Planning an Event at an Atlanta Marriott Conference Center: What to Know

If you’re considering an Atlanta Marriott conference center for a meeting, convention, or social event, you have several strong options across the metro area. Each property offers a different mix of location, size, and style, so the best choice depends on whether you want to be in the heart of downtown, near the airport, or in a quieter suburban setting.

Below is a practical guide to how Marriott conference centers work in Atlanta, Georgia, how they differ by area, and what locals and visitors usually weigh when choosing one.

Major Atlanta-Area Marriott Conference Centers

There isn’t just one “Atlanta Marriott Conference Center.” Instead, there are multiple Marriott-brand hotels with large meeting and conference facilities that people often refer to as conference centers.

Here are some of the best-known conference-focused Marriott properties around Atlanta:

Downtown & Midtown Atlanta

These locations are popular if you want to be close to major attractions, corporate offices, and transit.

1. Atlanta Marriott Marquis (Downtown)
A landmark high-rise with extensive meeting space.

• Typical use: Large conferences, conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings, and association events.
• Why people choose it:
  • Central downtown location near Peachtree Center, the Georgia World Congress Center, and the Georgia Aquarium.
  • Significant ballroom and breakout room capacity.
  • Easy access to MARTA Peachtree Center Station, which helps out-of-town guests move around without a car.

2. The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta (part of Marriott family brands)
Known for its cylindrical tower and skyline views.

• Typical use: Corporate meetings, professional associations, special events, and banquets.
• Advantages:
  • Convenient to downtown offices and attractions.
  • Sky-high event spaces appeal to groups wanting a strong “Atlanta skyline” feel.

3. W Atlanta – Midtown / Renaissance & Other Marriott-Branded Properties in Midtown
Smaller than the largest downtown convention hotels but good for mid-sized meetings.

• Typical use: Training sessions, corporate retreats, networking events, and university-related functions.
• Why Midtown works:
  • Close to Georgia Tech, Piedmont Park, cultural venues, and a large number of restaurants.
  • Guests often enjoy the walkable, energetic feel of Midtown.

Near Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

If your attendees are flying in from across the country, conference centers near the airport can be very practical.

4. Atlanta Airport Marriott & Nearby Marriott-Branded Airport Hotels

• Typical use: National sales meetings, short conferences, airline-related meetings, and quick-turn events.
• Key benefits:
  • Minutes from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
  • Shuttle service is commonly available between the hotels and the airport terminals.
  • Easier for attendees with tight schedules or early/late flights.

5. Conference-Focused Hotels Around College Park & Airport District

College Park and the Airport District offer a cluster of business hotels, including Marriott brands, that function effectively as conference centers for small to medium events.

• Good for: Training programs, regional professional gatherings, and events with heavy air travel.

Suburban & Perimeter / North Atlanta

If your group prefers less downtown congestion, suburban Marriott properties around Atlanta can be a better fit.

6. Marriott Properties in Perimeter Center (Dunwoody/Sandy Springs area)

• Typical use: Corporate meetings for nearby Perimeter business district companies, regional trainings, and local associations.
• Advantages:
  • Close to major offices along the Perimeter Center and Central Perimeter business corridor.
  • Easy access to I‑285 and GA‑400, plus MARTA Dunwoody/Sandy Springs Stations.

7. North Atlanta & Alpharetta / Roswell Area Marriott Hotels

• Often chosen for tech-company meetings, suburban corporate offices, and multi-day retreats.
• Attendees driving in from around metro Atlanta may find these locations easier to reach, with less downtown traffic and often lower parking costs.

Quick Comparison: Which Area Fits Your Event?

Below is a simple overview of how Atlanta Marriott conference-style locations generally compare by area:

What “Conference Center” Usually Means at an Atlanta Marriott

When people say “Atlanta Marriott conference center,” they usually mean a Marriott-brand hotel that offers:

• Large ballrooms for general sessions, banquets, or trade show-style setups.
• Multiple breakout rooms for workshops, training sessions, and smaller meetings.
• In-house audio/visual (A/V) capabilities, such as projectors, screens, microphones, speakers, and basic hybrid/virtual meeting support.
• Catering and banquet services, from coffee breaks and working lunches to plated dinners and receptions.
• Guest rooms onsite, so attendees can stay in the same building or complex as the event.

Most of Atlanta’s larger Marriott properties operate this way: a full-service hotel that doubles as a conference center.

How to Choose the Right Atlanta Marriott Conference Center for Your Needs

When comparing options in the Atlanta area, you’ll want to focus on a few practical questions.

1. How big is your event?

Different properties handle different scales:

• Small meetings (under ~50 people):

  • Many Marriott hotels around Atlanta (including suburban ones) can handle this easily.
  • You might not need a massive downtown or airport conference hotel unless location is a priority.

• Medium events (50–300 people):

  • Downtown, Midtown, Perimeter, and Airport-area Marriotts can all work.
  • Consider where attendees are coming from: local commuters, airport arrivals, or a mix.

• Large conferences (300+ up to thousands):

  • Look at downtown “convention-style” properties with extensive ballrooms and breakout rooms, often paired with venues like the Georgia World Congress Center if you need even more space.

2. Where are your attendees coming from?

Your attendees’ travel patterns matter a lot in Atlanta due to traffic and geography.

• Mostly local, driving in:
  Suburban or Perimeter Marriott locations may be easier for parking and commute times.
• Mostly from out of state or overseas:
  Airport-area or downtown hotels with good MARTA access are often more convenient.
• Mixed local and national:
  Downtown or Midtown can balance ease of transit (for fly-in guests) with access to local offices and attractions.

3. Do you need easy access to Atlanta attractions?

Groups that want a strong “Atlanta experience” may prefer:

• Downtown: Close to Centennial Olympic Park, World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium, State Farm Arena, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
• Midtown: Near Piedmont Park, the High Museum of Art, and plenty of restaurants and nightlife.

If your event is strictly business-focused and packed with sessions, it may be fine to choose a more utilitarian airport or suburban property and keep things simple.

Typical Services and Amenities at Atlanta Marriott Conference Centers

While each property differs, most large Marriott conference hotels around Atlanta commonly offer:

Meeting & Event Support

• Event planning teams to help design room layouts, schedules, and logistics.
• Onsite A/V support, often via an in-house A/V provider.
• Hybrid and virtual options, such as high-speed internet, video conferencing, and large screens, depending on the property.

Food & Beverage

• Catered meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Snack breaks and coffee stations during long meeting days.
• Reception and banquet menus for evening events.

If your group has specific dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, kosher-style, allergy-friendly), Atlanta conference hotels are typically accustomed to handling those requests, but it’s important to discuss them upfront.

Guest Services

• Onsite fitness centers and often pools.
• Business services like printing and copying.
• Concierge or front desk staff who can help guests navigate Atlanta’s neighborhoods, transit options, and attractions.

Practical Tips for Booking a Marriott Conference Center in Atlanta

If you’re planning an event in or around Atlanta, these steps can help you narrow things down efficiently.

1. Define your must-haves

Before contacting any hotel:

• Estimate your guest count and how many guest rooms you may need.
• Outline your date range and whether you’re flexible (Atlanta has busy convention seasons when availability tightens).
• Decide on your preferred area: downtown, Midtown, airport, Perimeter, or suburban north.

2. Contact multiple properties

It’s common in Atlanta to:

• Request proposals (often called RFPs) from several Marriott properties in different parts of the city.
• Ask about:
  • Total meeting space and room options.
  • Sample floor plans for ballrooms and breakouts.
  • Package pricing for meeting rooms + guest rooms + catering.
  • Parking availability and costs.

Comparing a downtown option with an airport or Perimeter option can help you see how location affects cost and convenience.

3. Ask about logistics

For any Atlanta Marriott conference center you’re considering, it helps to clarify:

• Transportation:
  • Is the hotel walkable from a MARTA station?
  • Do they offer shuttles to the airport or any local offices?
• Parking:
  • Onsite garage or surface lot?
  • Self-parking vs. valet?
• Wi-Fi and tech:
  • Bandwidth for streaming or hybrid sessions.
  • Included vs. additional A/V fees.

4. Consider Atlanta’s traffic and timing

Atlanta’s rush hours can significantly affect arrival and departure times, especially:

• Weekday mornings (roughly 7–9 a.m.).
• Late afternoons/early evenings (roughly 4–7 p.m.).

When scheduling your conference:

• Avoid tight back-to-back sessions around those times if many attendees are commuting.
• For airport events, allow extra time between the end of sessions and flight departures.

What Locals and Visitors Commonly Weigh When Choosing

People planning events in Atlanta usually think about:

• Perception and image:
  Downtown luxury properties can make a bigger impression for high-profile conferences, while suburban sites may feel more relaxed and budget-conscious.
• Walkability vs. quiet:
  Downtown/Midtown means walkable restaurants and attractions but more noise and activity. Suburban and airport properties are quieter but more car-dependent.
• Budget:
  Room rates, meeting rental fees, catering minimums, and parking costs can all vary by area and season.
• Weather considerations:
  Atlanta can be hot and humid in the summer and occasionally stormy, so indoor connectivity (covered walkways, connected towers) can matter for larger, spread-out events.

How to Take the Next Step

If you want to move forward with an Atlanta Marriott conference center:

1. Decide your ideal area based on your attendees (downtown, Midtown, airport, Perimeter, or suburban north).
2. List your requirements (dates, headcount, room set-ups, tech needs, catering level).
3. Reach out directly to a short list of Atlanta-area Marriott properties’ sales or events departments to request proposals and floor plans.
4. Compare location, cost, and convenience side by side, keeping Atlanta’s traffic patterns and transit options in mind.

By focusing on size, location, and attendee experience, you can match your event with the Marriott conference property in the Atlanta area that makes the most sense for your group.