Trade center kicks off FY 2018 with strong numbers (Savannah: hotel, authority)

[Airforceguy]

Its great to see the convention center enjoying strong growth. I'm looking forward to seeing renderings of what the new hotel and convention center expansion will look like.

As promising as the financials were, trade center authority chairman Mark Smith was even more impressed with the definite bookings already in place for fiscal 2018 — 110 events representing 162,000 attendees and nearly 107,000 room nights.

“Already, it appears we’re on track for a record-breaking year, based on the projected number of room nights,” Smith said, adding that numbers like those clearly back the board’s assertion that the 17-year-old trade center is overdue for an expansion.

For several years, Smith has had staff keep a running list of larger groups that indicated they would come to Savannah if the facility had more meeting and exhibit space and their participants could be housed in fewer hotel rooms. He also has a growing list of groups that already come to Savannah and would like to continue, but are rapidly outgrowing the trade center.

Trade center kicks off FY 2018 with strong numbers | BiS | Business in Savannah News