WELCOME TO ATLANTA - INTA 2024

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As each of you plans your upcoming visit to Atlanta for the 2024 International Trademark Association (INTA) Conference, the team here at Maynard Nexsen wanted to give you an inside look at some can’t-miss spots while you are in town and things to do after being in the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) all day. 

Oh, and make sure you keep checking this page for updated information! 

Let’s start with some fun facts about Atlanta… 

• Atlanta is home to brands like Coca-Cola, UPS, Delta Airlines, and The Home Depot.
• The Georgia film industry represents $4 billion in annual economic impact and has boasted productions like Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man, The Hunger Games, and The Walking Dead. 

Getting There 

If you are flying to Atlanta, there is only one option: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport or ATL, as listed on its call sign. ATL is the busiest and most efficient airport in the world and, by some accounts, the best in North America. ATL is the economic jewel of Georgia, generating a $34.8 billion economic impact for metro Atlanta and providing more than 63,000 jobs on-site, making it the state’s largest employer. 

Hartsfield-Jackson is a global gateway, offering nonstop service to more than 150 domestic and 70 international destinations. These locales include major commercial centers in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Africa, and South and Central America. ATL also holds the distinction of being the first airport in the world to serve more than 100 million passengers in a single year. 

Getting Around 

In addition to ubiquitous taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts, Atlanta has the advantage of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority or MARTA. Across buses, trains, and streetcars, MARTA has made over 5 billion trips carrying passengers by bus and rail. MARTA connects you to points across the Atlanta Metro area from the airport, GWCC, and points everywhere in between. 

•      Train Stations and Schedules
•      Atlanta Streetcar
•      Bus Schedule 

Learning About The Convention Center

Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, GWCC features 1.5 million square feet of prime exhibit space and is the world’s largest LEED-certified convention center. Consisting of three interconnected buildings, the GWCC offers a variety of flexible and dynamic spaces and hosts hundreds of world-class events each year. Across these buildings lie 12 exhibit halls, two ballrooms, 98 meeting rooms, and much more. 

•      Location Map 

Places To Stay 

While we know it’s not always the most glamorous to hang out in the conference hotels, the ones on the list for this conference provide access to comfortable surroundings. The INTA conference page lists many great locations that can all be booked through conference registration. 

If you want to head off the beaten path and stay in some of the area’s more up-and-coming neighborhoods, check out hotels and Airbnbs in areas like the Highlands or Little Five Points. Oh yeah, Airbnbs are perfectly legal in Atlanta. 

Where We Love To Eat 

The Atlanta food scene continues its meteoric rise to food superstardom, making it a leader both in the South and across the United States. In a press release announcing the 2023 MICHELIN GUIDE, their team said, "Atlanta is a culinary powerhouse, with a long list of styles and flavors for foodies to enjoy.” Numerous restaurants have also been nominated and named the best in the country by the James Beard Foundation and others.

Here is a list of some of our favorite places to grab a bite throughout Atlanta: 

• Bones
• Poor Calvin’s
• Miller Union
• Holeman & Finch Public House
• Hop’s Chicken
• Gunshow
• Canoe
• Lazy Betty
• Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours
• Mary Mac’s Tea Room
• South City Kitchen
• Lure 

What Else Is Going On In Atlanta?

Websites are devoted to all that is happening in Atlanta at any given time. This area is vibrant all day, every day. You just have to know where to look. 

When our team looks to get out, here are some of our favorites: 

• Atlanta BeltLine—Heralded as “one of the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment programs in the United States,” the network of public parks, multi-use trails, transit, and affordable housing lie along a historic rail corridor. Here you will find an excellent opportunity to get out, even in the heart of a bustling metropolis. 
• Georgia Aquarium— The fifth largest aquarium in the world and most extensive in the US, boasting 11 million gallons of water across its seven major galleries, including a 6.3-million-gallon whale shark exhibit. But it’s not all about the whale shark, at least not just about those. Otters, penguins, tiger sharks, manta rays, and more than 150 other species are dotted across the tanks. And, oh yeah, you can even swim in the whale shark tank if you are brave enough. 
• Sporting Events—Atlanta is one of few cities home to teams across 4 of the five major professional sports leagues. While May won’t feature games from the Atlanta Falcons (NFL) or Atlanta Hawks (NBA), you will have a chance to check out up-and-coming Atlanta United FC (MLS) or the perennial favorite Atlanta Braves (MLB). United FC shares the Falcon’s Mercedes Benz Arena, one of the most unique venues in sports, making for a truly spectacular experience. If you are a baseball lover, note that you have a bit of a hike (on the MARTA or car share) ahead of you, as the stadium is about 10 miles northwest of downtown. 
• Museums—Atlanta has a lot, from Coca-Cola, where you can learn anything about the soft drink, to the King Center, where you can learn about the man who had a dream (Martin Luther King, Jr.). There’s also the High Museum of Art, Fernbank Museum of History, Atlanta History Center, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, the College Football Hall of Fame, and so many more.   
• Unique Spots You Won’t Find Other Places—Dotted across Atlanta are unique locations that embody Atlanta in so many different ways. Zoo Atlanta is a 40-acre zoo hosting more than 70 unique species, including serving as one of three US zoos to host Giant Pandas. The Ponce City Market inhabits the former Sears Roebuck catalog factory and is home to retail anchors, restaurants, a food hall, boutiques and offices, and an amusement park on the roof. The Atlanta Botanical Gardens features 30 acres of plantings, including a Children’s Garden, Stoza Woods, and Skyline Garden.