After years of planning and construction, the newly expanded Savannah Convention Center is officially open for business. The $276 million project was celebrated this week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Hutchinson Island, marking one of the largest development projects the city has seen in years.
The expansion nearly doubles the center’s footprint to 660,000 square feet, adding a massive 40,000-square-foot ballroom, a 900-space parking garage, and 32 new meeting rooms. There’s also a new rooftop patio overlooking the Savannah River, upgraded docks, and a 58-foot-wide hangar door allowing for aircraft or large-scale displays to be brought directly into the exhibit space.
While construction ran behind schedule, city and state leaders—including Governor Brian Kemp and Savannah Mayor Van Johnson—praised the finished product as a major win for the local economy. The convention center now ranks as the 72nd largest in the country and has already booked over 120 events through 2030, according to General Manager Kelvin Moore.
This expansion means Savannah is now more competitive with cities like Nashville and Austin in attracting larger conferences and high-profile industry events. Organizers say the space has already allowed long-time events like the Savannah Boat Show to grow, and new opportunities are expected to follow.
For locals, that means more tourism dollars, more jobs in the hospitality industry, and continued development on Hutchinson Island, including plans for a new Signa by Hilton hotel.
Whether you attend events there or just admire it from across the river, the expanded convention center is now a permanent fixture in Savannah’s skyline—and a big part of the city’s future.
