A Guide to Thriving at ACC
September 23 – 26, 2026
Crowne Plaza Ravinia
4355 Ashford Dunwoody Road
Atlanta, GA 30346
The 2026 Atlanta Comfort Conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta-Ravinia, which is located next to the Perimeter Mall (one of the few malls that is still flourishing) and several other shopping centers. This location provides a number of places to eat and shop within a short distance!
Here is a list of suggestions to help you get the most out of your conference experience!
1. Write the words “Have fun” on a Post-It note and stick it to the mirror you use the most in your room. These are the most important two words to remember when you attend ACC. It is acceptable for you to enjoy yourself this week! I give you permission, okay?
2. Don’t hide in your room. Get out and attend seminars, visit the Marketplace, talk with folk in the lobby, and join in. Go to dinner with people. If you are hesitant, make use of the ACC “White Roses” program Remember Rule #1: HAVE FUN!
3. When picking up your registration packet, remember to use the name you registered with on the ACC website when picking up your packet. The registration people will appreciate it. Check your packet BEFORE you leave the desk; if something is wrong, let the registration people know.
4. ALL Hotels have bad lighting in the bathroom. Saves energy, makes doing your makeup or shaving harder. Bring a lighted make-up mirror.
5. The City of Atlanta and Fulton County have a non-smoking ordinance, so if you have to indulge you can't do it in the bar or the lobby. You'll have to go outside the hotel.
6. This is our third year at the Crowne Plaza. The hotel staff now know what dealing with an ACC crowd is like. But we still overtax the staff, and your drink and food orders take a bit longer than normal. Please be patient?
7. Yes it's been mentioned before, but please, be a lady in the restroom. Or a gentleman. It is a public area, and you need to behave like you belong there! Girls, do NOT STAND UP TO PEE. And it's not a dressing room. Go to your room if you have major work to be done, okay? The hotel WILL ask you to leave.
8. There is MARTA rail service from the Airport to a station 2 blocks from the Hotel. The rail station is located at the end of Baggage Pickup. The “Red Line” will take you from the airport to the Dunwoody Station, which is the closest to the hotel. The hotel offers shuttle service to and from the station. Call the front desk to arrange a pickup at 770-395-7700.
9. The Hotel Shuttle will also take you to/from various destinations within 2 miles of the hotel. Ask at the Concierge Desk or call the front desk 770 395-7700. And don’t forget there is also Lyft and Uber.
10. Parking at the hotel is $25 per night, or $35 per night if you use the valet service. An authorized room key is required for parking entrance and exit. The parking garage is behind the hotel on the left.
11. Four spaces of free electric vehicle charging are available with both J1772 and Tesla connections available.
12. You can never bring too much with you. At least that's my excuse. But airlines restrict the number of bags you can check, and sometimes there are things you would rather not trust to them. And now the airlines are using baggage as a profit center, charging you for checking more than one bag. An alternative is for you to box them up and ship them to the hotel. Make sure you put “Hold for guest (your name), Arriving (your arrival date)” on the label. Let the hotel know you are shipping a package so they will hold it for you. And, if you're smart, you'll get a return label to ship it all back home!
13. Calling cards. You may think they are silly and ‘old school,’ but when you are writing your contact information multiple times and looking for scraps of paper, you'll wish you had some. You can use Microsoft Word to create a card, and Avery (avery.com) has templates on their website. Print them out on your inkjet on good paper, and voilà! Another option is VistaPrint (vistaprint.com) which will let you create cards online and send you nice, professionally printed ones in a very short time.
14. A small survival kit, with safety pins, a sewing kit, chargers & cables, first aid supplies, meds, a small flashlight, etc. A Swiss Army knife is useful; a multitool is even better. If you are flying, make sure you pack the knife in your checked luggage! And pack a few zip top bags - they come in handy.
15. Pack at least one pair of comfortable shoes. You may love your heels, and can walk all day in them, but at least once you'll wish you had some flats or tennis shoes. And how many times have you worn a new pair of shoes all day and your feet were in pain afterward?
16. Snack bars, or something similar, for those mornings when you don't have time to get breakfast. If you are me, that is pretty much every morning...There is a Starbucks nook in the lobby, for emergency caffeine and muffins.
17. A small notebook. Small enough to carry in your pocket or purse. I never go to an convention without one, usually filled with notes on places I want to go, directions, things to do and note from seminars.
18. A camera (phone). Even if you don't think you will take one shot, trust me, you'll want to carry one around. A tripod would be nice to have, even if it is a tabletop one. If you are doing self-portraits, it makes things a lot easier. Please remember to ask permission before taking photos of other people and to make sure that you are not catching someone in the background who might not want their picture taken. If you don't get permission, don't take the shot!
19. Makeup wipes. You know, those disposable sheets you can use to remove your makeup. Use them to remove most of your makeup, then a good cleansing which will leave no makeup on the towels. The housekeepers will appreciate it.
20. Print out a copy of the schedule before you go (or load it on your phone) and make a rough plan of what events and classes you want to go to. You will find conflicts - with so much going on you can't do it all! It is easier to plan ahead.
21. But don't try to plan the entire convention! Leave time for the unexpected and the last minute adventure.
22. If you have the opportunity, go out and explore the city. Atlanta's one of the most LGBT-friendly cities I know and there's lots of places to see and do. Again, it's up to your comfort level, but I will say Atlanta expanded my horizons...
23. Bring a shoeshine kit. You'll want to put a nice shine on your shoes before going out, and you might find someone who needs a good shoeshine or boot blacking.
24. Bring a swimsuit. But note that the pool is only available to Registered Guests. It is open during the day and evenings. There is a pool party on Saturday afternoon. Work on your tan, unless you're me. :P
25. If you use injectable medications (hormones, insulin, etc.), bring a sharps container. The hotel does not have these in the rooms, which is not unusual. However, you do not want to dispose of needles, lancets, or other sharps in the regular hotel trash.
26. If you have questions, ask! ACC staff members and volunteers are always there to help, and no question is stupid. I know we've been asked EVERYTHING!
27. Keep your name tag on you. Not only will this identify you, it lets people know who you are. How often do you realize that the person you just saw is someone you've talked to online for years? It's happened to me many times. You will need your name tag to enter the seminar areas, events, and it is also your meal ticket for the lunches and dinners (if you ordered them). Oh, and when you leave the hotel, take your name tag off or you look like a tourist...
28.Again...have fun!
Now, it's your turn.
Zelda Rose and Melissa Lake