The Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), located in Atlanta, Georgia, ranks third among America’s largest convention centers. The GWCC, which can also be referred to as the Georgia World Conference Center or Georgia World Convention Center, is the heart of one of America’s fastest-growing convention markets. This is a guide to the Georgia World Congress Center and exhibiting at the facility.
Quick Answer: What is the Georgia World Congress Center?
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The Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) is one of the biggest conference facilities in the US, situated in downtown Atlanta at 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW.
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The facility is run by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) and consists of three interconnected buildings – A, B, and C, which have 13 exhibit halls in total and about 100 meeting rooms, hosting large national exhibitions such as GSX, MODEX, IWF, VERTICON, and IPPE.
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It’s commonly searched as the Georgia World Conference Center or Georgia World Convention Center, though its official name uses “Congress.”
Important: Georgia World Congress Center vs. Georgia International Convention Center
To avoid any confusion, it is important to make a clarification on the difference between the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), located in downtown Atlanta, and the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), which are two separate facilities. The GICC is a relatively smaller convention center situated near the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in College Park, Georgia, 10 miles away from downtown Atlanta.
For visitors, performers, or shippers, knowing where their show takes place and avoiding the wrong convention center means no lost time traveling to the wrong venue. The Georgia World Congress Center is the correct location for almost all national trade shows and those events referred to as the Georgia World Conference Center in search.
GWCC’s enormous halls reward booths that read from a distance, and our Atlanta booth rentals are built to stand out.
Georgia World Congress Center: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Geo. L. Smith II Georgia World Congress Center |
| Common Search Names | Georgia World Conference Center, Georgia World Convention Center, GWCC |
| Address | 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 |
| Operator | Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA), chartered 1971 |
| Buildings | A, B, and C (connected campus) |
| Total Exhibit Halls | 13 (3 in Building A, 5.5 in Building B, 4.5 in Building C) |
| Meeting Rooms | 98 total across all three buildings |
| Sustainability | LEED Gold certified |
| Connected Venues | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, Omni Hotel Atlanta, Centennial Olympic Park |
Related: Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta: Booth Rental & Exhibitor Guide
Inside the Georgia World Conference Center: Building by Building
The Georgia World Conference Center campus is organized into three connected buildings, each with a distinct mix of exhibit halls, meeting space, and large-format rooms:
Building by Building
| Building | Exhibit Halls | Meeting Rooms | Notable Spaces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building A | 3 | 29 | 1 auditorium, 1 boardroom |
| Building B | 5.5 | 47 | 1 ballroom, 1 boardroom |
| Building C | 4.5 | 23 | 2 auditoriums, 1 ballroom |
This multi-building layout is one of the most important things for exhibitors to understand before planning a booth: large national shows frequently span more than one building, and knowing your exact hall assignment within Building A, B, or C determines your loading dock, freight route, and labor crew far more than simply knowing you’re “at GWCC.”
Major Georgia Trade Shows Hosted at the Georgia World Congress Center
As the anchor venue for the state’s exhibition calendar, the Georgia World Congress Center hosts some of the largest recurring B2B trade shows in the country. Among the major Georgia trade shows held here:
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GSX (Global Security Exchange): the leading event for global security and protection professionals, typically held in September
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MODEX: North America’s leading supply chain, warehousing, and material handling trade show, held biennially
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IWF (International Woodworking Fair): the largest woodworking and wood products trade event in the Americas, held biennially
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VERTICON: the premier event for vertical aviation and helicopter industry professionals
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IPPE (International Production & Processing Expo): a major poultry, meat, and feed industry trade show held each January
Beyond B2B trade shows, the Georgia World Congress Center campus also hosts large consumer and entertainment events, including long-running anime and pop culture conventions, making it one of the most heavily booked exhibition campuses in the Southeast.
Exhibiting at the GWCC? Get a Booth Quote at purexhibits.com
Why Exhibitors Choose the Georgia World Conference Center
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The status of Atlanta as one of the largest transportation and logistics hubs in the Southeast and the location of the venue within walking distance from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, and Centennial Olympic Park create significant appeal for exhibitors and attendees at the Georgia World Conference Center.
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With the Omni Hotel Atlanta nearby and numerous downtown hotels, exhibitors’ crews will be able to easily reach the exhibition area on foot instead of using the shuttle service.
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Trade show services in Atlanta that have extensive knowledge of this location can be of a major help in this regard.
Exhibiting at GWCC Atlanta: What to Know
Exhibiting at GWCC Atlanta comes with a few logistics details worth planning around early:
Confirm your building and hall before finalizing freight plans. With three buildings and 13 total halls, the loading dock, drayage route, and labor jurisdiction can differ meaningfully depending on whether your show is in Building A, B, or C.
Book booth space and lead time together. Major recurring shows like MODEX and IWF, held biennially, tend to book out meeting and demo space well in advance; starting your booth design conversation as soon as your floor space is confirmed avoids a compressed production timeline.
Plan for a large-campus walk. Because the Georgia World Congress Center spans a genuinely large, multi-building campus, factor in walking time between your booth, registration, and any meetings in a different building when planning staff schedules during the show.
Use a builder with direct GWCC experience. A booth contractor familiar with the venue’s specific loading procedures, union labor requirements, and building-specific regulations avoids the most common first-time-exhibitor delays at this venue.
How to Exhibit at the GWCC
Georgia is a right-to-work state, so labor rules are generally more flexible than coastal union markets, though you should confirm specifics in the exhibitor manual. Plan for the venue’s scale with bold vertical branding and early logistics.
See booths built for large convention halls in our trade show booth case studies.
Winning in Atlanta
Plan logistics early and design for distance visibility. For shows in our market, our Las Vegas trade show booth rentals team supports GWCC exhibitors.
GWCC Detail
| GWCC Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Downtown Atlanta |
| Size | Third-largest US convention center |
| Airport | Beside the world’s busiest (ATL) |
| Labor | Right-to-work, more flexible |
Get a custom quote for your next show at the Georgia World Congress Center, or explore our custom trade show booth rental solutions built specifically for this venue.
Final Thoughts on Georgia World Conference Center
Whether you handle it in-house or bring in a partner, Georgia World Conference Center rewards preparation and experienced execution. The exhibitors who treat it as a repeatable process rather than a last-minute scramble consistently get better results for less money and less stress, because the hard parts are solved before they ever reach the show floor.
As you plan, keep the fundamentals in view: Georgia World Convention Center, GWCC Atlanta, and Georgia trade shows. Get those right, and the rest tends to fall into place, because most show-floor problems trace back to one of them being rushed or skipped.
And then there’s thinking past a single event, as well. The decisions that you make concerning the Georgia World Conference Center will add up to real cost savings and smooth-running shows through the multi-show year.
Finally, don’t forget that it is not the booth itself but the business it brings that is important. Focus on your goal: leads, appointments, launches, or exposure, and make every decision you make at the Georgia World Conference Center in support of that goal. Even a small booth focused on its objective can outshine a large one lacking direction.
What to Look for in an Exhibit Partner
In many ways, it’s all about whom you choose to work with. A proper exhibitor partner doesn’t just erect a display but also anticipates any issues, makes sure that your project is on time, and takes responsibility from day one, when a drawing is made, until the last day, when the entire structure is being dismantled. Consider the following criteria while searching for such an exhibitor partner.
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Own design, construction, and graphical services
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Portfolio of projects of comparable size and industry to yours
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Participation in shows in venues that are comparable to yours
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Clear itemized prices with no ambiguous lump sums
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Rental and custom solutions honestly advised for your project
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One responsible contact person all the way through the process
How Pure Exhibits Can Help
Pure Exhibits is a Las Vegas-based, full-service exhibit house that designs, builds, and manages trade show exhibits for companies across the country. From initial design and booth conception through production, graphics and logistics, installation, and storage, one team handles everything, so all you need to worry about is your objectives for the show.
Whether you need something small or large and custom-built, the goal is the same: a performance booth, an easy process, and pricing you actually understand. Our headquarters in Las Vegas provides exhibitors with a significant logistical advantage in the most bustling convention city in the nation, while our nationwide service means we are able to serve your program in any market.
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Design, Build, and Graphics under one roof
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Rentable and Custom solutions for all budgets and shows
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Logistics, Drayage coordination, and professional installation
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One contact point from conception through teardown
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Booths’ storage and maintenance between shows
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Nationwide service with Las Vegas home-market advantage
Let’s Build Something Extraordinary
Share your event details and we’ll craft a custom booth solution designed to captivate your audience and maximize your ROI.
Georgia World Congress Center: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Georgia World Congress Center?
A convention center in downtown Atlanta, the third largest in the US, hosting major trade shows across many industries.
Is it the Georgia World Conference Center or Congress Center?
The official name is the Georgia World Congress Center; it is sometimes searched as a conference or convention center.
What shows are held at the GWCC?
IPPE, MODEX, IWF, Bronner Bros., and the Global Security Exchange, among others.
How big is the GWCC?
It offers millions of square feet of exhibition space, ranking as the third-largest US convention center.
Where is the GWCC located?
In downtown Atlanta, beside Hartsfield-Jackson, the world’s busiest airport.
Is the GWCC a union venue?
Georgia is a right-to-work state, so labor rules are generally more flexible; confirm specifics in the exhibitor manual.
How much does it cost to exhibit at the GWCC?
A 10×10 presence typically runs 24,000 all-in, depending on the show and booth. Rush booth rental options are sized for GWCC’s large halls.
What booth size works at the GWCC?
Inline 10×10 or 10×20 for focused programs, and 20×20 islands to anchor large halls.
How far ahead should I book?
8–12 weeks for standard shows and several months for anchors like IPPE and MODEX.
Which GWCC show is largest?
IPPE, the world’s largest protein-processing event, is among the biggest held at the GWCC.
How do I get my exhibit to the GWCC?
Ship to the advance warehouse or venue, then move to your booth via the official contractor’s drayage.
Is Atlanta good for first-time exhibitors?
Yes, its central location, strong logistics, and flexible labor make it accessible and cost-efficient.
How do I stand out in a GWCC hall?
Use bold vertical branding, strong lighting, and one clear message. 10×20 trade show exhibit rentals suit first-time Atlanta exhibitors.
Can one booth work across GWCC shows?
Yes, a modular rental can be reconfigured for different GWCC shows.
Who can help me exhibit at the GWCC?
Pure Exhibits designs booths for the GWCC and manages logistics and installation.
