10 Reasons to Meet in Savannah, Georgia
With its rich history, mild weather and diverse venues, Savannah, Georgia, is the perfect spot to host your next meeting, incentive trip, convention or event.
The city overflows with unique attractions, historic sites and some of the best food in the South. Here are the top 10 reasons to host your next event in Savannah.
No matter where you’re coming from or how you arrive, you and your guests will find it’s easy to get to Savannah. The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is located only 15 miles from the city center and is served by many major airlines, including Delta, Jet Blue, United Airlines and Air Canada. Frontier Airlines just introduced new routes from Denver and Philadelphia. And if your guests are traveling from South Florida, they can hop on one of American Airlines’ new daily flights from Miami. The city is also easily accessible by major highways, like Interstate 95 and I-16, and has direct daily rail connections to New York and Miami. Once you and your attendees arrive, you’ll see Savannah is easy to navigate by foot and local transportation. Of course, the Visit Savannah team is also happy to help arrange bus and car transfers to restaurants and off-site activities for you.
Savannah’s unique venues are ready to accommodate events of all sizes. The Savannah Convention Center, which is under construction and doubling in size, is situated on the Savannah River and offers fantastic waterfront views as well as plenty of space. There’s currently a 100,000-sq.-ft. exhibit hall, a 25,000-sq.-ft. ballroom, a 376-seat auditorium and 21 rooms that can be customized for breakout sessions. When combined with other facilities, like the Enmarket Arena and the Savannah Civic Center, as well as all of Savannah's unique venues make the whole city is your group’s playground. All of the venues and meeting spaces, from the riverside terraces to the rooftop ballrooms, feature the technology you need to have a remarkable event including Wi-Fi and audio/visual capabilities.
A good night’s sleep is essential to having a productive event. The DeSoto Savannah is a premier hotel in the heart of the city that offers meeting attendees a convenient location, delicious on-site dining options and a personalized experience with their stay. With a variety of hotels and motels like the Hyatt Regency Savannah and The Westin, historic inns and even a few haunted hotels to suit any budget and any size group; your attendees will be spoiled staying downtown. Many of Savannah’s hotels feature amenities that go above and beyond continental breakfasts and free Wi-Fi. Check out Savannah's hotels here.
Ready to refuel after those important meetings and business connections? Savannah’s culinary scene has your group table prepared. Some of our city’s most iconic restaurants like James Beard Winner The Grey, The Olde Pink House, The Pirates' House, Vic’s On The River and Garibaldi’s Café offer more than enough accommodating dining spaces, as well as private rooms if you prefer. Their skillfully mastered menus are delicious and are sure to leave everyone's palettes happy. Be sure to check out even more restaurant options here.
When it’s time for teambuilding, Savannah is ready to help you host an event your attendees will never forget. Discover the history of crafted spirits and a secret speakeasy at the American Prohibition Museum. Plan a themed party in any of the historic squares or aboard a riverboat cruise, or treat guests to a day at the ballpark. Host a networking event among the historic planes and aircraft engines at The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, the city has an array of activities for you to enjoy in the fresh Savannah air. Host a group fishing or kayaking excursion, or treat your team to some of the finest golf in the state. Your group will never run out of things to do in Savannah.
What better way to build team rapport than with a celebratory drink? On the roof of course. In Savannah, we live for the outdoors and everyone knows that crafted spirits are best enjoyed from an elevated view. Savannah has fantastic rooftop bars and restaurants offering a unique and delicious blend of drinks and small bites with a view to choose from. Enjoy epic city skyline views at the Peregrin above the Perry Lane Hotel. The historic Savannah River can be seen from Top Deck at the Cotton Sail Savannah and a combination of city and river views will be enjoyed atop Bar Julian at the Thompson Savannah.
Savannah is considered America's first planned city. After General James Oglethorpe arrived in 1733, he designed the city around a series of grids allowing for wide streets and public squares. Of Savannah’s 24 original squares, 22 squares still exist today and are ready for exploring and people-watching. Other historic sites include Bonaventure Cemetery, made famous by John Berendt’s novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and the Clint Eastwood-directed film that followed it. Don't overlook Savannah's military history with compelling museums and historic sites to explore like Old Fort Jackson, Fort Pulaski National Monument, National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force and the Webb Military Museum. Earn your badge when you take your group to the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, where the founder of Girl Scouts was born. Other notable historic attractions include Congregation Mickve Israel, the third-oldest Jewish congregation in America, and The Pirates' House, which is said to have inspired the Robert Louis Stevenson classic Treasure Island.
All that history makes Savannah a unique city in the South, creating an environment ripe for artists, performers and musicians. Treat your group to a night of jazz, classical or alt-rock music at one of the live music venues in the Downtown Design District and Plant Riverside District or time your meeting with a local event like SCAD Sidewalk Arts, Savannah Film Festival in the fall or the Savannah Music Festival in early spring. Learn the rich history of the Gullah/Geechee culture at the Pin Point Heritage Museum. There’s also always something new to see at Jepson Center for the Arts and at the fine art galleries of City Market.
No matter where you go, what you see or meet, you'll be treated to the Southern charm that has made this city a destination for travelers worldwide. Repeatedly named one of The South's Best Cities by Southern Living and one of the U.S.'s Friendliest Cities by Condé Nast Traveler, it's no secret why visitors and groups flock to our coastal city.
From the moment you start planning your event to the closing night festivities, you and your attendees will be the city's honored guests. Count on Visit Savannah to make your next meeting, incentive trip, conference or event a huge success.
Visit Savannah is ready to welcome you with open arms and to ensure your event is a success. They can arrange pre-planning visits so you can tour the convention center and hotel, and they can help you meet with the local companies that are eager to host your off-site events and meals. Once you pick your favorite venues, the experienced team is here to help you plan every detail of your event, from providing visitor guides and arranging activities to offering large groups their own hotel reservation portal. Once here, Savannah’s unique “Show Us Your Badge” program empowers you to save big while exploring the shops, sites and restaurants in the Historic District. Meet the team and learn how they will go above and beyond to help you host a memorable event.
Unforgettable Meetings Begin Here
Contact the Visit Savannah's Meetings & Conventions team and take your first step toward a successful meeting.