Back to Savannah?

I have yet to hear a negative comment about the NAAA trade show held in Savannah last December. Needless to say, that’s remarkable. I am often asked if the NAAA will be returning to this historical city. My understanding, so far, is the city of Savannah is planning on the NAAA convention to return in the very near future. Maybe as soon as 2012 (and that’s purely my speculation).

Recently, a Savannah newspaper article was published about the NAAA’s convention. It stated more than 3,100 rooms were booked and over $1.3 million dollars spent. The article implied Savannah city leaders were impressed. View the article here.

The NAAA was asked by city officials what could the city do to entice the Association to return? The NAAA responded with three items: 1) install doors at the convention center large enough to accept aircraft, 2) extend the landing site and 3) move some palm trees to make towing from the landing site to the convention center easier.

Last week, the Savannah Economic Development Authority agreed to spend $140,000 to “blow out” the back wall of the convention center to accommodate ag-aircraft. The Authority is counting on at least two more conventions from the NAAA.

Hilton Worldwide, Inc. beat out other hotels to build a $130 million, 500-room facility on Hutchinson Island where the convention center is located. This would be great, adding a second hotel on the same side of the Savannah River as the convention center. Ground breaking could start as early as May 2011.

If you attended the NAAA convention in Savannah last year and would like to see the NAAA return, or you missed the convention and would like another one in Savannah to attend, click through to our one question survey, “Do you want the NAAA convention to return to Savannah?”


Click here to take survey