SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah Convention Center today announced the selection of Sodexo Live! as its exclusive hospitality partner. Together, they will operate as Iron & Oak Hospitality, a new identity developed to complement the center’s expanded campus and evolving event profile. Inspired by the city’s historic architecture and iconic oak-lined landscape, the brand establishes a distinctive vision for dining at the convention center that celebrates Savannah’s rich heritage and sets a new benchmark for culinary service that reflects the city’s distinctive spirit and sense of place.
The comprehensive and competitive selection process focused on identifying a partner capable of elevating innovation, culinary and service quality and operational consistency at the scale required by the convention center’s continued growth.
“With the completion of our expansion, the Savannah Convention Center is now competing in a higher tier of the national meetings marketplace, creating new opportunities to host larger conventions and more complex, simultaneous events,” said Kelvin D. Moore, CMP, Senior Vice President of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority and General Manager of the Savannah Convention Center. “We believe the Savannah Convention Center has the potential to be recognized among the very best convention centers in the world, and partnerships like Sodexo Live! are essential to reaching our full potential. This collaboration allows us to elevate our food and beverage program while preserving the hospitality and authenticity that have defined the Savannah experience for decades.”
“Savannah is a city defined by its sense of place, its hospitality and its pride in welcoming people from around the world,” said Belinda Oakley, CEO of Sodexo Live!. “We’re honored to be entrusted by the Savannah Convention Center to play a meaningful role in the guest experience, using hospitality to complement the destination, support the moments that bring people together and ensure every visit feels distinctly Savannah.”
With a global presence, Sodexo Live! is a leader in bespoke catering, serving prestigious events and venues worldwide. At the Savannah Convention Center, the food and beverage program will emphasize locally inspired menus, sustainability practices and thoughtful presentation designed to enhance both guest experience and operational performance across conventions, meetings and special events.
Hospitality operations will be led by Sodexo Live! General Manager Andrew Brailsford and Executive Chef Dustin Ricker, whose combined experience spans decades of high-volume operations experience. Andrew most recently managed food and beverage operations for large-scale venues regionally in Columbus, Georgia, and Chef Ricker is known locally for his tenure as Executive Chef at Ardsley Station in Savannah where he earned multiple accolades, including Best New Restaurant and Best Overall Restaurant.
The announcement comes during a period of significant transformation for the Savannah Convention Center, following completion of its $276 million expansion and the recent groundbreaking of the adjacent 444-room Signia by Hilton headquarters hotel, further strengthening Savannah’s position as a premier meetings and convention destination.
Media Contact
Myesha Jones, Marketing & Communications Manager, Savannah Convention Center
Mjones@savtcc.com
Amy Procaccini, Senior Manager of Brand & Communications, Sodexo Live!
Amy.Procaccini@sodexo.com
About the Savannah Convention Center
Rising on the banks of the Savannah River with unbeatable views of the Historic District, the newly expanded Savannah Convention Center offers 660,000 square feet of state-of-the-art space designed to inspire connection, creativity, and commerce. As Georgia’s first LEED Gold–certified convention center, SCC blends Southern charm with smart sustainability, welcoming global events while boosting the local economy. Operated by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority since 2014, the SCC continues to set a bold standard for innovation in the meetings and events world.
About the Georgia World Congress Center Authority
Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) is a key driver for Georgia’s economy and the largest combined convention, sports, and entertainment destination in North America. Established in 1971, the GWCCA campus includes Georgia World Congress Center, Centennial Olympic Park, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and Signia by Hilton Atlanta. To learn more about the No. 1 convention, sports, and entertainment destination in the world, visit www.gwcca.org or follow GWCCA on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Sodexo Live!
Sodexo Live! manages prestigious convention, cultural, and sporting venues and major events all over the world. With 40,000 employees and 500 sites, Sodexo Live! offers clients a range of bespoke catering, sales, and event management services, helping to transform the consumer experience into unforgettable memories. Sodexo Live! commits to unlocking customers’ full potential while favoring local communities. Sodexo Live! contributes to the success of prestigious events such as Royal Ascot, the Tour de France, Roland-Garros, the Rugby World Cup and the Paris 2024 Games, and showcases exceptional venues such as the Eiffel Tower Restaurants, Bateaux Parisiens, Yachts de Paris, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the Hard Rock Stadium, the Scottish National Gallery, and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.