Atlanta Corporate Travel Guide: Tips and Tricks for a Productive ATL Business Trip

March 4, 2024

Based in Atlanta, Teplis Travel knows a thing or two about the vibrant capital of Georgia, including the fact that Atlanta is a bustling hub for business travelers. To ensure that your Atlanta business trip is successful, we have pulled together some tips and tricks specifically for Atlanta corporate travel. Whether you are attending a corporate meeting, association conference, or exploring new business opportunities, Atlanta offers a rich blend of culture, history, and modern amenities.

1. Getting to know Atlanta

• Full of History: Atlanta has a storied past, rising from the ashes of the American Civil War to become the thriving metropolis that it is today. Atlanta is the home of Martin Luther King Museum and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library.
• Green Spaces: Despite its urban sprawl, Atlanta boasts lush greenery and tree-lined streets.
• Big Business: Atlanta is the business headquarters for many Fortune 500 companies including Delta Airlines, Home Depot, UPS, Coca-Cola, Newell Brands, NCR, Chick-fil-a, Equifax, Mercedes-Benz North America, Intercontinental (IHG), Southern Company just to name a few.
• Coca-Cola’s Birthplace: Atlanta is where pharmacist John Pendleton invented the beloved soft drink in 1886.

2. Navigating Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) 

• Brace yourself for crowds! ATL is ranked as the busiest airport in the world, so plan accordingly. Monday mornings and Friday evenings tend to be very busy for corporate travelers as they arrive and departure Atlanta for business meetings.
• Familiarize yourself with ATL’s multiple terminals, security checkpoints, and transportation options. Leave extra time to navigate through ATL TSA as lines can be long. Teplis Travel recommends getting to the ATL airport 3 hours ahead of your flight.
• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport has two terminals (Domestic and International) and seven concourses with a total of 192 gates.
• ATL’s Concourses are labeled A, B, C, D, E, F, and T. Concourse F is in the International Terminal, and the Domestic Terminal is home to Concourse T.
• ATL’s Plane Train is your friend as it allows you to move between terminals efficiently and quickly.

3. Atlanta Corporate Travel Accommodations

• Choose hotels near your business meetings since Atlanta’s rush hour traffic can be horrible. Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, Marietta, and Alpharetta are popular areas for corporate meetings.
• The Atlanta Metro area offers great choices focused on luxury business travel including the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, InterContinental Buckhead, The St. Regis Atlanta, Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead, Loews Atlanta Hotel, Ritz Carlton, and the new Signia by Hilton Atlanta.
• Look for amenities like free Wi-Fi, business centers, and proximity to MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) which connects directly to the ATL airport.

4. Atlanta Corporate Travel Dining and Networking Hot Spots

• Southern Cuisine: Don’t miss out on classic Southern dishes. Atlanta is known for great barbeque, soul food, fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and of course peach cobbler.
• ATL Business Lunch & Dinner Spots: Restaurants like The Optimist, Nobu, Bacchanalia, Chops Lobster Bar, Old Vinings Inn, Umi, South City Kitchen, or Canoe make for impressive client meetings.
• Atlanta Area Coffee Shops: Grab a cup of joe at local favorites like Octane Coffee, Brash Coffee, Chattahoochee Coffee Company, or Dancing Goats Coffee Bar.

5. Getting around Atlanta

• MARTA: The MARTA rail system connects major areas. It’s an efficient way to avoid traffic and there is even a station at the ATL airport.
• Rideshares: Uber and Lyft are readily available at the Atlanta airport. Uber or Lyft in the ATL Rideshare Pickup Zone. Proceed through baggage claim for the escalators located between doors N2 and N3 to the ATL Rideshare Pick-up Zone.
• Rental Cars: The Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport’s Rental Car Center (RCC) is a one-stop facility that houses 12 rental car brands including those focused on business travel including Hertz, National, Avis, and Enterprise. Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the RCC is just a few minutes away from ATL via the SkyTrain.

6. Atlanta Bleisure – Combining Business Travel with Leisure

• Why not stay a while or arrive early to Atlanta by infusing some leisure in your business trip (“Bleisure”)? Atlanta offers several great options to have some fun during your business travel.
• The BeltLine: A former railway corridor transformed into a vibrant trail for walking, biking, and art appreciation.
• Ponce City Market: Shop, dine, and explore this historic building turned mixed-use development.
• Fox Theatre: Catch a play, show, or concert at this iconic venue built in 1929.
• ATL Sports – Take the opportunity to cheer on the Atlanta Braves, Falcons, Hawks, Georgia Bulldogs, or Atlanta United at one of Atlanta’s modern stadiums or arenas.

7. Atlanta Business Travel Etiquette and Attire

• Southern hospitality is real – even during business meetings, be friendly and polite.
• Atlanta is not just about business – embrace the unique blend of tradition and innovation that defines this dynamic city.
• Dress professionally but remember that Atlanta can be hot and humid in the summer.
• Bring anti-perspirant for the heat and an extra shirt in case you get caught in a Georgia thunderstorm.

Teplis Travel is here for you if you ever need an expert business travel agent to assist with your corporate travel, group/business meetings, international travel, association travel, or executive travel.  As the top Atlanta Travel Agency for corporate travel we have been headquartered in Atlanta for over 50 years. So, pack your business cards, charge your devices, and get ready to make the most of your Atlanta business trip!

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