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Business Travel Guide: Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is a city whose economic engine relies on business sectors other than manufacturing—transportation, financial and service especially—and has done so at least since its post-Civil war recovery days. In fact, modern Atlanta has lost its last two remaining automobile manufacturers in recent years, however it has been a transportation hub since its inception, and remains a city of business activity with national and global influences. Today, Atlanta hosts the headquarters for myriad corporations, among them CNN, Coca-Cola, Lockheed Martin and Home Depot. More than 2,000 international companies, including five divisions of German-based Siemens, are located here. Business visitors may find themselves heading to one of Atlanta's ten core counties depending on their operations, or may find themselves as far afield as any of the 28 counties that constitute the metropolitan area. Software, for example, is concentrated in south Gwinnett County, while financial services and advertising are centered in Buckhead, the city's most upscale zone. Business travelers will find no shortage of well-appointed hotels, good dining options and leisure pastimes to break up boardroom monotony. |
Facts
to Know Before You Go |
Transportation:
Rental Cars:
All major national automobile
rental companies are represented at Atlanta's
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, while
some less expensive ones do business off-airport,
but will pick up customers. Atlanta's interstates
and secondary roads jam at busy times, but they're
still the most efficient way to access far-flung
destinations. In addition,
Zipcar has locations around the metro Atlanta area inside I-285 (the Perimeter), chiefly in Midtown and Decatur.
Public Transportation:
MARTA (Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority) operates buses and trains throughout Fulton and DeKalb Counties. MARTA trains go directly to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. On Sundays and holidays train frequency is reduced, requiring additional time to reach the airport. You must have exact change for the $1.75 fare to board a MARTA bus, or a free transfer from a MARTA train station. To board a train, you must acquire a BREEZE card, either a temporary one for your trip, costing an additional $.50, or a permanent one that you can reload, costing $5. You may buy a BREEZE card at the airport or from the machines located in the front of each station that dispense the cards through a self-guided system, and you may charge fares to a credit card, obtaining any needed transfers at the same time. The machine will dispense a receipt for your purchase. Have your BREEZE card available when you enter the train area and obtain access by tapping on the round disk at each gate with the back of your card. Tap again with the back of the card in the same spot to exit. Between these secondary metropolitan systems and MARTA, transfers are free, and other metropolitan transit systems either require BREEZE (Clayton's C-Tran) or are about to do so (Gwinnett). Now part of MARTA, Clayton County's C-TRAN operates daily on some routes and weekdays only on some routes, except Christmas and New Year's, and serves the airport (North Terminal only), charging $1.50 per ride. As with MARTA, payment on a C-Tran bus may be made with a valid BREEZE card loaded with the appropriate fare value. Other metro Atlanta counties, and some towns, are developing transportation systems, so check before arrival to see if one might serve your destination.
Running Mon.-Sat., Cobb and Gwinnett Counties operate bus systems, tying into MARTA at specific points. Cobb County Transit operates Mon.-Sat. between Cobb County and selected MARTA stations. The fare is $1.50. GCT (Gwinnett County Transit) operates two levels of service: local and express buses (express not on Sat.). In February 2009, GCT began testing a program to allow riders to use BREEZE cards on GCT buses. Operating Mon.-Fri., the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) is a partnership with twelve regional counties as well as state and federal governments. Its Xpress buses, which also tie in to selected MARTA stations, may also be useful for the business traveler, and cost $3 one way/$5 round-trip for most of the system. BREEZE cards may be used, but system passes may be purchased on line or at the Five Points MARTA station. Xpress runs during commuter hours Mon.-Fri., holidays excepted. Cherokee County's CATS (Cherokee Area Transportation System) ties into the MARTA Civic Center station; Cherokee is one of the twelve metro counties served by Xpress.
In addition, a free bus service, "The Buc," runs every eight to twenty minutes on weekdays from the Buckhead malls and the Lenox and Buckhead MARTA station s to to various points in Buckhead, and on Sat. every 30 minutes. The more frequent circulation schedule is the norm during rush hours. The "Buc" has three lines, labeled green, blue and purple. All run during lunch except the purple line, typically from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. approximately. Also free and available to non-university riders are the bus systems operated by Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Their routes are limited to areas where students and faculty tend to live and areas immediately around the campuses. Look for white-and-green buses called The Cliff (Emory) and the black-and-gold Stinger buses and Tech Trolley vehicles (Georgia Tech).
Taxis and Shuttles:
The flat taxi rate for one person from the airport to Downtown is $30 and to Buckhead $40, although not all parts of Buckhead lie in the flat-rate zone. In addition, numerous shuttle companies serve Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. While shuttle transportation may be arranged upon arrival, other companies can arrange transportation from the airport by prior reservation. Fees vary but shuttle services typically cost $16 to Downtown, $18.50 to Midtown, and $ 20.50 to Buckhead per person. Limousine services also are available at higher prices. |
Information:
The city's chief daily newspaper, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, covers business news, while the weekly The Atlanta Business Chronicle goes into depth in business matters. Monthly Georgia Trend covers the state in business news, but is focused on the state's capital. Atlanta magazine, a monthly glossy, delves into local topics. For after-business information, pick up a copy of Creative Loafing, a free publication available in kiosks at restaurants and entertainment venues. It also publishes articles on matters of local political and economic interest. Free Museums & Galleries and Midtown Magazine cover respectively the arts scene around town and the vital Midtown area's performance, shopping and dining features. Atlanta Intown Newspaper is a free community monthly publication covering business as well as local subjects, culture and people. The Sunday Paper specializes in serious alternative news with a local beat while Southern Voice is Atlanta's long-standing publication covering issues important to the gay and lesbian community. In addition, there are several foreign language newspapers, including long-published Mundo Hispánico.
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A historic property built within the shell of the former Winecoff Hotel, which burned tragically in 1946, The Ellis Hotel provides moderately priced but luxuriously styled accommodation immediately adjacent to a MARTA subway stop (the Ellis Street exit, Peachtree Center Station). The tenth floor is reserved for female guests, who will find upgraded amenities and enhanced entrance security. The hotel is well attuned to the business traveler and provides a business center and workstations in each room. The restaurant and bar are comfortable and intimate places for after-work relaxation.
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Located in Midtown, the Four Seasons Hotel is as popular with the business set as it is with celebrities. Its entrance is a study in sweeping vistas and well-worked marble and stone surfaces. A grand staircase leads to Park 75 (the hotel's fine dining room), a terrace and bar, perfect for post-business gatherings. Suites feature fax machines, and the 24-hour business center is staffed during business hours. After-hours, enjoy the chlorine-free sea-salt pool. Near the fitness center, the pool terrace has its own sun deck. Trainers are available, and should you forget your gear, the hotel offers disposable swimsuits and stocks workout attire. A spa offers massage and other treatments. Complimentary health-focused refreshments are offered in the fitness club and in the spa. The full-menu room service is available 24 hours. Leisure services include a complimentary town car to nearby Atlantic Station, with numerous retail outlets. The Four Seasons is walking distance from the Woodruff Arts Center (with performances on most nights), the 14th Street Playhouse, and a host of popular restaurants.
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The Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center offers a multiplex of 252 rooms, meeting spaces, a 7,260-square-foot ballroom, and state-of-the-art technology for its Technology Square property. Located in Midtown, Atlanta's arts district, the hotel is conveniently close to restaurants, shops and entertainment venues. A 24-hour business center, wireless and hard-wired Internet capabilities and superb audio-visual gear make this hotel a standout for business purposes. A cardio fitness center and swimming pool helps de-stress after hours.
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Business and celebrity travelers to Atlanta make this luxury hotel their home away from home. The wood-paneled, art-filled public and private spaces are refined and elegant, yet, thanks to warm but correct service, never seem stiff or formal. Small, informal business gatherings around glasses of wine or tea in the afternoon are commonplace in the hotel's lobby bar. Two dining rooms serve outstanding food: The Café, located on the same level as the lobby bar, and upstairs on the mezzanine level, The Dining Room, the hotel's deluxe restaurant and the city's showcase temple of fine cuisine. The staff represents 69 nationalities, providing translation talent, and if you opt for the "Key to Luxury" package you book a room a night and get a Mercedes to drive with it. Secretarial services, international currency exchange, courier services, and a seamstress on duty appeal to the business traveler as does the 24-hour Technology Butler for guests who forgot to bring their adapters, batteries or cell phones. For relaxation, the hotel offers a fitness center, indoor pool, steam room and whirlpool. Nearby shopping at three malls is accessible on foot.
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Floors seven to sixteen of this magnificent modern hotel house 102 one- and two-bedroom suites, many with dramatic views of the city's skyline. All suites come with complete kitchens equipped with full-sized appliances. The business traveler also has an in-room computer and work surface, flat-screen televisions, and complimentary Wi-Fi in addition to a business center. Luxury finishes, a steak-focused restaurant (ROOM) and a small, competently run bar de-stress the business traveler. The restaurant also has two private spaces for small business dinner meetings, as well as well-equipped meeting rooms. |
Atlanta Grill
The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta
101 Peachtree St., NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-659-0400
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Contemporary/Southern/American
14/20
$$$$$ |
The fine dining room at Atlanta's downtown Ritz-Carlton is an ideal location for business dining with its club-like, well-tempered ambiance. Plush but not stuffy, quiet but still lively, the restaurant is a well-regarded steak operation that also does good fish and an excellent veal chop. The wine list is first class, and the service is excellent. This is one of the city's most elegant bars, offering some of the most sophisticated jazz around. |
Bacchanalia
1198 Howell Mill Rd., NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
404-365-0410
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Contemporary
17/20
$$$$$ |
With James Beard award-winning chefs Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison at the helm, Bacchanalia remains at the top of Atlanta's fine dining scene. From the foie gras to the Valrhona chocolate cake, dishes are the zenith of luxury, while also remaining classically simple and elegant. While the dining room itself can become fairly high energy, a small private dining space makes private parties for a dozen or so guests much more intimate. For larger affairs, the 75-seat Quinones Room at Bacchanalia specializes in multi-course, fixed-price dining. The wine list is one of the city's most interesting.
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French/Steakhouse/Brasserie
15/20
$$$$$ |
Fabrice Vergez's famed Brasserie Le Coze has morphed into a Downtown establishment that is more business friendly than ever, with several private dining spaces. The atmosphere in the dining room is most conducive to business dining, and the food is of such a caliber that it will impress and please the most fastidious client. A raft of fish and seafood dishes accompanies a generous selection of steaks and chops, and the wine list assembles excellent values and impressive choices. Service is amiable and professional.
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La Pietra Cucina
One Peachtree Pointe
1545 Peachtree St. NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-888-8709
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Italian/Contemporary
15/20
$$$$$ |
Atlanta-born chef Bruce Logue has cooked in Italy and here in the U.S. with Mario Batali at Babbo. He is totally devoted to Italian culinary sensibilities, but with a contemporary twist that’s thoroughly rooted in authenticity. Any of a number of main dishes at La Pietra Cucina (Italian for 'The Stone Kitchen') would please, but pay close attention to the specials, which might include veal tongue, lamb sirloin (served over barley and topped with grilled white asparagus) or porchetta. If appetite allows, get the chocolate dessert of the day. The wine list is focused on well-priced Italian selections, with good choices by the glass and a bottle presentation at the table for those that are so ordered. Business diners will appreciate the private dining room, which can seat 36 people and has a full bar with additional seating.
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Restaurant Eugene
Aramore Condominium
2277 Peachtree Rd. NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-355-0321
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Contemporary/Southern
16/20
$$$$$ |
Linton Hopkins, a native Atlantan, has crafted one of the most soothing dining environments in the city, and the food he serves in it, along with his wine list, makes for an all-around perfect dining experience, especially for business purposes. Gather clients and make this one a must-stop to enjoy his re-workings of Southern classics such as perfect fried chicken, and international dishes, such as sweetbreads with wild mushrooms or white gazpacho with olive oil ice cream and microgreens. On Sunday evenings, his Sunday Supper menu reprises the local classics in a three-course fixed-price menu.
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Eddie's Attic
515-B N. McDonough St.
Decatur, GA 30030
404-377-4976
www.eddiesattic.com
Grab MARTA east to the Decatur station and walk a few blocks to one of the metro area's most worthwhile music venues, founded in a former department store. The place has nurtured many a rising star, among them Decatur's own Indigo Girls. The 21-and-over club showcases a wide variety of contemporary music. Food service offers some tasty morsels, sandwiches and salads.
Sambuca
3102 Piedmont Rd., NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
404-237-5299
www.sambucarestaurant.com
One of the city's most sophisticated dining/entertainment venues, Sambuca is a jazz supper club that offers reasonably good food and very good music. Reservations are essential, especially on weekends, and most patrons dress rather nicely. The club is non-smoking.
Tabernacle
152 Luckie St NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-659-9022
tabernacleatl.com
Formerly a church, Tabernacle was built in 1910 and lay vacant from the mid-1980s until 1996, when the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta saw it brought back to life as a performance venue known as the House of Blues Club. Today, music fills its rafters once more, and the place is popular as a corporate event site. The entire club is non-smoking.
Virginia Highland Shopping Area
Corner of Virginia and N. Highland Avenues
Atlanta, GA 30306
www.virginiahighland.com
This intersection is the heart of a vibrant neighborhood whose early 20th-century residential architecture has been upgraded and updated by waves of in-town pioneers. Visitors will find numerous good restaurants and interesting shopping, making a day spent in the area a worthwhile adventure. In addition to art galleries and antique shops, a vintage-style hardware store is a prime address for woodworking devotees. Having a rental car notwithstanding, it's advisable to take a taxi to the district and back to your hotel as parking is very difficult.
Whole World Theatre
1216 Spring St. NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-817-PLAY (7529)
www.wholeworldtheatre.com
Improvisational theater is the main stage focus. Another smaller stage, called "The Third Space," features scripted plays throughout the year, some of them original material. Whole World Theatre also hosts visiting and small local companies in performance. The normal schedule is Thurs.-Sat., with start times on Thurs. at 8 p.m., Fri. at 9 p.m. (as of March 6, 2009), and 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Sat.. (Author: Jane Garvey)  |
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(Updated: 11/14/09 HC) |
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