J.W. Marriott at Plant Riverside District Signs First Group Contract

At a ceremony held earlier this week, leadership of Visit Savannah, The Kessler Collection and the Georgia Municipal Association signed the first group contract for the forthcoming J.W. Marriott at Plant Riverside District on the sparkling Savannah, Georgia riverfront. Projected to open Q1 2019, the Kessler Collection property will encompass a five-building hotel/retail/entertainment complex to serve as the cornerstone for redevelopment of historic downtown Savannah’s west side.

Savannah-born Richard Kessler, CEO & Chairman of The Kessler Collection, purchased Savannah’s former power plant in 2014 with plans to transform the site into a 4+ star hotel and entertainment area. The plant was constructed in 1912 and generated electricity for the community for decades but has sat dormant for the past 50 years. Kessler broke ground on the project and began the building’s rehabilitation in December of 2016.

Visit Savannah’s President Joseph Marinelli spoke about the impact the property will have on Savannah’s attractiveness to meeting planners and convention organizers.

“The addition of the new J.W. Marriott at Plant Riverside District will catapult the Savannah visitor experience to the next level. The folks at The Kessler Collection always present the most unique visitor experience and customer service, but the finished product will also have outdoor event space and over a dozen shops and food and beverage outlets as well. Meeting planning professionals are going to be very interested in this property and how it will complement Savannah’s overall convention and meetings package.”

According to Jeannie Green, corporate director of sales at The Kessler Collection, the group’s aim with this property is to create a special experience for visitors and convention attendees.

“We are very excited to be building our third property from The Kessler Collection portfolio in Savannah, and to be creating a one-of-a-kind entertainment district unmatched anywhere in the Southeast.”

For media assistance, contact Summer Bozeman at [email protected] or 912.644.6429.

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Visit Savannah serves as the official destination marketing organization for the Savannah area tourism industry and is committed to driving economic prosperity in the greater Savannah community through increased overall visitation and related spending while continuing to build upon Savannah’s image as a world-class destination.