Black Meetings and Tourism

Black Meetings & Tourism February/March 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 53 Atlanta is simply one of the hottest travel destinations in the United States. Does that sound like an overreach? When you consider what Atlanta has to offer, the answer is a resounding no. All the superlatives used to describe this great city are well deserved. Not many places can boast of being "all things to all peo- ple." Usually something is missing. Meeting space is lacking, hotels are not easily accessible or in disrepair, restaurants and nightlife are sparse, transportation becomes a lesson in how not to build infrastructure, and cultural, heritage or general tourist activities are few and far in between. Well, none of that applies to Atlanta. Downtown Atlanta features thousands of hotel rooms in close proximity to state-of-the-art meet- ing venues such as the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), Centennial Olympic and the Georgia Dome. Shopping malls, tourist attractions, numerous cul- tural and heritage sites, outdoor parks, a robust nightlife and great restaurants are just part of the lure. The charm, hospitality and friendli- ness of Atlanta's people attract vis- itors from around the globe. The recently renovated Atlanta Marriott Marquis in the heart of downtown Atlanta's Peachtree Center is the largest hotel in the city. This property features 1,663 rooms including 94 lux- ury suites, 160,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, 51 meeting rooms and three ballrooms, the largest measuring over 25,000 sq. ft. The lobby has a breathtaking skylight atrium that climbs 50 stories above the lobby floor and a Pool Bar with skyline views of downtown and seating for up to 100. For those who love to shop, the Marriott is connected by a covered walkway to the Mall at Peachtree Center. And for large conventions that require more rooms than the Marquis can provide, the hotel is connected via a series of walkways to two other large hotel prop- erties. In total, the downtown area has over 10,000 hotel rooms. The Marquis counts among its many nearby neighbors, the Georgia Aquarium, the New World of Coca Cola, Centennial Olympic Park, AmericasMart along with the aforementioned GWCC and Georgia Dome. Just a few minutes from the Marriott Marquis is the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site and Jimmy Carter's Presidential Library. A new Center for Civil and Human Rights, sched- uled to open in late 2010 or 2011 will enhance the city's reputation as a cultural and heritage tourism destination. The center will explore the modern Civil Rights movement, the global Human Rights struggle and the battle for Women's Rights, past and present On the meetings venue front, the GWCC is the city's pre- mier destination with over 3.9 million sq. ft. The Center has 12 exhibit halls, 106 meeting rooms, three fixed-seat auditori- ums and the latest in technology. Just steps away from the GWCC is the Georgia Dome – the largest cable-supported domed stadium in the world, with 102,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, fixed- seating for over 71,000 people and banquet, theater and classroom setups that can accom- modate thousands. A short two-minute walk from both venues is the 21-acre Centennial Olympic Park. This park links the downtown hotel dis- trict to GWCC and the Georgia Dome. The park includes a 1,200- seat amphitheater and a six-acre Great Lawn with natural seating for 30,000. The park is used for outdoor concerts and exhibits such as The National Black Arts Festival. Don't overlook AmericasMart. This 6.2 million-sq. ft. wholesale marketplace can host intimate gatherings or large events across its three buildings. The Mart has a 14- story atrium that can handle up to 1,200-seated patrons or 5,000 for a reception. There is a theater, a conference center, an exhibit center and numerous meeting rooms that can accommodate thousands. Atlanta is one of the very few destinations on the planet that can boast of being "all things to all people." The city has become one of America's marquee destinations for tourism, meetings, conventions, cultural/heritage sites and family reunions FAM REPORT BY MICHAEL BENNETT "HOT LANTA" THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION

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