When I visited Augusta, GA in October of 2012, construction on the new Trade, Exhibit and Event (TEE) Center was nearly complete. The large convention floor was still littered with construction debris and machinery, but the bones of the building, including the impressive floor-to-ceiling windows, were ready to go.
The Center will officially open in January 2013 and Augusta CVB officials expect it will have a major impact on the the city's meetings business. By adding 38,000 square feet of column-free exhibition space, it will allow Augusta to accommodate much larger groups than it could previously.
The TEE Center adjoins the Augusta Marriott, which offers it’s own full set of meeting rooms, several of which open directly out onto the scenic Riverwalk, offering nice views and a great location for coffee breaks or a quick stroll between sessions.
I've previously spent time in Atlanta, Savannah and Athens, Ga., but this was my first trip to Augusta, and I was thoroughly impressed by the city’s food scene. To paraphrase my Georgia-born roommate as I raved to her about the food in Augusta; “What did you expect? The South knows how to eat?!”
Our group of meetings industry out-of-towners dining one evening at the Bees Knees Tapas restaurant, where we spent a significant amount of time pouring over the menu, struggling to decide what to order because everything sounded appetizing. From pad thai to stuffed avocados and seaweed salad, Bees Knees brings out small dishes from around the globe. They're delicious and perfect for sharing amongst a friendly group (or not, if you want to polish off a plate of gouda nachos by yourself!)
A few blocks down Broad Street -- Augusta’s wide, tree-lined main drag -- is the more upscale Frog Hollow Tavern, with a warmly decorated back room for private events. Their famous shrimp and grits didn’t disappoint, and the menu is full of locally-sourced ingredients.
Both restaurants are within walking distance of the Marriott.
Despite evidence to the contrary - in the form of chocolate cake for dinner two nights in a row - Augusta is an active, outdoorsy city. For the past four years it has hosted an Ironman 70.3 triathlon, which draws huge crowds of athletes and spectators in September. Three members of the CVB staff, including my host for the week, VP of Sales and Marketing Peggy Seigler, even competed on a relay team in 2011. The swim leg of the race takes place in the Savannah River, which non-triathlete visitors can explore by watercraft, bike, or on foot. Tour boats can be chartered for groups of up to 36 guests.
The classic allure of convening in a city full of warm Southern charm rings true in Augusta. There are rocking chairs and a putting green in the waiting area at Augusta Regional Airport, and it is kind of place where everyone leaves their bike unlocked when they drop into the New Moon Café for a morning bagel.
And if you can stomach the unappetizing kale color, the cafe's Green Monster smoothie is a sweet treat after a morning ride or a stroll around the Riverwalk Saturday Farmers Market!
Images courtesy of AugustaGA.org.
(From top left: TEE Center rendering; flourless chocolate cake at Bees Knees Tapas, a canal boat cruise, the Augusta Riverwalk)
