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Transportation
Transportation to Atlanta
Association Travel Concepts (ATC) is the official travel agency for the annual meeting. As such, ATC has negotiated discounts with American Airlines, United Airlines, Avis Rent A Car, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car to bring attendees special air and car rental rates that are lower than those available to the public. These cost saving options may be booked online at www.atcmeetings.com. Click on “Meetings” and go to “Air–Meetings and Leisure (TravelASP).” When registering, use the online booking tool and enter “AHA” in theCompany or Organization or Association field. Individuals can also fax 858-362-3153 or e-mail reservations@atcmeetings.com. ATC staff are available for reservations from 9:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.
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Airfares
By calling ATC, attendees will secure a discount up to 15 percent off the lowest available fare for tickets purchased more than 30 days prior to the meeting on United (ID number 510CK) and 5 percent off applicable classes of service for tickets purchased prior to the meeting on American (ID number A65D6AA). For tickets purchased less than 30 days prior, the discounts will be 5 to 10 percent. Some restrictions may apply and service fees will vary. Discounts apply for travel Monday, January 1 through Wednesday, January 10, 2007. ATC will also search for the lowest available fare on any airline serving the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. ATC provides personalized service, advance seat assignments, special meal requests, frequent flier program updates, electronic ticketing, e-mail access for convenient booking, and more. Attendees can explore region-to-region flat zone rates and consolidator and net fares without a Saturday night stayover to find lower fares.
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Car Rental
Attendees can also arrange to rent a car through Avis (ID number J952801; 800-331-1600) or Enterprise (ID number 32H7476; 800-593-0505), with discounted rates effective Monday, January 1 through Wednesday, January 10, 2007.
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Ground Transportation
Arriving by Air
The Atlanta area is served by the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and is located ten miles from downtown Atlanta. To review a terminal layout, see www.atlanta-airport.com. The backbone of the airport is a 1.75-mile transportation mall, an underground walkway and train system that ferries passengers between six concourses and two terminals. Computer-operated trains (free of charge) run approximately every two minutes, traveling between all concourses and the terminals. Automated announcements direct passengers onboard. Concourse T is the only concourse passengers can access directly from the terminal without using the transportation mall.
Domestic flights arrive at concourses A, B, C, D, or T. Passengers should follow signs for Terminal/Baggage Claim, going down an escalator or elevator to the transportation mall. Passengers can also walk or take the moving sidewalk to baggage claim and the exits, but taking the train cuts travel time in half. At the last stop, “Terminal/Baggage Claim,” go up the escalator or elevator to baggage claim and all ground transportation. North terminal baggage claim is to the right; south terminal is to the left. Flight numbers flash over the various baggage carousels as the bags roll up the conveyor belt. There’s also a big sign on the far right noting the carousel for each flight. Passengers are required to present their half of the baggage check ticket for each checked bag before leaving baggage claim; uniformed employees near the exits ask for check tickets. If you’re being picked up, exit through the glass doors to the curbside area. Since there are two baggage claim areas (one on either side of the terminal), it’s important to advise the driver which airline you’re flying. Note that American Airlines flights use Concourse T. From the arriving gate, follow the signs downstairs to American baggage claim. Directly outside, American has its own curb where passengers can get a cab or meet drivers. If you are being picked up, the driver should take the lanes for the north terminal, then follow signs to American baggage claim.
International flights arrive at Concourse E. Passengers will be directed to United States Immigration. From there, they will go downstairs to claim bags and pass through Customs. Once through, passengers must recheck bags at their airline’s counter. Bags are then delivered to the terminal, where they can be picked up at baggage claim. This FAA-mandated policy is designed to alleviate overcrowding on the underground trains.
Incoming visitors can reach hotels via taxi, van shuttle, limo, or mass transit. The airport has implemented a new Airport Information and Ground Transportation Center located in the arrival’s lobby next door to Hertz car rental. The center provides assistance to travelers requesting information pertaining to transportation services before they leave the terminal building. Hours are 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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Taxi Service
Atlanta’s approximately 1,500 cabs operate under a limited flat rate structure. Taxis are readily available outside baggage claim areas of the airport. Exit the terminal and walk to the Ground Transportation Center’s Island A, Red Bus Aisle, where the taxicab dispatcher will hail a cab. The taxi fare from the airport to downtown Atlanta is a $30 flat rate ($2 each additional person), one way, not including an optional gratuity. The trip takes approximately 20 minutes, though longer in rush hours.
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Van Service
The Atlanta Airport Shuttle (404-524-3400; info@theatlantalink.com) offers service from the ground transportation area of the airport to all of the major downtown hotels for $16.50 per person one way or $29 round trip. One-way or round-trip tickets may be purchased from the customer service/ticketing counter located in the Ground Transportation Information Center located at the top of the escalators in the Arrivals Lobby of the airport. Cash and Visa, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards are accepted. Hours of operation are 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. seven days a week. Buses depart Hartsfield every 15 to 20 minutes, with up to one hour travel time to hotels. Due to airport construction, effective May 5, 2006, shuttle vehicles will be located in Ground Transportation Area Section D (formally F), stalls 12–15.
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Limousines and Hired Cars
Some 127 limo companies serve Hartsfield Airport. Although it’s best to reserve a car at least one day prior to arrival, companies can often accommodate passengers with less notice. Rates will vary by company, but for a sedan usually are in the $50 to $75 range. Tax and gratuity are additional. When making a reservation, ask about pickup arrangements. Most drivers meet arriving passengers outside in the Ground Transportation Area. Among hired car companies are Atlanta Limousine (404-351-5466) and Carey Limousine, (404-223-2000). Most companies accept major credit cards.
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Mass Transit
Atlanta’s mass transit system is Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) (404-848-5000 for schedule information). From your plane, follow signs to baggage-claim by taking the “people mover” to the terminal baggage-claim area between the north and south terminals. From there, follow “Ground Transportation/MARTA” signs to the MARTA station inside the terminal—the MARTA entrance is located inside the western end of the airport’s main terminal. Pay $1.75 in coins (or purchase a token from nearby machines or MARTA information booth) as you go through the turnstiles, then go up the escalator or stairs leading to the boarding platform. All trains head downtown, so any train you take is the right one. Trains run every four to eight minutes Monday through Friday from approximately 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., with the last train leaving the airport at 1:00 a.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, hours are 6:00–12:00 a.m. Passengers should alight at Peachtree Center (Station N1), which is just two blocks from the Hilton and one block from the Marriott, Hyatt, and Westin. The ride downtown takes about 15 minutes.
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Arriving by Train
Amtrak’s Crescent line stops in Atlanta’s Brookwood Station (1688 Peachtree Street N.W.; 404-881-3060), with daily service of one train each to and from New York, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans. Hours of operation for ticketing and checked baggage are 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. seven days a week. When walking out of the Amtrak station and facing Peachtree Street, downtown is to the right. Passengers can take a cab (approximately $10) or MARTA. To take MARTA downtown from Brookwood Station, wait at the bus stop on the same side of the street and take the 23 Lenox/Arts Center MARTA bus southbound ($1.75 exact change; it runs frequently throughout the day and evening) to the Arts Center MARTA station, alighting at Peachtree Center. No transfer is necessary to board the train.
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Arriving by Bus
Greyhound Bus Lines (404-584-1728), operates more than90 buses a day to and from Atlanta. The bus terminal is downtown near the Garnett Street MARTA, at 232 Forsyth St. S.W. Passengers can take a taxi to their hotel or take MARTA to the Peachtree Center station.
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Commuting by Car
The hotels are located just off the Courtland Street exit of I-75/85 traveling southbound or International Boulevard northbound. They are just north of the intersection of the east-west interstate highway, I-20. Guests driving in on I-75/85 South exit at Courtland Street (Exit #97), at the top of the ramp, go right on Courtland past the first traffic light, and the hotels are on the left. Guests coming from the south or driving in on I-20 would take I-75/85 North to the International Boulevard exit (Exit #96), turn left at the second traffic light onto International to Piedmont Avenue, turn right, follow Piedmont two blocks to Baker Street (you are now behind the hotels), turn left on Baker Street and go up one block to Courtland Street.
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Parking
Parking at Hotels: Current published rates at the hotels for each 24-hour period are:
- Hilton—$12 self park, $16 valet park
- Marriott—$22 self and valet
- Westin—$18 self, $21 valet
- Hyatt—$22 valet only
- Residence Inn—$19 valet only
Note that self parking, unlike valet service, usually does not have in-and-out privileges.
Additional Parking Options in Atlanta: Atlanta has several thousand metered and non-metered timed spaces downtown. Meter rates are $1, and times vary from one to four hours. Most meters take quarters only. Drivers should pay attention to the posted meter and regulation signs. Red signs will indicate when parking is prohibited; green signs indicate when and how long drivers can park.
In addition to street parking, there are more than 40 parking lots in downtown within the vicinity of the meeting hotels. Daily rates range from $5–$12. A-1 Auto Park, AAA Parking, Apcoa Inc., Central Parking System, Parking Company of America, Sterling Parking, System Parking, and United Park all operate multiple garages in the downtown area.
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