Give it all you’ve got at the GICC. Make the most of your VIP guests’ experiences at your next event with these tips.

Car Rentals
Have their ride ready to go. Did you know the GICC is connected directly to the Atlanta airport and the Rental Car Center? If your VIPs request a specific transportation option, we can help.

Hospitality Check
Hotel staff matters. You won’t always be around to cater to your guests, so make sure the hotel staff is available for assistance. Our on-site hotels, Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway and SpringHill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway, offer 24-hour front desk support.

Selected Seating
For all your sessions and events, make sure your VIP guests get the best rows in the house. Show them special treatment by reserving the seats with their names.

A Reserved Reception
Incorporate exclusive time for VIP guests to mingle with one another. Keep the guest list small, but don’t forget to invite other speakers or special conference guests. This could be a special breakfast, or cocktail hour.

Designate a spot to Recharge
Rope off an area of the venue for some quiet and working time away from the rush of the event. This will give your VIPs some time to digest sessions and also catch on any urgent tasks.

Have a new idea to share? Tweet us at @TheGICC.

You’ve been busy planning, organizing, working with the caterers, solidifying last minute details, and everything is in place for your big event. Time to tackle the biggest challenge: the attendee list. What’s the best way to get the word around and ensure the right people actually show up? If you’re organizing an event open to the public, social media is a no-brainer. If you’re targeting a niche audience, your chances of reaching them on social media are even better with the right strategy. Lucky for you, we’ve got some tips.

 

Create a Facebook Event

Make sure to have a Facebook event set up. This is a great way to promote and attract your target audience. Be sure to visit our GICC Facebook page to explore other events we’ve hosted at our venue for more ideas. If you want to reach a specific audience, try Facebook ads. Even a small budget can go a long way and you can very specifically target audiences with specific interests and locations.

 

 

1…2…3…Click

These days, it’s all about the photo opp. Take pre-event pictures and share them on your Instagram account. This will excite guests and show them what they might expect before they even arrive. Don’t forget to snap pictures throughout the event to share on Instagram Stories and Twitter for live updates encouraging others to do the same. Also, create a unique hashtag that can be used to promote your event so the public can follow the event in real-time. Follow us for some inspiration.

 

 

Tweet It

Keep the conversation going leading up to the event, during the event and even after your event. Share registration details, exciting activities and thank guests for coming. Make sure they leave with a positive experience online and offline. Don’t forget to use your hashtag. Take our feed as an example.

 

 

Did we miss something? Tweet us at @TheGICC.

 

 

Summer gets pretty heated at the Georgia International Convention Center. In the blistering heat of Georgia summer, there’s nothing more refreshing than dishes and drinks that cool us off.

Photo by Stefan Johnson on Unsplash

 

Here are a few of our favorite salad and sips pairings that will keep guests feeling refreshed and lively throughout your event.

 

Grilled Pear Salad with Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc pairs wonderfully with our Grilled Pear Salad. The zesty flavors and acidity of the grape mesh perfectly with the pungent, fatty flavors of the Sweet Grass Dairy bleu cheese and the lightness of the Baby Artisan lettuce mix tossed with caramelized pears, candied walnuts and honey vinaigrette drizzle.

 

Chopped Crispy Caesar Salad with Chardonnay
Creamy dressings like our roasted garlic Caesar dressing require a wine with a small amount of weight to stand up to the dressing’s fuller body. The Chopped Crispy Caesar Salad’s fresh romaine lettuce, vine-ripe tomatoes, shaved parmesan cheese and house-made croutons add to the overall crispness of this salad-sip duo.

 

Wedge Salad with Pinot Noir
For those on the red wine team, Pinot Noir is a silky, full-bodied wine that shines alongside this Mesclun mix with cucumbers, shredded cabbage, carrots, vine-ripe red, yellow tomatoes and avocado-ranch dressing. If you’re a fan of all foods rich and creamy, then is your salad.

 

For more on refreshing meal offerings, do peruse our menu! Every dish at the GICC is made using local and sustainably raised produce.

• Create dynamic networking spaces.

  Encourage attendees to engage with one another by designing a networking area that invites and excites attendees to commune (and communicate) in that space. You can do this by incorporating details that are personal to your event, like these innovative displays. Additionally, themed lounges are sure to create pre-event buzz between your attendees by adding a layer of entertainment to the experience.

  

 

 

• Ensure that your content is not only relevant, but applicable.

  When putting together content for your meeting, you can never go wrong by going back to the basics: keeping content current, specific and usable. With educational breakdowns, you can make sure to keep content relevant while keeping key takeaways in mind, especially for newcomers. That way, your attendees are well-equipped to follow along and apply what they’ve learned.

• Delight attendees with tech.

  Dazzling attendees doesn’t have to be difficult, just determine what types of impressive technology you’re able to utilize throughout your meeting. Examples included virtual and augmented reality, but can be as simple as upgrading your experience to a more digital experience overall.

  Now you’re ready to creating a better, more engaging experience for attendees! Interested in learning about how to reel attendees in through event decor? Read more here and follow us at @TheGICC for other helpful tips.

 

 

 

At the Georgia International Convention Center (The GICC), we take pride in ensuring our attendees have positive experiences. We’re thankful that our attendees take the initiative and time to share theirs online! From catering to parking, see why you should bring your next meeting to The GICC.

 

Hot Food, No Lines

 

“The brilliant catering group set up food stations all over the room so your food is hot and there are no long lines of waiting. It is simply brilliant how efficient the catering service is. Our waitress was polite, introduced herself and kept our hot coffee coming.”
– Sonya T Holland, 5 stars on Facebook

Spacious Facility

 

“This large space makes it possible for hundreds of vendors to showcase their products…it was incredible! Always a pleasure visiting GICC.”

– Ashbeezy B., 5 stars on Yelp

 

“Nice facility that has a huge main room and plenty of breakout and meeting rooms.  Updated facilities and has a modern feel.”

– Theron T., 4 stars on Yelp

Family Restrooms Readily Available

“I appreciate the ‘family restrooms’ being available and strategically located for ease of access for the disabled, mothers with babies, and caregivers. There are way too many businesses and public buildings without family restrooms.”
– Ladine Bennette, 4 stars on Facebook

 

Organization of Multiple Events

 

“I have been to numerous of convention centers in my life and this was the first time that I’ve ever been to one having multiple events and it was organized separate and fantastic.”

– Ras B., 5 stars on Yelp

 

Ease of Transportation and Parking

 

“Easy walk to transportation. Easy parking. I had a great experience from the first moment we drove in to the last.”

– Nadine Paul, 4 stars on Facebook

 

“Easy to get to, parking was plentiful, and easy to navigate the inside of the building.”

– Nadine Pau, 5 stars on Facebook

 

What is most important to you when visiting a meeting venue or attending a conference? Tweet us @TheGICC!

Our favorite events at the Georgia International Convention Center are those that add the fun to function space! Every meeting and event space in the GICC is dynamic and transformable, making it easy to keep up with the imagination of any planner. We’re sharing a few of the most whimsical events at the GICC.

 

Meeting in Wonderland

This Alice in Wonderland themed event was quite the tea party. Decorated with clocks, colorful floral arrangements and plenty of “Eat me/Drink me” messages, our own Mad Hatters turned the GICC ballroom into the dreamworld at the end of the rabbit hole.

 

 

 

Potions for Meeting Success

The GICC engineered an event for the Shepard’s Sandbox group. Equipped with beakers, test tubes, periodic tables and lab coats, the theme was a true experiment in immersive decor. We expected success and, from these photos, you can see that our hypothesis was proven correct.

 

 

Step right up to the GICC!

Nothing screams fun quite like a carnival. With 150,000 square feet of exhibition space to work with, we were able to recreate a carnival experience inside the GICC. Everything you’d expect from the festive fairgrounds to the games, all the way up to a fully operating chair swing, were considered for a winning event.

 

 

At the end of the day, having fun is the name of the game here at the Georgia International Convention Center, and watching our event spaces take on a new life for attendees never gets old. Follow us on Twitter at @TheGICC for more updates and photos from all the fun things happening at the GICC.

Choosing the right decór is a surefire way to “wow” attendees and make their experience a memorable one. While event decór is often unprioritized, at the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), creating a fully immersive event is always top of mind. Our experts have a few tips for how you can better utilize innovative decor to take your event to the next level.

 

Use a theme

Selecting a theme will help turn your event decorations into a larger part of the attendee experience by creating a mood and overall tone for the event. Make sure your theme is easily recognizable and that the decor you select fits within the determined theme. Many of the overlooked aspects of decór (e.g., plating, textiles, seating) come in sets, making for a more cohesive outcome.

 

Incorporate food displays

Food displays are known attention-grabbers. Attendees pay attention to the location of the food, regardless the type of event you’re hosting. Make the most out of these high-traffic areas through creative culinary displays. Tiered/elevated displays, props, colorful arrangements and flattering uses of lighting call all make your food displays pop to impress your guests.

 

Use color effectively

A key part of achieving decorating success is understanding color and how it works. Vibrant colors can be eye-catching, but not always effective or on-brand for your meeting. Certain colors are associated with specific moods or feelings. For example, red is associated with excitement while blue is associated with calmness. Monotone decorations can give off a clean and concise feel while paired complementary colors can cover a range of messages.

 

Decorate the entire space

Decorations should start at the point your attendees first interact with your venue. Make your impression early with an attention to detail and keep that same attention to detail for the entire journey any attendee may take throughout the venue. Attention to detail where it is not expected can have a very big impact.

 

Take advantage of venue support

At the GICC we have a wide array of services available to event planners to make the most out of their interior and exterior design ideas. Ranging from full audiovisual equipment rentals and support to gourmet onsite catering, our goal is to work with you to sure that your event is a success. Make an effort to work alongside your venue and use their expertise to benefit both you and your attendees. Venues may be able to achieve your vision with assets already on hand, saving you the time, money, and stress that comes with ordering decorations.

 

If you’d like more tips on making your event decorations stand out, tweet us at @TheGICC.

 

Did you know that Atlanta has been the transportation hub of the Southeast for almost 200 years? While you’re here for your event, take time to explore some of our area’s rail and aviation icons! All aboard and buckle up for this quick tour of the District’s transportation treasures.

 

ATL SkyTrain

 

The ATL SkyTrain is the MVP when it comes making the Georgia International Convention Center the most accessible meeting venue in the city. The ATL SkyTrain began operating in 2009 and instantly put the GICC within 2 minutes of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s baggage claim. How is this possible? The ATL SkyTrain is a fully automated people mover operating on a raised light rail and 1 out of only 4 Mitsubishi Crystal Mover vehicles in the U.S.!

 

 

Delta Flight Museum

 

The Delta Flight Museum is a shrine to all things Delta Airlines. Here, you can find some of Delta’s most iconic passenger airliners, historic vehicles, and even a flight simulator. A special treat at the Delta Flight Museum is the presence of the famous Delta Ship 41, the company’s very first passenger plane and the only remaining Delta Douglas DC-3 in existence!

 

Hapeville Train Depot

 

The Hapeville Train Depot Museum was once a bustling train hub. You could make the case that it was to the ATL District in the early 20th century what Hartsfield-Jackson is today. You can see various exhibitions of rail history highlighting the depot and Hapeville’s contribution to the U.S. rail system. The ticket booth and rail control switches are even still intact inside the depot.
Bonus: This year, the Hapeville Train Depot will also be the home to Hapeville’s Visitor Center! Pop in to learn about this city’s transportation history and plan the rest of your exploration.

 

Did you learn something new? Tweet us at @TheGICC!

 

When you meet at The Georgia International Convention Center, you’re meeting in College Park. This beautiful historic city is known by its residents as “Atlanta’s best kept secret.” Well, we’re letting you in on the secret! If you find yourself with an afternoon break from meetings, follow this itinerary and soak in some southern hospitality.

 

12pm

Start your afternoon with lunch on Main Street. This is College Park’s Downtown District. Notice the numerous historic buildings that have been preserved and are now home to exciting shopping and dining venues. Our lunch recommendation? Radial Café. You’ll find unique takes on familiar farm-to-table dishes made with fresh, local, sustainable ingredients.

 

2pm

Keep strolling down Main Street to walk off lunch with a treat for your eyes. See if you can spot some street art by local artist, Yoyo Ferro, then pop into The City Muse to see the latest art exhibition.

 

4pm

Now, it’s time for a Historic Homes Tour. College Park boasts the 4th Largest Historic Neighborhood of Homes in Georgia, and you won’t be disappointed by the stunning architecture.

 

 

6pm

Seeing beautiful southern homes can work up an appetite, but Urban Foodie Feed Store has the comfort food to satisfy. Head there for supper and your stomach will thank you.

 

8pm

There’s still time for one more spot! End the night at Duck Club Speakeasy. You’ll find the secret entrance in the alleyway on the northside of Ronaldo’s Resto Bar. Look for a silhouette of a duck and you’ll find the door. Once inside, order a classic cocktail from the friendly bartenders and take in the rustic-chic space.

 

Once you check off all the spots, let us know what you thought! Tweet us @TheGICC.

 

 

You’ve already made a great decision in choosing the Georgia International Convention Center (The GICC) for your event. Now, let’s select your group’s accommodations. There’s no more accessible option than to house attendees right on our campus. Aside from being extremely convenient by eliminating the need for a rental car or alternative means of transportation, each property on our campus offers a different benefit for your group – which can make it hard to choose!

 

Luckily for you, we’re here to help you decide which hotel is best suited for your time at the GICC!

 

 

The Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway is the most accessible hotel from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. A free ATL SkyTrain ride from baggage claim will have you at the doors of this property in less than 5 minutes. After a long day of meetings at the GICC, you can choose to unwind in the salt water pool underneath the solarium or take advantage of the fitness center. For those with extra business to handle outside of the GICC, the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway has 21 breakout rooms and 12 event rooms at your convenience.

 

 

Located directly across the GICC, the SpringHill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway offers a complimentary breakfast and hot breakfast buffet. The suite-style rooms with separate living and sleeping areas are perfect for lounging before and after events. If you’re in need of some relaxation, there’s an indoor pool sparing you from the elements and providing a nice place of solace. Not planning to leave the hotel and explore? You’ll enjoy the complimentary Wi-Fi and premium cable channels from the comfort of your bed.

 

 

The 204 room Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway Hotel is a short ATL SkyTrain ride away from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The Renaissance can be a treat for both meeting planners and guests with its 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space and the highly fashionable Hickory and Hazel Southern Table and Bar. The 3,400 square foot Tango Ballroom is the perfect place to hold an upscale event such as a gala or wedding. In addition to being ultra posh and stylish, the Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway also offers a 24/7 gym for those that can’t let a day go by without breaking a sweat.

 

 

For more tips on making the most out of your time at the GICC, follow us on Twitter at @TheGICC!