Greenville, South Carolina, to Build Downtown Conference Center

A $500 million mixed-use development is coming to downtown Greenville, South Carolina, and it’s set to include an 84,000-square-foot conference center and JW Marriott Hotel.

The planned conference center and 335-room hotel will be part of the Falls Park Conference District, a planned development spanning six acres along Greenville’s Reedy River. The district’s location will place it in view of the city’s downtown waterfalls, Liberty Bridge and Falls Park.

Construction on the Falls Park Conference District will begin in mid-2027 and is set to be completed in 2029.

“The conference district and a luxury hotel will strengthen year-round visitation, create jobs and generate visitor-driven tax revenue,” said Heath Dillard, president and CEO of VisitGreenvilleSC. “These projects will expand Greenville’s capacity to attract national association meetings and corporate events that we simply can’t host today.”

The city-owned conference center will feature 55,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space available for rent, including a 30,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom (divisible into six spaces), a 12,000-square-foot Junior Ballroom, nine meeting rooms and four boardrooms.

The upcoming JW Marriott will be connected to the conference center by an elevated pedestrian bridge and will include 8,800+ square feet of meeting space along with outdoor terraces.

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A first for South Carolina

Upon completion, the hotel will be the first JW Marriott opened in the state of South Carolina.

“Bringing JW Marriott to South Carolina is an important moment for our brand,” said Bruce Rohr, vice president and global brand leader of JW Marriott. “There is an authenticity to the city, a deep appreciation for its natural surroundings and a clear vision for its future that aligns closely with the values of JW Marriott.”

Downtown Greenville’s Bowater Building will be transformed into the city’s new JW Marriott. The Bowater Building’s central location plays a role in anchoring the future hotel and upcoming mixed-use development to the city’s public spaces and downtown businesses.

Auro Hotels, headquartered in Greenville, will lead the Bowater Building’s transformation into Greenville County’s largest hotel.

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“Great destinations attract great brands,” said DJ Rama, president and CEO of Auro Hotels. “We believe the arrival of South Carolina’s first JW Marriott reflects the destination Greenville has become.”

City leaders aim for the Falls Park Conference District and future JW Marriott to connect meetings and hospitality to downtown Greenville, generating economic activity throughout the year.

Sports Events in Greenville

Multiple sporting events have set up in Greenville in recent years. The SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament has been held at the city’s Bon Secours Wellness Arena nine times since 2005 and will remain the home of the annual tournament through 2028.

Bon Secours Wellness Arena also hosted eight teams for first- and second-round games of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2026.

“Greenville has proven its ability to host major sporting events, including the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament,” said Kayla Adams, national sports sales manager for VisitGreenvilleSC. “The JW Marriott and downtown conference center will build on that success by adding hotel capacity and flexible space to support teams, officials, media, sponsors and fan experiences. These investments strengthen our ability to compete for even more sports-related business in the future.”