The night before a quick hop to Chicago, I stayed at the Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel.
I like airport hotels because I’m near where I need to be in the morning, and I also get to check out what they offer in terms of event space and other unique offerings.
So I can report back to you, of course, with ideas for your next meeting.
Of course, airport meetings are nothing new and offer many conveniences. But it’s rare that your meeting is so close to the airport that you can watch planes take off and land.
What looked like a Lufthansa jet landed outside my window a few runways over.
I could have stayed in my room the rest of the day and been entertained by the airport action on the runway (or funway!). But I chose to wander around and check out the event space. It’s roughly 34,000 square feet with 28 breakout rooms and ballroom conventions that can hold up to 1,500 attendees.
The ballrooms don’t offer views of the runway—maybe that’s a good thing so attendees pay attention to the speaker. But many of the rooms do! Just be sure that you book a room with runway view and balcony. I couldn’t really use the balcony as it was a bit chilly during my trip, but I could see myself sitting and working out there on a warmer day and after conference sessions conclude.
Is the Runway Hotel Noisy With Nearby Plane Action?
Certainly, I could hear the planes taxi, land and take off from my eighth-floor runway-facing room, but it wasn’t terrible. If I wanted total quiet, I probably should have stayed somewhere else, or at least picked a room not facing the runway. Instead, I wore ear plugs at night, which worked just fine.
I couldn’t hear any airplane noise at all from the conference rooms and ballrooms, which are mostly located in the inner and lower areas of the hotel. So, no problem during the sessions.
Would I Recommend Holding a Meeting Here?
I would. I love being close to the airport when I have to fly in and out. The less time spent in traffic, the better. When it’s time to arrive or leave, the airport shuttle runs every 20 minutes starting at 4:20 a.m.
And I loved the unique view from the room.
Despite the size of the hotel, everything is relatively close. The guest rooms are in a square with a quick walk to the elevators, which took me right to the ballrooms and breakout rooms.
There’s also a pool outside, that’s near the runway. It was closed when I was visiting, but why not build in some time for breaks? You know my opinion on breaks in meeting itineraries.
Airport meetings are certainly worth exploring, and I was impressed by the setup here. Of course, there are plenty of other places to hold your events in the Atlanta area as well if you are looking for options.
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