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SAVANNAHCHAMBER.COM 37 W O R K I N G H E R E A TOURISM MAGNET Savannah and Chatham County's tourism and hospitality industry continues to be a powerhouse for Savannah's visitor economy. The industry currently supports more than 30,000 area jobs and careers. Savannah annually ranks as one of America's top visitor destinations in popular publications and websites like Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Trip Advisor and CNN Travel. Savannah attracts more than 14.7 million visitors annually, with these welcomed visitors spending more than $4.7 billion every year. Savannah also boasts having one of the Southeast's largest convention centers, which is currently undergoing a massive $276 million expansion, and is served with nonstop fl ights from 36 cities around the country. AN AVIATION HUB Savannah is the home of Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. — which employs close to 11,000 in the region — and the Savannah/ Hilton Head International Airport. It's also geographically positioned between The Boeing Co. in Charleston and Embraer in Jacksonville making Savannah ideally situated for air travel and aerospace manufacturing. Local colleges sweeten the deal, creating a specialized workforce of experts by offering tailored educational programs, including aircraft structural and electrical assembly. STRONG MILITARY ASSETS Along with a storied military history from the Revolutionary War to the Mighty Eighth Air Force, the city is home to Hunter Army Airfi eld, a vital hub of the Fort Stewart complex, which is the largest military installation east of the Mississippi River. Fort Stewart, with headquarters located 40 miles southwest of Savannah in Hinesville, is home of the 3rd Infantry Division. Together, Hunter and Fort Stewart have an annual $4.9 billion fi nancial impact on the local economy. Savannah is also home to a signifi cant U.S. Coast Guard presence and an Air National Guard unit. A CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY MECCA Workforce development programs and a wealth of higher education options keep Savannahians on top of the latest trends in technology — from interactive entertain- ment design and fi lm and media produc- tion to logistics management and database development. Another resource, The Creative Coast, a nonprofi t organization in partnership with the Savannah Economic Development Authority and the City of Savannah, nurtures and supports those engaged in creative or innovative endeavors. Georgia continues to be a top fi lming state, and Chatham County is second only to Atlanta in the number of movie and TV shoots hosted in the Peach State. The bright lights are nothing new to places like Savannah and Tybee Island, which were backdrops for such classics as "Glory," "Forrest Gump" and local favorite "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." "Manhunt," a history-based drama about the hunt for assassin John Wilkes Booth, and the Clint Eastwood-directed thriller "Juror Number Two" are some of the locally fi lmed projects debuting in 2024. ENERGETIC MAIN STREET From valuable antiques to visitor souvenirs, Savannah's retail sector offers it all, with national chains as well as independent and unique shops all thriving. Sample the offerings at Oglethorpe Mall on Abercorn Street and along key commercial corridors such as U.S. 17 in Richmond Hill and Godley Station in Pooler, near the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Pooler is also the home to Tanger Outlets Savannah, just off I-95. Indie boutiques, multinational restaurants and trend-setting bistros enliven Savannah's downtown Historic District, including local hot spots Broughton Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the Downtown Design District near Whitaker and Jones streets, and the bustling enclaves of Savannah's Waterfront and City Market. In Midtown, the Starland District is a dynamic area of shops, restaurants, nightspots and venues. Visitor Spending (in billions): Year Spending 2014 $2.5 2015 $2.7 2016 $2.8 2017 $2.91 2018 $3 2019 $3.1 2020 $2.75 2021 $3.3 2022 $4 2023 $4.7 Source: Longwoods International R O B I N E L I S E M A A Y A / S A V A N N A H M A G A Z I N E Big Bon Bodega A N D Y Y O U N G / S A V A N N A H R E G I O N A L F I L M C O M M I S S I O N