Off-Site Venues
A beautifully restored 1881 building in the historic district made of Savannah gray bricks, the Charles H. Morris Center is a 3,600-square-foot event property with adjoining tented space, catering kitchen and meeting area where 300 can gather for a reception.
“The old bricks are beautiful,” said owner Charles Morris. “I wouldn’t let the restorers change anything. It’s part of history. The acoustics are good, and you can dance on the original floor.”
Artsy groups can host up to 350 for a cocktail reception in the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences’ Sculpture Gallery. The nearby Jepson Center for the Arts offers a soaring atrium with Telfair Square views, a 220-seat theater and a third-floor sculpture garden.
Located in nearby Pooler, the 90,000-square-foot National Museum of the Mighty 8th Air Force honors the 8th Air Force through history-revealing exhibits — some hands-on — and unusual meeting spaces, such as the 1940s English Pub and the Combat Room, under the wings of a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress, the City of Savannah.
After-Hours Fun
“Attendees can explore Savannah on walking tours with a free phone download in seven languages,” said Summer Bozeman, Visit Savannah’s communications coordinator. “Other options are narrated trolley tours, horse-drawn carriages and Segways.”
In addition to leading guided walking tours through the city’s history-laden squares, Savannah Taste Experience can throw a Micro Food Fest for 125 and up. Included are tasting fare from 10 restaurants, meeting local chefs and touring a craft brewery, all under one roof.
Located at the end of River Street, the brand-new Service Brewery, which is military-veteran-owned and -operated, will rent out its entire brewery for a sudsy buyout.
For a relaxing, hilarious city tour, Savannah Slow Ride accommodates 15 people per “crawler,” a pedal-powered, bicyclelike vehicle. Everyone pedals while a “driver” steers and narrates the passing scenery. Offerings include the Boos Cruise — a ghost tour — in America’s Most Haunted City and a pub crawl to Savannah’s favorite watering holes, from which participants can take to-go cups, legal in the Hostess City.
A city view from the water is River Street Riverboat’s specialty. In December, a new 1,100-capacity boat will offer narrated sightseeing cruises, a Southern buffet dinner cruise and a gospel cruise.
Sundial Charters offers jaunts to Little Tybee Island to spot dolphins and explore the salt marsh and maritime forest. Only 18 miles away, Tybee Island is Savannah’s beach, with bicycling, kayaking and deep-sea-fishing charters.
“Every group that meets in Savannah sees an increase in attendance,” Brady said. “Forty percent of our meeting customers are repeat.”
“Historically, state and regional associations meet here,” said Hewitt. “Now we’re attracting national associations, which has brought a new national-scale awareness to the destination. Savannah is the real deal.”
Savannah, Georgia
Location: Southeast Georgia on the Savannah River
Access: Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Amtrak, interstates 95 and 16
Major Meeting Spaces: Savannah International Trade and Convention Center, Savannah Civic Center, Coastal Georgia Center
Hotel Rooms: 15,000 rooms in the Savannah area, 4,500 in the historic district
Offsite Venues: Charles H. Morris Center, Jepson Center for the Arts, Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, Mighty 8th Air Force Museum, Gingerbread House, Owens-Thomas House, Forsyth Park, Savannah Squares, River Street Riverboat Company, The Pink House
Contact Info:
Visit Savannah
877-728-2662
www.visitsavannah.com
