Atlanta Well Prepared for CEDIA Expo 2009

To put it simply ... Atlanta has changed.

If your last time in Atlanta was when CEDIA held its Expo there in 1997, you won't recognize the place.

New luxury high-rise hotels, refurbished historic boutique hotels, 45 new world-class restaurants, high-end brand shopping locales, the Georgia Aquarium (the world's largest), the World of Coca-Cola exhibit, the new High Museum of Art, and on and on. All of this in the past five years.

The rejuvenation of the city seems even more noticeable since the rest of the nation is mired deep in recession. You sure don't get that feeling in Atlanta.

Construction cranes abound, the streets are clean, everybody seems to be smiling in the nation's eighth biggest city (and fifth largest convention city in the U.S.).

These are the impressions I came away with after spending several days in this historic city a few weeks ago as part of a media tour held by CEDIA. Along with Jeremy Glowacki of Residential Systems and Maureen Jensen from Custom Retailer, I got a chance to traipse through the "convention district" area, from the massive Georgia World Congress Center where the CEDIA Expo will take place from Sept. 9-13 to the surrounding downtown and midtown area. This is not the same old Atlanta anymore.

Over the past 15 years, I have been to Atlanta for numerous conventions, from the International Builders Show, Southern Building Show, and even the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association show. I also got a chance to experience the city as part of a media tour leading up to the 1996 Olympics.

Back then, we editors were taken to the strip bars. This time, it was elegant hotels like the Ritz Carlton and the W Hotel Downtown, and eateries like the rustic Stats sports bar and the ultra-swanky Spice Market inside the midtown W Hotel.

It seems like a totally different city. A few times, if I blinked too long, I might have thought I was in Paris. Really. Lots of alfresco dining, people on the streets walking and riding bikes, etc.

During the media tour of the convention district area from the massive convention center to the surrounding downtown and midtown area, we got a strong indication as to why CEDIA selected "Hotlanta" as its host city for the next three years.

Some of the advantages to the location are:

• There are 33 hotels in the CEDIA block, most of which are within a 15-minute walk to the GWCC. Room rates are lower than past CEDIA Expo cities. A quick check shows rates ranging from the Days Inn at the $128 per night to the swanky W Hotel Downtown at $274.
• There is a MARTA subway station directly from Hartsfield International Airport to the area. Attendees will be able to get to the show from the airport from about $1.75, depending on your station destination. Getting back to the airport will be even easier. CEDIA has contracted with a local transportation provider for free shuttle service on Sunday from GWCC to Hartsfield.
• The new Luckie Marietta district (between Luckie and Marietta streets, hence the name), with 15 attractions, promises to be filled with nightlife during the event. Located between the convention center and Centennial Park (where the aquarium and Coke exhibit are based) the district hosts four hotels (including the boutique-style Glenn Hotel with a new roof-top bar that offers a spectacular view) and 13 restaurants (including Legal Seafood and Stats. (Be sure to check out the multiroom A/V system inside.)
• Other areas of the city that hold promise for attendees are Inman Park (with several new restaurants from famous chefs like Kevin Rathbun's Steak), Little Five Points (a bit of a hippie-style area with small clubs like The Variety Playhouse that feature acts like John Mayer), Poncey Highlands (with gorgeous old homes that have been renovated and quaint retail shops), and the yuppie-flavored Virginia Highlands (with live music houses like the blues club called Blind Willie's American Roadhouse).
• If down to earth is your style, there is always The Varsity, the world-famous hamburger drive-in stand located downtown.
• The Georgia Aquarium is simply magnificent. Beluga whales, whale sharks, the largest manta ray in captivity, and more. Apparently, two CEDIA exhibitors have already booked the aquarium for functions during the show. I hope I get an invitation!

Allaying Safety Concerns in ATL for CEDIA Expo

According Jamie Antcliff, director of public relations and marketing for CEDIA, the association has received some concerns about their safety and security in the city, which last hosted the Expo in 1997.

If security is still an issue, Atlanta is doing its best to set attendees' minds at ease. Since the bombing took place in Centennial Park during the 1996 Olympics, the city has embarked on an aggressive safety campaign.

"We feel responsible for people while they are here," says Jeff Mellin, associate director of sales for the GWCC. Indeed, the city and CEDIA have several layers of security in place:

• Atlanta Police Department -- There will be 25 to 30 fixed posts for law enforcement between the GWCC and downtown, including mobile units and bicycle teams, during the Expo. The Atlanta PD will also be following and patrolling the areas where off-site events are being held. There are also CCTV cameras in portions of downtown that are monitored by police officers.
• GWCC Special Ops Department -- This 10-person police force uses bicycles and patrol cars to cover a 200-acre area that includes the GWCC, Centennial Park and the adjacent Georgia Dome. (By the way, the NFL's opening day is on Sunday, Sept. 13 and the Atlanta Falcons are hosting the Miami Dolphins in the Dome starting at 1 p.m.) Chris Chadwick, senior event coordinator at the GWCC, says it is the only convention center in the U.S. with its own police force.
• GWCC Internal Security Division -- Yet another layer of security, this group will be securing the show itself. They are also trained in first aid.
• Ambassador Force -- In all, there are 67 roving "ambassadors" covering 220 blocks of Atlanta on 21 assigned beats. Recognizable for their white uniforms and pith helmets, they work from 7 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and 8 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays. Members can often be seen scooting around town on Segways or bikes. They also provide an on-demand officer escort service that will meet attendees in their hotel or anywhere in the area and accompany them to their event. Lastly, their CleanTeam service spreads throughout downtown at first light to wake up the homeless and guide them into nearby shelters.

We want to know what you think.

Are you looking forward to the CEDIA Expo in Atlanta? Let us know in a comment below.