DC Velocity - MODEX 2014

don’t let the myth of Atlanta fool you. It may have birthed Margaret Mitchell’s epic Gone with the Wind, but the South’s largest city is now more “New South” than Old. This bustling city of glass and steel towers boasts a population of 4. 4 million that’s both younger than the overall U.S. population and more racially diverse. And you’re as likely to meet folks who came to Atlanta for a weekend and decided to stay for a lifetime as those whose roots in the area go back generations.

But that’s not to say the city has forgotten its history, culture, or charm. Visitors to MODEX 2014 are likely to be greeted with a big helping of “How y’all doing” Southern hospitality.

Indeed, logistics and supply chain professionals should feel right at home in Atlanta, which began as a transportation hub at the end of the Western & Atlantic railroad line in 1837. Atlanta remains important to today’s supply chain, too. The city is home base to Delta Airlines and UPS, and it has firmly cemented its position as one of the world’s most important logistics and distribution hubs. In fact, Atlanta is the fifth-largest generator of logistics jobs in the United States. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world, and Atlanta is America’s most accessible city with direct nonstop service to more than 155 U.S. destinations—80 percent of them within a two-hour flight. It’s also the second busiest for international flights. And with the MARTA trains located inside the airport, visitors can roll into town without a car.

Once visitors arrive, they’ll find accommodation options to fit any budget, with more than 94,000 hotel rooms located in the metro-Atlanta area. Eight boutique hotels have opened since 2008; existing hotels have completed more than $300 million in renovations since 2006 to offer visitors the latest in modern comforts and technology.

A HUB OF ARTS AND CULTURE

Visitors will find that Atlanta’s extensive arts scene and rich
history create cultural offerings unmatched in the South. They
can enjoy art, music, theater, and more at award-winning ven-
ues throughout the city. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,
whose recordings have earned 27 Grammy Awards, presents
more than 200 concerts per year. The Fox Theatre hosts the
best touring shows in the nation, while homegrown plays can
be found on stage at both the Alliance and Horizon theatres.
Visitors can enjoy improv at Dad’s Garage
or family-oriented fun at the Center for
Puppetry Arts.

To experience the city’s rich cultural history, visit the Sweet Auburn Historic District. Once known as “the richest Black street in America,” Sweet Auburn is home to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and Ebenezer Baptist Church. Moving down “Freedom Parkway,” guests can learn about the city’s advancements in the crusade for human rights at the recently renovated Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.

For more lighthearted fun, Centennial Olympic Park and its playful fountains serve as the heart of downtown’s tourist hub. From there, it’s an easy walk to world-class attractions such as the popular Georgia Aquarium, home to whale sharks and the new AT&T Dolphin Tales show, and The World of Coca-Cola, which tells the story of one of the world’s most beloved beverages.

Most of Atlanta’s professional sports teams also play at facilities located in the downtown area, making it easy for conventioneers to catch a game after a day on the exhibit hall floor. Sports fans cheer on the NFL Falcons at the Georgia Dome, the NBA Hawks and WNBA Atlanta Dream at Phillips Arena, and the MLB Braves at Turner Field.

EAT, DRINK, SHOP, AND BE MERRY

Atlanta also boasts one of the top 10 retail markets in the country, and Southern Living readers consistently rate it as the top destination in the South for shopping. High-end shoppers will be drawn to Buckhead, known as the “Beverly Hills of