Hilton Unveils Powerful Culinary Partnership With Grey Spaces As Signia Hilton Savannah Prepares For 2028 Luxury Debut

Written By: Ricky Acharjee

Ricky Acharjee

I am travel writer at Travel And Tour World with 3 years of experience covering global tourism, aviation, hospitality, and destination news. Dedicated to accurate reporting and compelling storytelling, Ricky explores the trends, innovations, and developments shaping the international travel industry while delivering engaging insights for travellers and industry professionals.

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August 12, 2026 11:52 AM

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Hilton has revealed a new culinary collaboration for Signia Hilton Savannah, bringing together the luxury hotel brand with Grey Spaces, the Savannah-based hospitality and lifestyle company founded by James Beard Award-winning Chef Mashama Bailey and restaurateur Johno Morisano. The partnership will introduce Grey Spaces’ celebrated culinary identity to one of Savannah’s most highly anticipated hotel openings, scheduled to debut in 2028.

Chef Mashama Bailey and Johno Morisano are the creative forces behind Grey Spaces and the acclaimed Savannah restaurant The Grey, which opened in 2014 inside a carefully restored 1938 Greyhound bus terminal. The restaurant has gained international recognition for its distinctive approach to Southern cuisine, blending history, culture and community through food.

Built around the idea of transforming strangers into friends, Grey Spaces celebrates connection, storytelling and the diverse influences that shape Southern hospitality. The company’s expanding portfolio includes The Grey in Savannah, L’Arrêt by The Grey in Paris, along with a range of cultural and creative projects that showcase the depth and evolution of Southern food traditions to audiences around the world.

Through the new partnership with Hilton, Chef Mashama Bailey, Johno Morisano and Grey Spaces will help define the culinary experience at Signia Hilton Savannah. Their involvement will include the development of restaurant concepts, menu creation, wine programmes and the overall food and beverage strategy across the hotel’s dining spaces.

The culinary vision will extend throughout the property, including the lobby bar, all-day dining restaurant and a rooftop venue designed to provide sweeping views of Savannah’s skyline and waterfront. Each venue will feature a unique identity created exclusively for Signia Hilton Savannah, offering experiences that are separate from Grey Spaces’ existing Savannah concepts.

The collaboration aims to create memorable dining and social spaces where hotel guests, local residents and visitors can enjoy innovative food experiences while discovering a new perspective on Savannah’s culture and hospitality. Through thoughtful design, creative cuisine and a strong connection to place, the partnership will position Signia Hilton Savannah as a destination for dining, gathering and cultural discovery when it opens in 2028.

“At Signia Hilton Savannah, we’re excited to create a culinary destination that reflects the spirit of Savannah and the Lowcountry, embraces heritage through food and draws on the global influences that have shaped my journey as a chef. It’s about creating a place that feels connected to the city – one that belongs as much to guests as it does to the community,” said Chef Mashama.

“There’s an art to building a dining program from the ground up – thoughtfully shaping how guests move through each setting and how the experience unfolds. Our philosophy with Grey Spaces centers on radical hospitality: creating places where people gather naturally and strangers can become friends. With Savannah as our home base, we’re excited to bring that same intentionality to this partnership with Hilton,” said Johno Morisano.

“Savannah is a city with extraordinary culinary heritage, and Chef Mashama is a defining gastronomic voice and trailblazer in the community. What she and Johno have built at The Grey is a testament to their love for this city and its story,” said Brian Abel, senior vice president, food and beverage operations & development, Americas, Hilton. “We are honored to partner with Grey Spaces and look forward to bringing their perspective to the hotel, underscoring both Hilton and Signia Hilton’s commitment to working with world-class culinary partners to create exceptional, destination-driven dining.”

Chef Mashama Bailey

Born in the Bronx and raised across New York City and the coastal communities of Georgia, James Beard Award-winning Chef Mashama Bailey has developed a culinary identity deeply influenced by Southern heritage, family traditions and her experiences in some of the world’s most respected kitchens. Inspired by the women in her family and shaped by her time living and working in Europe and New York, she brings a unique perspective that blends history, culture and modern culinary creativity.

Chef Mashama received her professional training at the Institute of Culinary Education and expanded her culinary knowledge through studies in Burgundy, France. She later gained valuable experience in renowned kitchens, including a defining period at Prune in New York under the guidance of celebrated chef Gabrielle Hamilton. Her journey eventually led her to become co-founder of Grey Spaces and executive chef of the acclaimed restaurant The Grey.

Her exceptional talent and dedication have earned her some of the highest honours in the culinary world. In 2019, Chef Mashama received the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast. Three years later, she made history as the first African American woman to win the James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef.

Together with Johno Morisano, she has guided The Grey to international recognition, with the restaurant receiving widespread acclaim from leading publications including Eater, TIME and Food & Wine. Her culinary journey was also featured in Netflix’s Chef’s Table, bringing her story and vision to a global audience.

In 2026, Chef Mashama was recognised among the world’s most influential figures through the TIME100 list and was named North America’s Best Female Chef by The World’s 50 Best. Beyond her restaurant achievements, she serves as chair of the Edna Lewis Foundation, an organisation dedicated to preserving African American culinary heritage, celebrating Southern food traditions and creating greater opportunities within the hospitality industry.

Johno Morisano

Born and raised in Staten Island, New York, Johno Morisano is an entrepreneur, author, speaker and restaurateur whose work connects hospitality with art, culture, community development and social change. As co-founder and managing partner of Grey Spaces, he has spent nearly 15 years creating meaningful experiences built around food, creativity and human connection.

As the driving strategic force behind Grey Spaces, Johno has helped shape the company’s growth through innovative partnerships and projects that bring people together in thoughtfully designed environments. His approach combines hospitality, design and a strong commitment to creating spaces where communities can connect and thrive.

With a belief that food has the power to build relationships and transform communities, Johno focuses on developing places that encourage belonging, creativity and shared experiences. His work reflects a vision of hospitality that goes beyond traditional dining by creating welcoming environments where guests feel connected and valued.

Through his ventures, Johno continues to explore new ways of bringing people together through culture, design and exceptional hospitality. His philosophy centres on creating spaces that imagine positive futures, strengthen communities and embrace the idea that every guest should be welcomed like a friend.

“The partnership between Signia Hilton Savannah and Grey Spaces showcases what makes Savannah such a special destination for meetings and conventions,” said Kelvin D. Moore, senior vice president and general manager, the Savannah Convention Center. “As our headquarters hotel, Signia Hilton Savannah will be an extension of the convention experience, giving attendees an authentic connection to Savannah through its local culinary and hospitality partners. Collaborations like this help meeting planners deliver memorable experiences while reinforcing Savannah’s reputation as a destination where business and local culture come together.”

As the second Signia by Hilton property in Georgia, Signia Hilton Savannah is set to become a major hospitality landmark on the city’s riverfront. The 444-room luxury hotel will operate as the official headquarters hotel for the Savannah Convention Center, strengthening Savannah’s position as a leading destination for meetings, conferences and large-scale events. The property is owned by the Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority and is being developed through a partnership with the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. Hilton will manage the hotel, while Songy Highroads and Matthews Southwest Hospitality are serving as co-developers.

Designed to deliver a premium experience for business and leisure travellers, Signia Hilton Savannah will offer more than 34,000 square feet of event and meeting facilities, including a spacious 13,000-square-foot ballroom. The hotel will also feature five dining and beverage concepts, an outdoor swimming pool and Club Signia, providing guests with elevated services and exclusive amenities.

With contemporary architecture, upscale facilities and a direct connection to the Savannah Convention Center, the new property aims to create a seamless experience for visitors attending major events while also showcasing the culture, history and attractions of one of the Southeast’s most celebrated destinations.

The hotel’s culinary vision has been shaped through a collaboration with Chef Mashama and Grey Spaces, developed with support from StiR Creative Collective, Hilton’s internal global food and beverage advisory team. The partnership reflects Hilton’s wider strategy of working with respected chefs, culinary experts and hospitality innovators to create distinctive dining experiences across its international portfolio.

Signia Hilton Savannah’s culinary programme follows Hilton’s growing network of collaborations with renowned industry figures throughout the Americas. These partnerships include celebrated chefs such as Michael Anthony at Waldorf Astoria New York, Michael Mina at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, and José Andrés and José Andrés Group at Waldorf Astoria Washington DC and Conrad Los Angeles. The brand has also worked with leading beverage specialists, including Ariel Arce at Conrad New York Downtown and Jeff Bell at Waldorf Astoria New York.

Through its combination of luxury accommodation, advanced meeting facilities, destination-focused design and innovative food and beverage concepts, Signia Hilton Savannah is expected to become a key addition to Savannah’s growing hospitality landscape.