About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 2019)
September 23, 2019, The Islander, Page 3 City conference center Continued from Page 1 one. She also stated, “The conference center should be operated by the ho tel management company for a seam less consumer experience, as well as to maximize its economic impact and provide Brunswick with a competitive meeting destination.” The Key study recommended that to meet market demand and proj ect objectives the conference center should offer 6,000 square feet of total meeting space with a building size of between 10,000 and 12,000 square feet. The current Oglethorpe conference center as designed is 21,000 square feet with 8,800 square feet of meeting / usable space. Ms. Wilson’s comments about the current plan: “The stand-alone facility is planned to include 8,800 square feet of usable meeting space within 21,000 gross square feet of space. While the usable square footage is not overly excessive, the total square footage of the building appears to be highly inefficient.” Wilson used the Hilton Garden Inn Albany as a comparison since it is a public / private partnership including a hotel and conference center. “As a benchmark the Hilton has similar usable square footage, 9,000 square feet, however the total build ing square footage is 13,000 square feet.” According to the Key report: “The success of the conference center is con tingent on the development of the ad jacent hotel to be built concurrently.” “Without the proposed 125-room nationally-branded hotel, demand for the conference center will not occur as outlined.” “The development of the conference center must be paired to the interests of the hotel developer.” According to the Key study the na tionally branded hotel should be able to attract smaller, moderately priced associations, SMERF (social, military, education, religious and fraternal meetings), and corporate groups look ing for a quaint urban experience. According to the Key report: “The facility would be a value play against the high cost of beach front / resort al ternatives; focused on business with high functionality without resort dis tractions; differentiated by a smaller sized group target whereas Jekyll’s Convention Center focus is on 250 plus person groups; and focused on capturing 50 percent group demand where Brunswick hotels currently have a limited group base due to high FLETC demand.” Wilson concluded that a 4,500 square foot ballroom accommodating up to 300 persons for banquet seating and divisible into three or four break out sections would be the proper size for the Oglethorpe Conference Center. The balance of the usable square footage, 1,500 sq. ft., would be avail able for smaller groups during the week and also could be ‘broken out’ into two or three smaller sections. She concluded that the gross indoor square footage of 10,000 to 12,000 sq. ft. would include pre-function, back- of-the-house, storage and circulation. “Once the facility is developed, it is recommended that the Golden Isles Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) support the region with a group sales effort,” the report concluded. During the presentation Mayor Harvey commented, “We plan to put city departments into the conference center that’s why we have a larger design.” “But you reduced the back spaces and there won’t be room for the city departments,” he said. Commissioner Felicia Harris said, “What separates us from what every one else has is the top notch technolo gy and design and the cultural (aspect of the conference center ).” “No other place represents what this area has / is. We have a culture people will want to come to see,” Har ris said. Wilson said, “That (culture) would be a part of selling the story; how the property is marketed and sold.” “Can that be incorporated into the space?” Harris asked. Then Harris said, “There would be no space to hold high school graduations (the impli cation being if the usable size were reduced).” The Mayor said, “We want a small cultural arts center as well. We want more than just a banquet room. We want visitors to return to our area.” Wilson responded, “A cultural at traction is a different thing. I did a conference center study. Cultural cen ters don’t make money.” Then Wilson said again, “The cul ture would be part of the interior de sign, the story telling and selling of the center.” Commissioner Julie Martin asked Wilson for a break even time frame for the conference center. Wilson estimated about three years. Mayor Harvey said, “I don’t agree with the scope of work. We knew many of the things she told us.” Commissioner Johnny Cason com mented that the commission should use the study. ‘Without the hotel we do nothing,” Cason said. Mayor Harvey asked LaRon Ben nett, “Where are we on the hotel?” Bennett said, “They are still com mitted. They are waiting on us to de cide (on the conference center).” Bennett continued, “Early on we decided against constructing a facility that depended on a hotel. If we make the center smaller, we won’t have room for high school graduations. This study was geared toward the hotel’s needs.” “If we reduce the size of the center, it won’t accommodate all the needs you (the city) are looking for. A 300 seat facility will struggle,” he said. “If you cut the size of the center in half you will be starting from scratch (with a design),” he said. The end result was the commission decided to hold another work session in “a couple of weeks” to discuss the costs of both the smaller center and Turn to Page 10 City conference center From festiuities for a feuu to merriments for many, the Georgia Sea GrilL team is ready to e Leu ate your next celebration from an euenttoan experience. The Georgia/ Sea Grill Experience. Learn more about houu our perfection-driuen, budget-minded team can host your next gathering by calling 912.638.TI97 or emaii euents@georgiaseagriLL.com. 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