Designing Better Meetings in Gwinnett: Activate Local Culture for Engagement
Planners today are seeking destinations that deliver impactful experiences without the huge expense.
Gwinnett County, just outside of Atlanta, offers something unique: tech-ready, modern and budget-friendly venues alongside rich cultural assets — from creative spaces to diverse neighborhoods and surprising international cuisine — helping planners craft events with staying power.
Why Local Culture Matters for Attendee Engagement
In the current landscape of tightening budgets and rising expectations, events that offer genuine, place-based experiences stand out. By incorporating cultural elements into your meeting or event, you can deepen your attendee engagement with experiences rooted in local flavor — like performances or culinary tours — to create memorable moments, boost networking, save on costs (without sacrificing impact) by using local vendors and keep your attendees talking about the event for years to come.
Ways to Activate Gwinnett’s Local Culture in Your Event
Gwinnett isn’t just convenient — it’s lively, diverse and affordable. With several unique cities to choose from and a thriving cultural scene, planners can tap into the creative energy across the event experience. Here, your attendees can engage with the arts, local food, entertainment and outdoor spaces that backdrop your agenda.
Arts & Performance Experiences
Use local art and live performances as intentional touchpoints that connect your meeting to its surroundings:
- Hudgens Center for Art & Learning – Rotating exhibitions and gallery space for receptions, events or breakout sessions in between.
- Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville – Bring your attendees to a Broadway-caliber show or host a private reception in a performance space that really wows.
- Suwanee Arts Center & Gallery – For an intimate gathering, the gallery is a showstopping experience for meetings surrounded by local art
Culinary Culture from Around the World — All In One Place
Gwinnett’s group dining scene reflects its diversity, offering planners the chance to curate international food tours, spirit tastings and group dinners at locally loved spots that showcase authentic global cuisines — from Korean to Latin fusion to Southern classics to gastropubs, wineries and more.
- The Seoul of the South Tour is a gem that you can only get in Gwinnett. The tour gives your group the chance to immerse themselves in Korean food culture while dining at four Korean restaurants and learning about the culture, hosted by a Korean native.
- Take a group tour at the Shortbarrel Bourbon Distillery to get a taste for locally-crafted whiskey (and take some back as door prizes or giveaways for your next event).
- For a taste of France in Gwinnett, groups can take a guided winery tour at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort, with a behind-the-scenes look at the winery vat, production rooms and bottling line, while learning the entire winemaking process, from grape to glass. After your tour, enjoy a guided tasting of five winemaker-selected vintages.
Downtown Districts & Public Culture Spaces
Use Gwinnett’s walkable, cultural hubs for meetings, networking and pre- and post-meeting socializing:
- Suwanee Town Center Park – An amphitheater and public art spaces, great for outdoor mixers, evening social events or opening nights.
- Historic Downtown Lawrenceville – Groups can patronize shops, boutiques and enjoy public art that invites exploration and inspiration.
- Norcross Historic Walking Tours – With four tours to choose from: Public Art Tour, History Tour, Tree Tour and Discovery Garden Park, groups can get in touch with the creative expression of Norcross, voted "Gwinnett's Best Arts & Culture Scene" by Gwinnett Magazine.
Outdoor & Recreational Activations
Pre- or post-meeting, break up your programming with nature, wellness and recreation-focused activities for groups to recharge and rejuvenate their thinking:
- Explore Suwanee Creek Greenway or Ivy Creek Greenway with group walks, theory sessions or wellness breaks.
- Take in a ball game (or even organize your meeting or event!) at Gwinnett Field, the home of the AAA Gwinnett Stripers, the Atlanta Braves minor league affiliate, in this 10,000-seat stadium.
- Plan an event or post-event sesh at Jones Bridge Park, with over 30 acres of space and access to the Chattahoochee River for rafting or kayaking.
Not-So-Ordinary Meeting Venues that Surprise & Delight
For a venue that elevates your meeting or event program, Gwinnett has plenty to choose from:
- Gas South Convention Center & Westin Hotel – Located in the Gas South District, the newly renovated and expanded convention center has a 90,000-square-foot exhibit hall, 23 ballrooms, and more than enough space to accommodate any group size, plus an adjacent 4-star Westin hotel with 348 rooms for easy hotel-to-meeting transitions.
- The Water Tower (Buford) – The Water Tower campus provides access to multiple classrooms, meeting and collaboration spaces designed to host conferences, training programs, retreats and large networking events, complete with high-tech AV, wellness room/locker rooms and catering prep space.
- Pickle and Social – Paddles up! This engaging, wellness-focused interactive space was designed for networking, wellness and social sessions alike (6 meeting rooms and an outdoor space).
And for smaller strategic meetings or breakout sessions, consider intimate historic spaces like the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse with blended indoor/outdoor capabilities and a story to tell.
Cultural Activation Checklist for Gwinnett Meetings
Ready to put this strategy into action? Use this one-page checklist for your next event plan.
Craft a Culturally Enriching Meeting or Event in Gwinnett
Ready to build an event that stands out and tells a story?
With diverse cultural assets and creative, not-so-ordinary venues, Gwinnett empowers planners to craft engaging, memorable and cost-effective events that resonate with today’s attendees and create lasting impact.
Reach out to our team to start planning or submit your RFP today.
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