If you’ve made acquaintance with Savannah, Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Jekyll, St. Simons, Sea Island and Little St. Simons, you already know they offer a unique group experience without compare.
This Lowcountry region is filled with colorful moss-draped history, natural beauty and enough business savvy to conduct any matters of commerce you direct its way. Savannah has a good portfolio of large group facilities, and nearby barrier islands are expanding their infrastructure to accommodate a more diverse range of events.
Savannah
It’s no wonder ghost tours are so popular for groups who visit Savannah. This saucy Southern belle has plenty of secrets and stories to go with her centuries-old past. Characters associated with the history are some of the reasons why Savannah is such a fascinating destination.
One of Savannah’s most famous moments was in 1864 when Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman presented President Abraham Lincoln with Savannah as a Christmas gift in a famous telegram. Legend has it that the Union military man was so impressed by her beauty that he could not destroy it, as he had Atlanta. And the beauty hasn’t faded with age. It’s only better.
Another big rise in the mid-1990s occurred when author John Berendt released his book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. He did such a masterful job of exposing some of the city’s secrets and character that it made some of the locals furious. They calmed down, however, when Clint Eastwood made the book into a movie and tourism money began pouring in.
Visitors go to Savannah for the legends and lore, to encounter characters like legendary songwriter Johnny Mercer or the queen of Southern cuisine Paula Deen, and to experience the natural beauty of the city. Groups never run out of ways to discover its new—and seasoned—attributes.
"Our biggest selling points are Savannah’s charm and walkability," says Bill McKay, vice president of sales for the Savannah CVB. "The historic meetings district offers convenience few other cities can match."
Meetings central is along the Savannah River, and within easy walking distance are charming inns and major hotels such as the newly renovated Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, which is adjacent to the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center; the Savannah Marriott Riverfront; the Hyatt Regency Savannah; and the newly renovated Hilton Savannah Desoto.
Nearby, historic homes, shops and restaurants abound in the 2.2-mile historic district, along with Savannah’s many nightclubs and taverns.
Just minutes south of the historic district is the Coastal Georgia Center. Savannah Civic Center also has space for events.
New meetings-ready properties include AVIA Savannah and Bohemian Hotel at Savannah Riverfront.
Fascinating event venues are also part of the meetings package in Savannah, a city famous for its devotion to architectural preservation. Options include an elegant reception at one of the city’s bed-and-breakfast properties or a dinner in one of the 22 famous city squares or Forsyth Park, home to the meetings-ready Mansion on Forsyth Park Hotel & Spa. Themed parties in museums can go elegant or casual with a traditional Lowcountry seafood boil.
Savannah is a river city that’s also near the ocean, so groups can easily enjoy a nostalgic paddlewheel riverboat cruise or a chartered boat trip on the Atlantic.
Besides Savannah’s charm and contemporary facilities, there’s a CVB meetings booking incentive this year, McKay says. "Savannah Sweet Savings" kicks in for groups that book 600 room nights on peak, and it includes free attendee transportation between major hotels and the convention center, along with free convention center space rentals. Major hotels are also rebating 5 percent of room revenue to group master accounts.
Brunswick and the Golden Isles
About an hour south of Savannah, Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Jekyll, St. Simons, Little St. Simons and Sea Island are magnets for coastal relaxation, eco adventures, sportfishing, golfing and taking in the heritage of the Old South. Brunswick, gateway to the region, has wide boulevards sheltered by towering oaks, plenty of culture and a laid-back attitude.
With $150 million in new properties and renovations to existing properties, in addition to an upcoming new convention center, the destination is aiming to diversify its group mix.
The oceanfront, 120,000-square-foot Jekyll Island Convention Center is scheduled to open in August 2012 on the island once owned by the Morgan, Vanderbilt and Rockefeller families. It’s the centerpiece for the larger "Beach Village" project that includes two new hotels, retail shopping and improvements to the Jekyll Island entry corridor.
"The new convention center will be state of the art," says Bill Tipton, executive director of the Brunswick and the Golden Isles CVB. "It will enable us to increase our accommodations for groups of up to 3,000 attendees."
In the interim, an ideal option is the newly refurbished Morgan Conference Center (formerly a tennis center), managed by the venerable Jekyll Island Club Hotel. It provides 6,500 square feet of function space.
Meanwhile, a new Hampton Inn and Suites is the first new hotel to be built on Jekyll Island since 1974.
On St. Simons Island, groups can gather at Sea Palms Golf and Tennis Resort and the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort, or at new properties such as Ocean Lodge and Seagate Inn.
Little St. Simons Island, a private island accessible by boat, has two options for small gatherings: Cedar House and River Lodge, each offering 400 square feet of meeting space.
Sea Island is home to The Cloister, a legendary resort that has 14,000 square feet of meeting space.
Brunswick’s group venues include Thompson Conference Center and Southeast Georgia Conference Center, and the city has new hotels by Comfort Suites, Baymont Inn and Hampton Inn.
