Savannah Convention Center hotel breaks ground after decade of planning

The year was 2002, and then-Savannah area state Rep. Ron Stephens helped secure $3 million in state funding for land west of the Savannah Convention Center. The center itself was only two years old at the time.

The year is 2025. Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority Board Chairman Mark V. Smith called the effort "truly visionary" to a crowd of roughly 50 Wednesday — on land just west of the newly expanded center.