Exhibitor guide · Downtown Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta Marriott Marquis: the exhibitor's guide
A 470-foot atrium that was the tallest hotel atrium in the world when it opened, 160,000 square feet of meeting space, and a five-day pop-culture convention that fills every ballroom every Labor Day weekend. What exhibitors need to know about booth-building on carpet.
Hero photo: "Marriott Marquis Atlanta, John Portman, 1985" by Tim Brown Architecture, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr. Source
Why this page exists
John Portman Jr.'s 1985 design gave the Marriott Marquis a 470-foot atrium, glass elevators, and a genuinely startling sense of scale for a hotel, and it's that ballroom-and-atrium format, not a flat exhibit hall, that trips up first-time exhibitors here. Every show in this hotel runs on carpet, so drayage, rigging and floor protection all work differently than a convention center. This guide covers the meeting space, what changes when your booth goes on hotel carpet, Georgia's labor rules, drayage, DragonCon, and hotels nearby.
The building
The meeting space
| Space | What it is | Typical shows | Booth planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atrium Ballroom | 25,000 sq ft, added in the 2008 renovation, floor-to-ceiling windows, 30-foot ceilings. | General sessions, galas | Carpeted; confirm floor protection requirements. |
| 61 meeting rooms, 11 zones | Distributed across the property for concurrent events. | Breakouts, association meetings | Sized for tabletop and small-footprint displays. |
| The Atrium | 470 feet tall, two vertical chambers divided by glass elevators. | Registration, receptions | A dramatic but unconventional space; confirm rigging points with the hotel. |
Figures from Marriott's published meeting space overview.
Free tool
What changes when your booth goes on hotel carpet?
Every hotel show at the Marriott Marquis runs on carpet, not a concrete exhibit floor. That changes a few things about how your booth gets built.
History
The atrium hotel
The Atlanta Marriott Marquis opens, designed by architect John Portman Jr., whose atrium-hotel style had already reshaped downtown Atlanta with the nearby Hyatt Regency and Peachtree Center. The Marquis atrium rises 470 feet, the tallest hotel atrium in the world at the time, split into two vertical chambers divided by elevator shafts and bridges.
A renovation adds 42,818 sq ft of meeting space on the Atrium Level, anchored by the new 25,000 sq ft Atrium Ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows and 30-foot ceilings, seating up to 2,000.
The hotel is one of five official host hotels for DragonCon, the largest multi-genre pop-culture convention in the country, held every Labor Day weekend alongside the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta Hilton, Courtland Grand and Westin Peachtree Plaza.
The labor map
Who sets up my booth?
Georgia's right-to-work law applies at the Marriott Marquis the same as at the convention centers; confirm hand-carry and self-install allowances with the show's official decorator, since hotel shows often set their own tighter rules than a convention center floor.
Full-time staff, no card required
Confirm your specific show's hand-carry allowance with the official decorator.
Carpet protection
Heavier displays may need floor protection ordered through the hotel or decorator.
Exhibitor-appointed contractors
Purple files as your EAC for Marriott Marquis shows.
Free tool
Marriott Marquis drayage estimator
Planning numbers for 2026 and 2027; your show's exhibitor kit has the tariff.
The calendar
Shows at the Marriott Marquis
| Show | Next dates | Industry | Attendance | Purple |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DragonCon (hotel portion) | September 3–7, 2026 | Pop culture, entertainment | 85,000+ citywide | Custom exhibits |
Attendance is the organizer's or trade press figure where published; confirm before booking.
Questions
Atlanta Marriott Marquis FAQ
Is this a carpet or concrete floor?
Carpet. Every show here runs on the hotel's ballroom and meeting-room carpet, not a poured concrete exhibit floor, which changes drayage, rigging and floor protection.
How tall is the atrium?
470 feet, the tallest hotel atrium in the world when it opened in 1985.
Is this a DragonCon hotel?
Yes, it's one of five official host hotels alongside the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta Hilton, Courtland Grand and Westin Peachtree Plaza.
How much is drayage?
Purple's planning estimate is about $155 per hundredweight in 2026 and 2027, with a 200-pound minimum.
How much meeting space is there?
More than 160,000 square feet across 61 meeting rooms in 11 zones.
When was the Atrium Ballroom added?
2008, adding a 25,000 sq ft ballroom to the 1985 John Portman Jr. building.
Exhibiting at the Marriott Marquis?
Send us the show and booth number. You get a carpet-conversion checklist, a drayage estimate, and a build timeline within two business days.
Venue guides
Every venue we have a guide for
Same standard, every hall: the building, the rules, the tools and the calendar.