WITH ITS EASY CHARM, avant-garde style and string of economic development wins, Savannah attracts more than visitors. This dynamic riverfront Georgian city, perhaps best known for its breathtaking squares, stately historic mansions and moss-veiled live oaks, is also a magnet for business, attracting $279 million in investment in 2016 that created more than 1,000 new jobs.

“Savannah is booming,” says Hugh “Trip” Tollison, president and CEO, the Savannah Economic Development Authority. “Our container port is the fastest-growing port in the United States. We’re a hub for manufacturing and healthcare. We’ve seen double-digit growth in tourism, too.”

Visitors have flocked to Savannah ever since John Berendt’s novel about the city, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, was published in 1994; since then, the city’s distinctive style — hip but welcoming, casual and fun-loving — and natural beauty created a boom that shows no sign of slowing. “Savannah still has an undiscovered vibe,” says Erica Backus, director of public relations, Visit Savannah. “People sometimes expect sleepy but are delighted to find vibrant music, art and food scenes.”

All that tourism growth created an influx of new and improved lodging options that include major updates to the city’s main Westin, Marriott and Hyatt properties as well as construction green lights for trendy newcomers like AC Hotels, West Elm — an offshoot of the lifestyle brand — Tribute and Aloft. JW Marriott and other luxury brands are also moving into Savannah, as are independent boutique properties. Plenty of new restaurants appear on the menu, too, most notably a Savannah outpost of Husk, celebrity chef Sean Brock’s farm-to-table flagship.

“In the next three years, we’ll add about 16,000 hotel rooms to the historic district,” says Backus. But where some cities might fear a loss of visual identity with so many new hotels, Savannah is excited about what they’ll bring to the city. “Our hotel partners are sensitive to the importance of protecting the integrity of the historic district and have gotten very creative with their design. JW Marriott, for instance, is taking over the old power plant for their project. The design incorporates the original smokestacks.”

Savannah History Walking Tour © VISIT SAVANNAH

Much of Savannah’s focus on utilizing existing structures can be traced to Savannah College of Art and Design, which arrived on the scene in 1978 with a mission not only to provide excellent arts education but also to prepare students for professional careers in the arts. Today it ranks as the largest and most comprehensive art and design university in the United States, offering more than 100 unique programs of study that go beyond traditional art degrees to include furniture design, fashion marketing and management, architecture and design for sustainability. And while the economic impact of 13,000 students and 1,700 employees has been significant — a recent study estimates the number to be around $386 million — a secondary benefit is the ongoing cultural shift toward the preservation of Savannah’s historic district. As the college successfully restored and revitalized dozens of buildings into dorms, galleries, shops and classrooms, it encouraged others to do the same.

It’s working. The SCAD Effect, as it is often called, energized redevelopment efforts both within the historic district and throughout the city. Projects like The Grey, which converted the city’s 1938 Art Deco Greyhound Bus Station into a buzzing, nationally recognized eatery, worked as catalysts for change in transitioning neighborhoods. “SCAD’s impact on downtown cannot be overstated,” says Tollison. “Their contributions are immeasurable.”

As it continues to age beautifully, Savannah has caught the eye of television and film scouts: More than 100 professional projects have recently been produced in the Savanah area, contributing an estimated $62 million to the city’s diverse economy.

As the wins continue to stack up, though, Savannah isn’t slowing down. “Our next big push is to cultivate and maintain all of the economic sectors that have contributed to our success,” says Tollison. “With so many projects in the pipeline, including major improvements to the port, I’d say our prospects are pretty good.”

SCENIC DRIVES
Edging through a mosaic of salt marshes, glassy rivers and live oak trees so tall they transform the roadway into a lattice-roofed tunnel, the hour-or-so drive between Savannah and Beaufort is breathtakingly beautiful. Beaufort gained fame for its starring role in the movie The Big Chill (you’ll recognize the house at 1 Laurens Street in the Old Point section); star Tom Berenger loved the city so much he stayed. It’s no wonder: Attitude-free galleries, boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants tuck under the city’s ancient live oak trees and along the pretty waterfront. Locals flock to Saltus River Grill for river views or cruise east on the Sea Island Parkway to the Shrimp Shack, where you can feast on signature shrimp burgers on the back porch.

Located just 20 minutes from the city, Tybee Island is a world away from Savannah. There are wide beaches, creeks filled with wildlife and not a fast-food joint to be found. Surfers can catch waves just south of the pier; discover calmer waters for swimming by floating farther north, toward Eighth Street. Beyond the beach, a network of tidal creeks weaves through the marshy land, giving kayakers and canoeists smooth sailing to spy on shy turtles, dolphins (which will often approach your small craft) and colorful painted buntings. Tybee Island is also home to Fort Pulaski, built in 1829 from nearly 25 million bricks. Guided tours are free and fascinating; on your own, climb the walls and take in the view all the way to Hilton Head Island or roam the 56,000 acres of parkland that surround the fort.