Atlanta
Overview
The capital of the South, Atlanta is a distinctive and welcoming business destination. With a Fortune 500 rank of 30, it is both the quintessential old-style southern city and a bustling modern business center. Home to the Delta Headquarters, Coca-Cola Company, AT&T Mobility and Home Depot, it also boasts a rich Olympic heritage and hosts the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change and the enormous Georgia Aquarium.
Planning
Climate
Summers in Atlanta are famously hot and humid, with average temperatures falling between 80° and 95°F (26° and 30°C), although they can be even higher. Warm, temperate weather often prevails in September and October and can last until mid-November. Winters are short and usually moderate. The spring weather of March and April brings out the city's cherry, azalea and dogwood blossoms, making this one of the most popular times to visit.
Voltage
110-120V AC, 60 Hz two flat-pin plugs are standard.
Time
GMT -5 hours in winter (GMT -4 hours in summer)
Money
The unit of currency in the United States is the US dollar, which consists of 100 cents. All major currencies can be exchanged easily in the main tourist centers. Upscale hotels, restaurants and shops generally accept major credit cards. ATMs are the most convenient place to get your money. Use a debit card for the best exchange rate.
Doing Business
Business Etiquette
Chambers of Commerce
Address: 235 Andrew Young International Blvd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Telephone: +1 404 880 9000
Website: Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
Address: PO Box 550113, Atlanta, GA 30355
Telephone: +1 770 840 9777
Address: The Lenox Building, 3399 Peachtree Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30305
Telephone: +1 404 997 6800
Website: French American Chamber of Commerce - Atlanta Chapter
Address: One Glenlake Parkway, Suite 1265, Atlanta GA 30328
Website: Netherlands-American Chamber of Commerce
Address: 970 Sidney Marcus Blvd., Suite 1504 Atlanta, GA 30324
Telephone: +1 404 667 9319
Website: Russian-American Chamber of Commerce
Embassies & Consulates
Address: Four Concourse Parkway, Suite 215, Atlanta, GA 30328
Telephone: +1 678 587 9198
Address: The Lenox Building, 3399 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30326
Telephone: +1 404 495 1660
Website: Consulate General of France & French Trade Commission in Atlanta
Address: 133 Luckie Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30303
Telephone: +1 404 262 0609
Website: Italian Consulate General
Address: 229 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 500, International Tower, Atlanta, GA 30303
Telephone: +1 404 522 1611
Website: Korean Consulate General in Atlanta
Address: 1700 Chantilly Drive, NE., Atlanta, GA 30324
Telephone: +1 404 266 2233
Website: Mexican Consulate General in Atlanta
Address: 1 Glenlake Parkway, Suite 1265, Atlanta, GA 30328
Telephone: +1 770 390 3550
Website: Netherlands Consulate in Atlanta
Address: 182 Sams Drive, Fayetteville, GA 30340
Telephone: +1 678 228 6682
Website: Romanian Honorary Consulate
Business Centers
Most major hotels have business facilities. There are also several independent executive centers, including the following:
Address: 3 Dunwoody Park, Suite 118, Atlanta, GA 30338
Telephone: +1 770 394 1935
Website: Dunwoody Park Executive Center
Address: 2600 Century Pkwy., Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30345
Telephone: +1 404 325 4888
Website: Executarial Services, Inc
Address: 260 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 2200, Atlanta, GA 30303
Telephone: +1 404 527 6200
Website: HQ Global Workplaces
Conference & Exhibition Centers
Address: 240 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 2200, Atlanta, GA 30303-1327
Telephone: +1 404 220 3000
Website: AmericasMart Atlanta
Address: 2 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339
Telephone: +1 770 989 5095
Website: Cobb Galleria Centre
Address: 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park, GA 30337
Telephone: +1 770 997 3566
Website: Georgia International Convention Center
Address: 285 Andrew Young International Blvd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30313-1591
Telephone: +1 404 223 4000
Website: Georgia World Congress Center
Translation Services
Address: 3355 Lenox Road, Suite 510, Atlanta, GA 30326
Telephone: +1 404 920 3800
Website: ALTA Language Services
Courier/Messenger Services
Address: 2500 A Sullivan Road, College Park, Atlanta, GA 30337-6204
Telephone: +1 404 942 0600
Website: DHL Worldwide Express
Address: 100 Peachtree Street SW, Suite 101, Atlanta, GA 30303
Telephone: +1 404 221 0000
Website: Fedex
Local Knowledge
Telephone
Country code for the United States: +1
Area codes for Atlanta: 404, 770, 678
Police, fire and ambulance: 911
Tipping
Bills at restaurants, bars and service providers (hairdressers, etc) do not include a tip. Although 15-20% is customary, many staff members receive low wages, so do not hesitate to tip more if the service is good.
VAT & Taxes
Prices in shops usually don't include the 8% sales tax.
Getting Around
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) runs local buses and trains in Atlanta. Combination tickets are available and recommended.
Taxis
It's best to consult the hotel concierge about local taxi services, and to arrange your return trip with the driver. If you haven't made advance arrangements, find taxis at major hotels, downtown and major shopping centers in Buckhead.
Buses
The ATL (Atlanta Tourist Loop) carries visitors to most of Atlanta's top attractions.
Public Holidays
1 January
Third Monday in January
Third Monday in February
Last Monday in May
July 4
First Monday in September
Second Monday in October
November 11
Fourth Thursday in November
December 25
Leisure
Dining
Located in the heart of the South, Atlanta is known for Southern cooking. Places all over the city serve fried chicken, grits (corn-based porridge) and fried green tomatoes, all washed down with sweetened iced tea. Head to Buckhead for some of the city’s finest dining or to Peachtree Street for an eclectic mix of cuisines, .
An Atlanta fixture since 1928, The Varsity (a couple of blocks from Peachtree Center Station) is the world's largest drive-in restaurant. It serves classic American fast food, from chili dogs to cherry pie, to pedestrians as well as motorists. The Colonnade on Cheshire Bridge Road is unpretentious and comfortable, serving uncomplicated Southern-style cooking.
Shopping
Buckhead, the most fashionable shopping area in Atlanta, is home to the chic Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square malls. Pick up eclectic and modern furnishings and gifts for home and garden on Howell Mill Road, antiques in Miami Circle, and oddities in Little Five Points.
Things to do
Atlanta has a growing number of attractions where you can while away your spare time. The top attraction is the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change. Visit the Centennial Olympic Games Museum at the Atlanta History Center or Centennial Olympic Park and see how the 1996 Games changed the face of the city, or marvel at the world's largest fish, the whale shark, in the Georgia Aquarium.
Alternatively, escape the steamy summer heat in the 15-acre hardwood forest at Atlanta Botanical Garden or take in the view of the spectacular rock carving at Stone Mountain Park.