The Exhibitor's Travel Guide to Atlanta

Atlanta is one of the busiest trade show cities in the United States, and for good reason. It sits at the intersection of a world-class convention campus, the busiest airport on the planet, and a hospitality infrastructure built to move tens of thousands of visitors through downtown with minimal friction. Whether you are hauling a 20x20 booth to IWF or working a tabletop at AmericasMart, this guide covers everything you need to arrive prepared, stay comfortable, and leave with a full pipeline.

Major Convention Venues

The GWCC is the anchor of Atlanta's convention district and one of the largest convention centers in the country. Its 3.9-million-square-foot campus spans three main exhibit halls connected by skywalks and concourses. Major shows including IWF (International Woodworking Fair) and Graph Expo call this home. Hall C, the newest addition, is connected directly to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium complex. If your show fills multiple halls, expect significant walking between sections — plan your schedule accordingly.

AmericasMart is the premier wholesale marketplace for gift, home, and area rug trade shows. Its three interconnected buildings house permanent showrooms that open for scheduled market weeks throughout the year. If you exhibit in the gift, home decor, or tabletop categories, this is your venue. The complex also includes the Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart, a dedicated 75,000-square-foot exhibit facility on the ground floor of Building 2 that hosts a rotating calendar of smaller, specialized trade events.

Where to Stay: Hotels for Exhibitors

Atlanta's downtown hotel cluster sits within walking distance of the GWCC. For exhibitors hauling materials or working early setup shifts, proximity is everything. Here are the top options, sorted by convenience to the convention district.

• Omni Hotel at CNN Center
  Connected to GWCC via skywalk. The closest hotel to the show floor — you can walk from your room to your booth without stepping outside. Book early; it sells out during major shows.
• Hilton Atlanta
  255 Courtland St NE. A 10-minute walk to GWCC. Large property with reliable business amenities and multiple on-site restaurants. Strong choice for teams needing meeting space.
• Marriott Marquis
  265 Peachtree Center Ave NE. Iconic atrium lobby, walking distance to AmericasMart and Peachtree Center MARTA station. Popular with exhibitors working both GWCC and AmericasMart shows.
• Westin Peachtree Plaza
  210 Peachtree St NW. The tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere. Rotating restaurant on the 73rd floor for client dinners. Connected to Peachtree Center via skybridge.
• Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park
  267 Marietta St NW. Suite-style rooms with separate living areas — useful for teams sharing accommodations. Complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast saves time on show mornings.

Getting to Atlanta: Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the world by passenger volume, processing over 93 million travelers annually. The upside for exhibitors: direct flights from virtually everywhere. The downside: the terminal complex is massive, and connections can involve a train ride between concourses. Build in extra time if you are checking oversized booth materials.

Airport to Downtown: MARTA Rail

MARTA is Atlanta's rapid transit system, and it offers something most U.S. convention cities do not — a direct rail line from the airport to the convention district. The Gold and Red lines both depart from the Airport station (located inside the domestic terminal, past baggage claim) and reach the GWCC area in roughly 20 minutes.

• Fare: $2.50 one-way. Purchase a reloadable Breeze Card at any station kiosk for $1.
• For GWCC: Exit at Vine City station or GWCC/CNN Center station (depending on which hall your show occupies).
• For AmericasMart: Exit at Peachtree Center station.
• Frequency: Trains run every 10-15 minutes during peak hours, every 20 minutes off-peak.

Rideshare from ATL to downtown runs $25-40 depending on traffic and surge pricing. During rush hour or major event arrivals, MARTA is consistently faster and cheaper. If you are traveling with booth materials that fit in a carry-on or rolling case, MARTA is the move.

Atlanta Neighborhoods: Where to Eat, Drink, and Decompress

Downtown (GWCC Area)

Downtown is where you will spend most of your time. The Centennial Olympic Park district surrounding GWCC has exploded with dining options in recent years. You will find quick-service spots along Andrew Young International Boulevard for lunch between sessions, and more substantial options near the CNN Center food court and along Marietta Street. For a proper sit-down meal, Der Biergarten serves excellent German food with a large outdoor patio — a good spot for team dinners. Stats Brewpub, directly across from Centennial Park, does solid pub fare and local craft beer.

Midtown (Arts District & Dining)

Midtown sits roughly 2 miles north of GWCC along Peachtree Street and is reachable in minutes via MARTA (Midtown station). This is Atlanta's arts and dining corridor. South City Kitchen serves refined Southern cuisine that works well for client entertainment. Ecco delivers Italian small plates in a polished setting. For something more casual, head to the Peachtree Street corridor between 10th and 14th streets, where you will find a dense concentration of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. The High Museum of Art is also here if you have a free afternoon.

Buckhead (Upscale Dining & Nightlife)

Buckhead, roughly 8 miles north of downtown, is Atlanta's upscale enclave. If you are taking a major client to dinner and need to impress, this is where you go. Bones is a legendary steakhouse. Aria delivers a seasonal tasting menu. The Buckhead Village district along Peachtree Road has high-end shopping and cocktail bars. Reachable via MARTA (Buckhead station) in about 25 minutes from downtown, though a rideshare gives you more flexibility on the return trip.

Packing for Atlanta: Weather and Comfort

Atlanta's weather is defined by two seasons that matter to exhibitors: hot and humid (May through September) and mild but unpredictable (October through April). Summer shows like IWF mean stepping from aggressive air conditioning inside the GWCC into 90-degree heat and 80% humidity outside. Your body will feel the swing.

• Summer shows (May-Sep): Lightweight, breathable fabrics. Moisture-wicking undershirts. A compact umbrella — afternoon thunderstorms roll through almost daily from June to August.
• Winter shows (Nov-Mar): Layers. Atlanta rarely gets extreme cold, but mornings can dip into the 30s. A medium-weight jacket handles most days.
• Year-round: Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable. The GWCC campus is vast, and you will easily log 15,000+ steps on a show day. Break in new shoes before the trip, not on the show floor.

5 Pro Tips for Exhibiting in Atlanta

1. Take MARTA from the airport — every time. The rail line runs directly from the terminal to the convention district. It costs $2.50 and takes 20 minutes. A rideshare during peak arrival windows (Sunday afternoon before a Monday show) can take 45+ minutes and cost three times as much. There is no contest.
2. Respect the GWCC's size. The campus spans three exhibit halls connected by long concourses. Walking from the far end of Hall A to Hall C takes 15-20 minutes at a brisk pace. If your meetings span halls, schedule 30-minute buffers between them. Bring a portable phone charger — you will burn battery navigating the floor map.
3. Use Centennial Olympic Park for breaks. The 22-acre park sits directly adjacent to GWCC and is the single best place to reset during a long show day. Step outside, walk the paths, sit by the fountain. Ten minutes of fresh air (humidity and all) will do more for your afternoon energy than another cup of convention center coffee.
4. Book your hotel inside the GWCC block early. The Omni Hotel at CNN Center connects to GWCC via skywalk, which means you can walk from your room to the show floor in five minutes without going outside. This is a meaningful advantage during summer shows and early-morning setup calls. Block rooms go fast — reserve yours the moment registration opens.
5. Eat outside the convention center. GWCC concessions are functional but overpriced and crowded at peak lunch hours. Centennial Park and Marietta Street are a 5-minute walk from the main entrances and offer significantly better food at lower prices. If you are at AmericasMart, the Peachtree Street corridor has dozens of options within a two-block radius.