Savannah, GA – The Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) in Atlanta will assume management of the convention center in nearby Savannah this Spring. It is the first time a major convention center will manage another one outside its city limits.
The board of directors of the Georgia International Maritime Trade & Convention Center voted February 12 to begin negotiations with the GWCCA on a multi-year contract that will put the GWCCA in charge of the Savannah building while keeping much of the current staff in place.
Board chairman Mark Smith said, “GWCCA has the ability to take a high performing asset to the next level while simultaneously enhancing the synergies between Savannah and Atlanta.”
The Savannah center offers 100,000 square feet of prime exhibit space, placing it in the top 150 convention centers in size in the nation, according to the latest Trade Show Executive World’s Top Convention Center (WTCC) rankings. It also has 50,000 square feet of meeting space. It has been managed by SMG since it opened its doors in 2000.
The GWCC, located nearly 250 miles east of Savannah, offers 502,000 square feet of prime space and is the 4th largest convention center in the U.S., according to the WTCC rankings.
“We are excited about partnering with their board and all of the hospitality stakeholders to build upon the foundation already in place and attract new and diverse events to the facility,” said Frank Poe, executive director of the GWCCA.
Reach Frank Poe at (404) 223-4000 or fpoe@gwcc.com; Robert Coffey, general manager of the Georgia International Maritime Trade & Convention Center, at (912) 447-4000 or bcoffey@savtcc.com
