Signia by Hilton Savannah breaks ground for 2028 opening
Savannah's convention district is getting a purpose-built headquarters hotel. The Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority and Hilton have broken ground on the 444-room Signia by Hilton Savannah, slated to debut in mid-2028 with a direct connection to the expanded convention center. Co-developed with the Georgia World Congress Center Authority and managed by Hilton, the project adds an on-campus, meetings-first option with a 13,000-square-foot ballroom and more than 34,000 square feet of event space. Five dining venues, an outdoor pool, and Club Signia round out the plan.
Key points
- Why it matters: Headquarters hotel fills the on-site gap and boosts large-event capacity.
- Travel impact: Direct convention-center access, large ballroom, multiple dining options.
- What's next: Construction progresses toward a mid-2028 opening on the riverfront campus.
- Co-developers include Songy Highroads and Matthews Southwest Hospitality.
- Brand momentum follows Signia by Hilton Atlanta's 2024 debut.
Snapshot
The Signia by Hilton Savannah will anchor the convention center's riverfront campus as a meetings-and-events flagship. Plans call for 444 rooms, Club Signia access, and premium wellness facilities. Event capabilities include a 13,000-square-foot ballroom and more than 34,000 square feet of total space with modern tech and flexible layouts. The hotel will connect directly to the Savannah Convention Center, easing movement between sessions and hosted functions. Visit Savannah highlights three new hybrid ferries that will move attendees across the Savannah River to and from the Historic District, expanding dining and entertainment choices after show hours. For inbound air travel, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) sits about 20 minutes from the convention campus, giving planners straightforward transfers and frequent domestic service.
Background
Hilton's meetings-forward Signia brand entered Georgia in 2024 with Signia by Hilton Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center campus. The Savannah property extends that playbook to the coast with an on-premises headquarters hotel, a long-standing request from large conventions that previously relied on distributed room blocks downtown. Local leaders frame the project as a tourism and trade catalyst, citing job creation during construction and ongoing hospitality roles post-opening. Beyond the ballroom, the concept includes five food and beverage outlets, an outdoor pool, and a rooftop social space, aligning the property with both business and leisure demand. The direct convention-center connection and on-campus amenities, combined with cross-river ferry service, position the campus to compete for larger citywide programs.
Latest developments
Signia by Hilton Savannah to anchor convention campus by mid-2028
Groundbreaking occurred on October 8, 2025, with the Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority as owner and Hilton as manager. Co-developers Songy Highroads and Matthews Southwest Hospitality are advancing a program that blends an elevated arrival experience, tech-enabled rooms, and state-of-the-art event spaces. The ballroom is planned at 13,000 square feet, with total meetings inventory exceeding 34,000 square feet, designed for modern hybrid and multi-track programs. Club Signia, premium wellness offerings, and a rooftop venue aim to keep attendees on campus between sessions while still leveraging the Historic District's dining scene via the hybrid ferries. For travelers tracking broader hotel growth, recent regional and brand activity includes new Hilton-family openings and expanded air access to Savannah, such as Spirit's Newark launch into SAV, which strengthens lift for future citywides. See our recent coverage: Spirit Airlines Savannah flights launch from Newark and Embassy Suites Chattanooga Downtown opens.
Analysis
A headquarters hotel directly attached to the convention center changes Savannah's meetings math. Today, larger groups often splice agendas across multiple downtown properties, adding time to move people and production gear. A Signia-class hotel with a 13,000-square-foot ballroom and more than 34,000 square feet of meetings space consolidates those flows, allowing general sessions, breakouts, and hosted buyer programs to sit under one roof, then spill to the exhibit floor next door. That efficiency is a competitive lever against peer destinations with on-site inventory. The ferry network expands the effective campus without sacrificing walkability, widening after-hours dining and sponsor activation options across the river. Brand-wise, Signia brings consistent large-event service standards learned in Atlanta to a smaller, character-rich market, which should reassure national associations and corporate teams. The mid-2028 timeline aligns with a broader cycle of U.S. hotel openings and network additions at SAV, setting Savannah up to convert pent-up demand as organizations rebalance city rotations and pursue coastal venues with authentic neighborhoods and convenient transfers.
Final thoughts
Savannah is packaging hard-to-fake advantages, a waterfront convention center, direct hotel connection, and a short transfer from SAV, into a cohesive meetings product. If construction tracks to plan, the city will compete for larger programs that previously looked elsewhere for on-site rooms and a signature ballroom. With ferry links extending the campus, the experience should feel both efficient and distinctly Savannah. For planners and travelers, the headline is simple, the convention-connected Signia by Hilton Savannah promises a refined, convenient base that elevates events and off-agenda hours alike. Expect growing interest as floor plans, rates, and booking windows firm up ahead of the Signia by Hilton Savannah opening.