James May June 2024 web - Flipbook - Page 19
SAVANNAH CONVENTION CENTER
to the convention center and adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and
State Farm Arena,” says Pate. “As we
continue to attract larger conventions and major sporting events, it
provides an attractive addition to our
hotel portfolio.”
The success of GWCCA in Atlanta
led the state legislature to implement
a similar model of governance at the
Savannah Convention Center, first
constructed in 2000 as the Savannah
International Trade & Convention
Center. A 2018 law created the Savannah-Georgia Convention Center
Authority to manage the facility, to
rebrand it as the Savannah Convention Center and to embark on an am-
bitious $270 million expansion project
that will double exhibit hall space,
fund a 40,000 square foot ballroom
and add 900 parking spaces. This
will enable it to add more and larger
events to its already busy schedule.
When completed, SCC will be the
53rd-largest convention center in the
country, adding premier facilities to
what is already one of the most popular tourist cities in America.
Tourism is the second largest facet
of Georgia’s economy, trailing only agriculture. Whether visitors come to the
Peach State for business or pleasure, to
see family or attend a sporting event,
every dollar they spend feeds directly
back into the state’s economy.
With continued investment from
state officials and sound leadership
from its excellent hospitality professionals, the industry has only one
direction to go: Straight ahead!
Patrick Hickey is the office manager and a staff
writer for James.
M AY/ J UNE 2024
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