Travel, Accommodations and Meals

Download information for last minute arrangements.

Travel

Atlanta is easily accessible by road, air and rail. Most major airlines serve the Atlanta Hartsfield International airport (ATL), and the Amtrak station is located about three miles north of the Hyatt.

Please make your own travel arrangements as early as possible for the best fares and choice of flights. Be sure of the dates you need to travel before making your reservation — airline change fees are expensive and tickets are usually not refundable.

If you use Delta Air Lines, please use SkyBonus number US426223887 when you make your reservation on the Delta Web site or with a Delta agent at (800) 221-1212. Though no discounts apply, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) earns credits for these flights that assist with overall denominational travel costs.

Ground transportation

Atlanta’s mass transit system, MARTA, provides transportation from the airport to the Peachtree Center adjacent to the Hyatt Regency; the fare is $1.75 each way. Trains run approximately every 10 minutes and the trip takes about 20 minutes.

Commercial shuttle service is available between the airport and the Hyatt at a fare of $16.50 one way and $29 round trip. Taxi fare from the airport is $30 plus $2 for each additional person. Taxi fare from the Amtrak station is approximately $11.

More detailed information on ground transportation options and arrangements will be sent to all registered attendees.

Accommodations

Most of the Big Tent and partner conference events will take place at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta, located at 265 Peachtree Street NE, adjacent to the Peachtree Center. Visit the Hyatt Regency Web site for information about the hotel.

A limited number of rooms are available at the Hyatt for registered Big Tent participants at a special conference rate of $99 (plus 15 percent tax). The Big Tent registration fee does not include lodging, and attendees will make their own reservations. Information on reserving lodging at the Hyatt by phone or Internet is available at the end of the registration process. Register and make your reservation soon to be sure of securing lodgings at the Hyatt no later than May 22 to be eligible for the discounted conference rate.

Participants may make their own arrangements for lodging elsewhere; there are numerous hotels in downtown Atlanta within walking distance of the Hyatt, and many more that are easily accessible by MARTA. For more information on attractions and alternate lodging, Visit the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau site.

Parking

Valet parking is available in the Hyatt’s indoor garage at $24 per day with in/out privileges. Less expensive parking lots are located in the area. More information will be sent to registered attendees.

Meals

Two meals (Thursday dinner and Friday lunch) and Friday and Saturday breaks are included in the Big Tent registration fee. These will take place at the Hyatt. Thursday dinner is included in the Thursday daily registration fee; Friday lunch is included in the Friday daily fee. Registered participants will receive one ticket for those meals and may purchase additional tickets for other non-registered guests. 

At the Big Tent Celebration on Saturday evening, vendors will offer food for purchase.

The schedule of each of the 10 partner conferences includes at least one additional group meal. Unless otherwise indicated, these will take place at the Hyatt. There is an additional fee for most of these meals, but in some cases, the sponsoring conference will cover the fee for those participants who register for that conference as their primary affiliation. The registration booklet schedule and registration form (print and online) indicate the fees for each meal and which of those are waived for registrants of each partner conference.

Those who register for a particular partner conference are not automatically registered for additional meals that are sponsored by that conference. You must specifically indicate the conference meals that you plan to take part in when you register. If you register online, the automated process will include the charge for each of those meals, and that total will appear on the final confirmation screen. If you are eligible to have some of those fees waived (i.e., if you register for a conference that waives a meal fee for its registrants), that fee will be removed before your credit card is charged.

When you register, please indicate any food allergies or other special dietary requests.

There are numerous restaurants in and near the Hyatt for breakfast and other times when you are not taking part in a planned group meal. These range from inexpensive fast-food outlets in the adjacent Peachtree Center to fine dining establishments — there are options for all budgets and tastes.