Atlanta-based real estate firm Songy Highroads LLC (SHR), in partnership with Matthews Southwest Hospitality, has broken ground on the Signia by Hilton Savannah, a 444-room, full-service hotel that will serve as the headquarters hotel for the Savannah Convention Center.

The project, owned by the Savannah Georgia Convention Center Authority (SGCCA) and developed in collaboration with the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA), will be managed by Hilton and is expected to open in mid-2028. The Signia by Hilton Savannah represents one of the largest ground-up construction projects in the Southeastern United States in the past three years.

The hotel will connect directly to the newly expanded convention center and include 38,000 square feet of meeting space, a 13,000-square-foot ballroom, five food and beverage outlets, an outdoor pool, and Club Signia, the brand’s premium guest experience.

“Breaking ground on Signia by Hilton Savannah marks an incredible step forward for both the city and the state,” said Todd W. Nocerini, President, Principal, and Co-Founder of Songy Highroads. “Our goal is to create a hotel that reflects Savannah’s charm and cultural richness while delivering the modern sophistication and amenities today’s travelers expect. We’re proud to play a role in advancing Savannah’s position as one of the Southeast’s most dynamic convention destinations.”

“The addition of the new Signia by Hilton Savannah, along with the recently expanded Savannah Convention Center and three new hybrid ferries transporting attendees back and forth across the Savannah River, all help to make Savannah one of the most unique convention experiences in the country,” said Joseph Marinelli, President & CEO at Visit Savannah. “This all adds up to being a game-changer package and giving all planners a new destination to explore.”

When complete, the Signia by Hilton Savannah will introduce Hilton’s meetings-and-events-focused luxury brand to Georgia’s coast, following the 2024 debut of Signia by Hilton Atlanta. Designed for both business and leisure travelers, the hotel will feature locally inspired architecture, high-end finishes, and Smart Room technology for a seamless guest experience.

The Savannah Convention Center expansion, a $271 million investment, doubles the facility’s exhibit hall space to 200,000 square feet, adds a 40,000-square-foot ballroom, and creates 15 new meeting rooms. The addition of the Signia hotel complements this expansion, doubling the number of hotel rooms on-site and providing direct riverfront access to Savannah’s Historic District via water ferry.

Working in close partnership with the Savannah Georgia Convention Center Authority and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, Songy Highroads (SHR) successfully closed a $390 million municipal bond offering through Morgan Stanley la