Business Community Applauds New Jekyll Island Convention Center
Contact Anna Hall
912.635.4046
ahall@jekyllisland.com
Dozens of members of the regional business community gathered at the new Jekyll Island Convention
Center Thursday, May 10, to receive a sneak peak look at the new event space.
Resoundingly, guests invited to the first-look of the center were heard commenting on the venues
amazing use of natural colors, environmentally-friendly elements and state-of-the-art design as they
toured the 128,000-sqaure foot space.
The center will be a major boon for the regional businesses, providing not only a breath-taking view of
the ocean, but also giving meeting and trade show planners a new venue for hosting events, said Phillis
George, Ph.D., Director of Service-Learning for the College of Coastal Georgia.
"The Jekyll Island Convention Center is truly a magnificent structure, which will be the envy of many
convention complexes and Chambers of Commerce nationwide,” she said. “We’re so very fortunate to
be benefactors of this visionary 'gathering place.' I’m already thinking of ways in which we might bring a
national service-learning conference to the Center.”
Following guided tours through the oceanfront center, the more than 75 guests at the event were
treated to a champagne toast with Legacy Champagne and hors d'oeuvres from the center’s catering
staff with SMG. A portion of all proceeds from Legacy Champagne and other Young Beverage
International products is donated to the Jekyll Island Foundation.
“Celebrate with us. This is the dawn of a new era for Jekyll Island and we are thrilled the area business
community is able to in share this monumental occasion,” said Jones Hooks, executive director of the
Jekyll Island Authority.
The Jekyll Island Convention Center will officially open May 20, with a ribbon cutting hosted by Gov.
Nathan Deal. The Jekyll Island Authority board, members of the Authority staff and the general public
will be in attendance at the ceremony and public open house reception. Following the reception, the
first convention in the new center, with the Georgia Rural Water Association, will begin.
The new Jekyll Island Convention Center has been a work in progress for more than four years, and will
prove to be a vessel of economic growth and tourism stimulation on Georgia’s jewel island. Already, the
new Center has booked more than 200 conventions through 2016, resulting in a statewide economic
impact of more than $40 million.
Features of the Jekyll Island Convention Center include:
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128,000-square feet, with the Atlantic Ballroom and two sections of Meeting Rooms
office: 912-635-2236
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100 James Road, Jekyll Island, Georgia 31527
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fax: 912-635-4004
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o Marsh-side section, with 5 meeting rooms
o Ocean-side section, with 5 meeting rooms and the Ben Porter Salon
7,800-square feet of ocean-front meeting space
Atlantic Hall, main ballroom, can be used as one 45,000-sqaure foot room or divided two, three
or four smaller rooms
o As one room, can hold 6,450 people for standing reception; 4,068 theater capacity;
2,520 roundtable reception; 2,100 classroom capacity; 250 tables at capacity
Individual low-lighting in 90 percent of the building
Extra women’s restroom for the increased comfort and convenience of female guests
Reclaimed South Georgia pine wood for the 2,800-square-foot Ben Porter Salon meeting area,
which features an additional 30,000-square-feet of outdoor patio and lawn space
Oyster shells used as material for interior and exterior floor surfaces
Beach hues of green, blue and sand used to reflect oceanic atmosphere and neighboring
maritime forest
Outdoor gazebo ideal for beachfront weddings and celebration
Three outdoor fire pits
Multiple indoor and outdoor pre-function gathering areas
Porte cochere outdoor entrance; can equip two, side-by-side motor coach buses
The only oceanfront convention center on the east coast south of New Jersey
Electric outlets hidden under carpet panel for wireless-feel
Wireless internet throughout the building
Walls decorated with photography capturing the essence of Jekyll Island, with images coming
from the “Nearest Faraway Place” Jekyll Island photography book
Anticipate at least Silver LEED Certification
o A reflective roof
o Solar panel overhangs
o Parking space for electric cars, complete with recharger
o 80,000-gallon cistern for rainwater storage
o Water-efficient landscape
Three adjacent hotels, giving the island 1,000 hotel rooms
o Hyatt Place, a limited-service, 135-bed hotel, to open 2013
o Westin, a full-service, 200-bed hotel, to open 2014
o Jekyll Island Club Hotel cottages, 39 suites, to open by 2014
Construction took less than 2 years, starting in 2010 and finishing Spring 2012, totaling $30.6
million
Georgia Rural Water Association will be the first convention in the center, with its annual
meeting to begin May 20
Center is contracted with SMG for management
St. Simons Island-native Allyson Jackson serves as manager, with 15 to 20 full-time employees
and an estimated 100 part-time employees will be hired, based on convention bookings
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More than 200 conventions booked through 2016; an estimated $40 million impact to local
economy
Jekyll Island Convention Center replaces the former Aquarama convention center built in 1961
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