SAVANNAH, Georgia — The Savannah Convention Center recently held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of its $276-million expansion that doubled the facility’s size to 660,000 square feet.
The project doubled exhibit space to 200,000 square feet; introduced a 40,000-square-foot flexible ballroom with Savannah Historic District waterfront views; added 14 state-of-the-art meeting rooms plus a new boardroom (bringing the total to five); and built a new 900-space parking garage with a frictionless, pay-by-phone parking system.
“The enhanced functionality and aesthetics of the newly expanded facility are second to none,” said Kelvin Moore, senior vice president and general manager of the Savannah Convention Center. “In my 30-plus years in the industry, I’ve overseen and worked with convention centers nationwide. None have the simple yet breathtaking views that the Savannah Convention Center now offers.”
With these enhancements, the convention center is now better equipped to accommodate larger events and provide an upgraded experience for visitors.
A new, 400-room headquarters hotel adjacent to the convention center is also in the pre-development stage. Combined with the more than 400 rooms and extensive meeting spaces at the recently renovated Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, the city is primed to compete with larger convention destinations.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, along with the Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority and other local leaders, attended the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. More than 300 people gathered at the event, which was followed by tours of the building and a reception showcasing the new space.
In addition to doubling the center’s size, the project introduced a host of modern features, such as Zoom Rooms, huddle spaces, and pre-function areas with public furniture that features plug-and-play capabilities, Trade Show Executive reported.
The project also added three new public retail dining outlets, just steps from the Savannah River: The Hangar, a restaurant near the center’s new 58-foot-wide hangar door; Savannah Bean at the Brick, a coffee shop; and The Port, a new wine bar.
For more information, visit savconventioncenter.com.
