful,” says Elizabeth Mays, events manager at the venue.
Upon its launch last summer, the 43,000-square-foot venue quickly booked close to 60 events, and it can host up to 1,200 attendees for functions of all kinds. Spaces include a stylish lobby with ample natural light with capacity for about 150 reception style, and a full buyout of the sprawling modern setting is also possible.
Groups can also take in three inspirational galleries that include a tribute to the legendary Martin Luther King Jr. Guided tours can also be arranged with advance notice.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
“The College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience is like no other,” says Brad Olecki, chief revenue officer at the modern new 95,000-square-foot facility. “It is interactive, engaging and puts the fan in the game like never before.”
Attendees can relive their glory days—or create new memories—by taking to a 45-yard field to kick field goals or maneuver a touchdown obstacle course. An ESPN GameDay Desk that lets visitors play sports anchormen is another hit.
Top function spaces include a high-tech theater able to seat 150 attendees and the aforementioned mini field, which can host up to 1,450 for a reception. Groups can also do a full takeover for major affairs of up to 3,500.
DELTA FLIGHT MUSEUM
Located near the world’s busiest airport (Hartsfield-Jackson) at Delta’s headquarters, the Delta Flight Museum is housed in revamped airplane hangars from the 1940s, offering cavernous and compelling spaces for tours and receptions.
Engaging exhibits, including a cutting-edge flight simulator once used to actually train Delta pilots, let attendees get hands-on experiences, and about 68,000 square feet of eye-catching event space can handle all kinds of groups. One especially unique setting is the Tri-Star Conference Room set inside the fuselage of Lockheed’s first TriStar prototype aircraft.
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Showcased items include an old biplane and a restored 1940 passenger plane, and organized tours and scavenger hunts are also available.
BUCKHEAD ATLANTA
A hopping hub of dining, retail and entertainment within the popular district of the same name, Buckhead Atlanta currently offers about nine dining spots and 15 retailers, with many more on the cusp of launching.
Grabbing much of the early spotlight here is Gypsy Kitchen, a stylishly modern Spanish restaurant showcasing traditional flavors as well as creative new fare. The hip new eatery is extremely group-friendly, and dining affairs can range from an intimate chef’s table to events of up to 300.
KROG STREET MARKET
Located in the city’s Inman Park district, this revamped 1920s structure showcases inventive eateries such as The Luminary, the brainchild of former Top Chef contestant Eli Kirshtein. Other dining options range from Tex-Mex to Asian dumplings to creative barbecue choices. A handful of inviting retailers include chocolate specialists and an ice creamery breaking new ground with flavors like toasted brioche with butter and raspberry jam.
A similar undertaking in the works is Atlanta’s Ponce City Market, located in the city’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood near Midtown. The revamped hub of dining and retail that formerly served as Sears & Roebuck officially opened in 2014, but is still a work in progress, with several compelling new eateries slated to debut this spring.
THE PAINTED PIN
This elegant “boutique bar” with 20 bowling lanes offers lush chesterfield couches, upscale tavern fare and additional fun like bocce ball, skee-ball, darts and “Southern skittles.”
The hip setting is host to numerous private events and offers a designated VIP event area with eight lanes and amenities such as flat-screen TVs. Full buyouts are also an option for gatherings of up to 400 attendees, and libation possibilities include colorful cocktails, craft beers and artisanal wines.
COOKS & SOLDIERS
Showcasing Basque cuisine, with an emphasis on grilling and small plates, Cooks & Soldiers is one of the region’s hottest restaurant openings in recent memory. The venue is located in Atlanta’s Westside neighborhood, and offers private dining spaces for groups ranging from 10 to 60 attendees.
Adding to the communal fun are a number of “asador” (wood-fired) specialties designed for sharing, including a savory hot pot with tuna and chorizo and an in-shell prawn plate enhanced with sweet peppers and garlic chips.
