Atlanta, Georgia Conference Centers: How to Find the Right Venue for Your Event

Planning a meeting, convention, trade show, or special event in Atlanta, Georgia gives you a wide range of conference centers to choose from. Whether you need a huge downtown convention space, a quiet suburban training center, or a flexible hotel ballroom near the airport, Atlanta has options for almost every size and budget.

This guide walks through the major types of conference centers in Atlanta, key locations to know, what they’re best for, and how to choose the right one based on your event’s needs.

Why Atlanta Is a Popular Conference City

Atlanta is one of the Southeast’s major business and travel hubs, which makes it a natural fit for conferences and meetings:

• World’s busiest airport: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport offers non-stop flights from many cities, making travel easier for attendees.
• Strong hotel infrastructure: Many properties with on-site meeting and conference facilities, from budget to luxury.
• Central location: Convenient for regional events that draw attendees from across Georgia and neighboring states.
• Public transit access: MARTA rail and bus service connect the airport, downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and some key conference districts.

For an organizer or attendee, this usually means more venue choices, competitive pricing, and easier logistics.

Main Types of Conference Centers in Atlanta

When people search for an "Atlanta, Georgia conference center," they’re usually looking for one of these:

1. Major convention and expo centers
2. Hotel-based conference centers
3. University and educational conference facilities
4. Specialized training and retreat-style venues
5. Suburban and regional conference centers around metro Atlanta

Each type suits different event sizes, formats, and budgets.

1. Major Convention & Expo Centers in Atlanta

These are Atlanta’s largest and most versatile meeting spaces, designed for trade shows, large conventions, and multi-day events.

Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC)

Location:
285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
(Adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena in Downtown Atlanta)

Best for:

• Large conventions and conferences
• Trade shows and expos
• Multi-track corporate or industry events

Key notes:

• One of the largest convention centers in the United States.
• Multiple exhibit halls, ballrooms, and meeting rooms that can be scaled up or down.
• Walkable to downtown hotels, Centennial Olympic Park, and major attractions.
• Accessible via MARTA (typically from the GWCC/CNN Center station).

This is usually the first choice for very large events with thousands of attendees.

Cobb Galleria Centre

Location:
2 Galleria Pkwy SE
Atlanta, GA 30339
(At the junction of I-75 and I-285, near The Battery Atlanta and Truist Park)

Best for:

• Mid-size trade shows
• Corporate conferences
• Association meetings and banquets

Key notes:

• Sits in the Cumberland business district, near many office towers and hotels.
• Walkable to The Battery Atlanta entertainment and dining area.
• Convenient for attendees driving in from the suburbs or other Georgia cities via interstates.

This center is popular for events that want to avoid downtown traffic and parking challenges but still need professional, full-service facilities.

Gas South Convention Center (Duluth / Gwinnett County)

Location:
6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Duluth, GA 30097

Best for:

• Regional conferences
• Consumer shows
• Trade fairs and multi-room meetings

Key notes:

• Located in Gwinnett County, a major suburban area northeast of Atlanta.
• Part of a larger complex including an arena and performing arts center.
• Good for organizations whose attendees are primarily from north metro Atlanta or nearby states.

While not in the City of Atlanta, many planners count it among “Atlanta-area” conference centers because it serves the wider metro region.

2. Hotel-Based Conference Centers in Atlanta

Many events combine lodging and meeting space in one place. Atlanta’s hotel conference centers are spread across key districts:

• Downtown – convenient for government, legal, and corporate events.
• Midtown – close to tech and creative businesses, Georgia Tech, and arts institutions.
• Buckhead – popular for finance, consulting, and upscale gatherings.
• Airport area – ideal for quick in-and-out meetings and national teams.

Why Choose a Hotel Conference Center?

Advantages:

• On-site lodging for attendees
• Catering, AV, and meeting support usually handled in-house
• Different room sizes for breakouts, board meetings, and plenary sessions
• Often within walking distance of restaurants and attractions

Consider if:

• Your group is under a few hundred people.
• You want to keep everything in one building or campus.
• You need a mix of professional space and social or networking areas.

Most major hotel chains in Atlanta—especially in Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and near Hartsfield–Jackson Airport—offer conference packages or event planning teams.

3. University & Educational Conference Facilities

Atlanta’s universities and colleges often open their event spaces and conference services to outside groups, especially during academic breaks.

These can be a good fit for:

• Educational and training programs
• Youth or academic camps
• Nonprofit and professional development events

Examples of Institutions with Event Facilities

• Georgia State University (Downtown Atlanta)
  Multiple buildings with classrooms, auditoriums, and meeting space, especially around its campus core.
  Administrative address:
  33 Gilmer St SE
  Atlanta, GA 30303

• Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech – Midtown)
  Offers meeting and event facilities, including technology-enabled classrooms and lecture halls.
  Main campus address:
  North Ave NW
  Atlanta, GA 30332

• Emory University (Druid Hills / Atlanta)
  Hosts conferences, symposia, and academic events, with a quieter, campus-style environment.
  Main address:
  201 Dowman Dr
  Atlanta, GA 30322

If you’re planning an education-focused or mission-driven event, university venues can sometimes offer a different atmosphere than a traditional hotel or commercial conference center.

4. Specialized Training & Retreat-Style Venues

Some Atlanta-area venues are geared specifically toward corporate training, team-building, and retreats. These may offer:

• Fewer, more focused meeting rooms
• On-site lodging in a quieter setting
• Outdoor or informal spaces for planning sessions and workshops

These venues are often found in suburban or semi-rural parts of metro Atlanta rather than the downtown core, making them better for groups that want to get away from day-to-day distractions.

5. Suburban & Regional Conference Centers Around Atlanta

If you’re not set on a downtown address, the metro Atlanta suburbs offer conference centers that can make parking easier and may sometimes provide more budget flexibility.

Common suburban areas with meeting and conference facilities include:

• Sandy Springs and Dunwoody – north of the city along GA-400 and I-285
• Alpharetta and Roswell – strong corporate presence, especially in tech and services
• Gwinnett County (Duluth, Lawrenceville) – many hotels and business parks
• Cobb County (Marietta, Cumberland) – home to Cobb Galleria and numerous corporate offices

These locations work well if:

• Most attendees are driving from within metro Atlanta.
• You want to avoid the busiest city-center traffic patterns.
• You don’t need close proximity to downtown attractions or government offices.

Quick Comparison: Which Atlanta Conference Option Fits Your Event?

How to Choose the Right Atlanta Conference Center

When comparing conference centers in Atlanta, focus on practical details that will shape your attendees’ experience.

1. Location & Transportation

Ask:

• Do attendees need easy access from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport?
• Is MARTA access important, or will most people drive?
• How is parking—on-site, paid, limited, or off-site?

Downtown and Midtown offer strong public transit and walkability, while suburban venues typically rely more on driving and on-site parking.

2. Capacity & Room Layout

Clarify:

• Total number of attendees
• How many breakout rooms or tracks you need
• Whether you need exhibit space, a general session room, or both

Atlanta’s largest facilities (like GWCC) can handle almost any configuration. Smaller hotel conference centers may have more limitations, so it helps to ask for floor plans and sample layouts (theater, classroom, banquet, and so on).

3. Technology & AV Support

In Atlanta, most established conference centers provide:

• Projectors or large screens
• Sound systems and microphones
• Wi-Fi with varying bandwidth levels

If your event is hybrid or heavily virtual, ask about:

• Dedicated bandwidth or wired internet
• On-site AV technicians
• Options for recording or live streaming sessions

4. Lodging Needs

Decide if you want:

• Everything in one location (conference plus lodging), or
• A separate conference center with nearby hotels

Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead have dense clusters of hotels within walking distance of many venues. For suburban locations, confirm shuttle availability or plan for car-based transportation.

5. Budget & Contract Terms

Key cost areas for an Atlanta conference center typically include:

• Room rental fees (sometimes waived or reduced with a catering minimum)
• Food and beverage minimums
• AV and technology charges
• Service fees and taxes

Ask about:

• Off-peak or weekday discounts
• Seasonal patterns (for example, some months may be busier due to regional events or sports)
• Policies for cancellations, attrition, and rebooking

Practical Tips for Attendees Coming to an Atlanta Conference Center

If you’re attending rather than planning, a few Atlanta-specific pointers can help:

• Transit from the airport:
  MARTA rail connects the airport to Downtown and Midtown. Many hotel-based conference centers along this line are reachable without a car.

• Traffic timing:
  Rush hours are usually weekday mornings and late afternoons. If you have a rental car or rideshare, build in extra time, especially for venues near I-75, I-85, I-20, or I-285.

• Parking:
  Downtown and Midtown conference centers often use garages or paid lots. Suburban venues more often provide surface lots with simpler access.

• Walkability:
  Downtown, Midtown, and some Buckhead areas are generally walkable, with plenty of dining and after-hours options near conference centers.

How to Start Your Search for an Atlanta Conference Center

When narrowing down options, it helps to prepare:

1. A rough headcount
2. Preferred dates or date ranges
3. Event format (single-day meeting, multi-day conference, expo, training)
4. Location preference (Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, airport, or suburbs)
5. Rough budget for space, food and beverage, and lodging

Then:

• Contact multiple venues—for example, a large convention center, a few hotels, and possibly a university facility.
• Request proposals, sample floor plans, and estimated costs.
• Compare how each option handles your priorities: access, price, flexibility, and attendee experience.

Atlanta offers a wide mix of conference centers, hotels, and campus facilities, so most organizers can find a space that fits their size, style, and budget. Whether you live in Atlanta, are visiting for a specific event, or are planning to bring your organization here, focusing on location, capacity, technology, and logistics will help you choose the right Atlanta, Georgia conference center for your needs.