Iconic Savannah Ups the Ante With a Convention Center Expansion and More

 

With moss-draped live oaks, public squares just begging for private event activations and historic venues that exude that Southern Gothic aesthetic, Savannah, Georgia, was made for meetings and events that want to make an impression. And with a major convention center expansion, the destination is also primed for the future.

The big news in this sought-after destination is a long-awaited expansion of the Savannah Convention Center, located just across the Savannah River on Hutchinson Island, with short shuttle boat rides connecting the facility to Savannah’s historic riverfront.

The more than $275 million project adds a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall, 40,000-square-foot ballroom, 15 meeting rooms and nearly 1,000 parking spaces, resulting in a two-fold increase.

[Related: Sultry Savannah Makes History Come Alive at Meetings Today LIVE! South]

“Doubling the size of the Savannah Convention Center is a game-changer for our city and our community,” said Joseph Marinelli, president of Visit Savannah, during a Meetings Today LIVE! South event in the city in December 2022. “With over 18,000 available rooms citywide, including over 8,000 in Savannah’s Historic Landmark District, the entire package offers groups considering this part of the country something that they cannot find anywhere else: one of the most popular leisure destinations combined with the finest, newest and largest convention venue on this part of Georgia’s coastline.”

5 Fantastic Offsites

National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force

Featured on the new Apple TV show Masters of the Air, this celebration of the Mighty Eighth can host a meeting of 10 in the executive-style Hunter Board Room to 300 in the Major General Lewis E. Lyle Rotunda, all amidst numerous war birds. An expansion scheduled for a fall 2025 completion promises over 4,000 square feet of event space as well as 1,100 square feet of prefunction space, allowing for events of up to 350 attendees.

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Set in the Historic District, this paean to Savannah’s maritime heritage features venues such as the Scarbrough Garden, 19th Century Parlor Garden, a large brick terrace and a maple grove boasting 24 trident maple trees, among many more activation options.

Mercer Williams House Museum

Site of the cult favorite Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the Mercer House dates to 1868 and is a prime example of Savannah’s stunning collection of historic homes. The venue is a recommended stop for a group tour that will give attendees a personal connection to the prime attributes of the city.  

Savannah Riverboat Cruises

A good way to get a lay of the land—or Savannah River, in this case—is via a harbor cruise aboard a Savannah Riverboat Cruises vessel. Lunch, brunch, dinner and sunset cruises are also available on the historic paddle-wheelers, with the option to add entertainment. Groups can charter one deck or the entire ship, with food, casino games and a bar in the offing.

Pirates House Restaurant

This historic—and some would say haunted—Savannah favorite is an ideal place to set the scene for attendees. Serving Southern-inspired fare for up to 150 guests, this festive venue is located in Trustee’s Garden, which dates to 1753 and is noted as the first public agricultural experimental garden in the U.S.

Getting There

Savannah, Georgia, is located on the northeast coast of Georgia and accessible via Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), which is 7.5 miles away. Other nearby airports include Hilton Head (26 miles), Charleston (84 miles) and Jacksonville (115 miles).

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