(Updated, 12:10 p.m.)
PROVIDENCE – The Creative Capital won high marks in Travel & Leisure magazine’s 2009 visitors’ survey of “America’s Favorite Cities,” finishing in the top 10 for categories such as the style and intelligence of its people and especially for amenities like its theaters and T.F. Green Airport.
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Travel + Leisure, a monthly publication owned by American Express Publishing Corp., asked visitors to rank their 30 favorite cities in the United States, as chosen by the magazine, and Providence was included this year for the first time. The survey asked visitors about, among other factors, the cities’ culture, shopping, restaurants, night life, quality of life, people and affordability.
“Providence’s high ranking in Travel & Leisure underscores the importance of investing in our city’s arts and culture sector, an important economic driver and jobs generator,” Mayor David N. Cicilline said in a statement Wednesday announcing the survey results. The mayor noted that the city’s respectable rankings are sure to “attract more people to our wonderful, vibrant city and help fuel our local economy.”
Although the visitors’ survey focused on Providence alone, T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, which serves the Providence market, gave the city its only two first-place finishes, both in the airports category: first for staff efficiency, which includes security and luggage handling, and first for on-time arrivals and departures. The local airport ranked second for design and functionality, which includes architecture, layout and signage.
Patti Goldstein, vice president of public affairs and air service marketing at Green, noted that no other New England airport was ranked as highly by the magazine. In overall rankings among the 30 cities, Green came in fifth, and the only other New England airport listed was Boston’s Logan International at No. 26, the magazine said.
“We are pleased,” Goldstein told Providence Business News. Although traffic at Green is down due to the economy, the survey shows that the “folks who do use Green find it easier to use,” and ongoing improvements at the airport such as completion of the intermodal walkway bode well for its future, she said.
“It’s a great testament to everyone who works here every day,” Goldstein added.
The magazine noted that despite being a new addition to the survey, “tiny Providence starts in the middle of the category, but elbows its way into the big leagues.” In overall ratings, the magazine ranked Providence 13th out of the 30 cities.
Martha Sheridan, president and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the survey results are “a tremendous honor for the city and demonstrate how far Providence has come as a visitor destination.”
Sheridan noted that her agency worked hard to have Providence included among the magazine’s 30 favorite cities, launching a campaign among supporters to take one of the spots that opened up when Travel & Leisure expanded its list last year.
She said she is particularly pleased by the top rankings that Green airport won, calling it “the gateway” to Rhode Island, as well as the high marks for the city’s dining establishments, arts and culture. “This reinforces what we’ve all known about Providence,” she said.
Categories in which Providence ranked in the top 10 were: stylish people, where it placed at No. 8; intelligent people, No. 9; diversity, No. 10; affordable getaway, No. 8; cultural getaway, No. 10; bed and breakfasts, inns, No. 5; cocktail hour, No. 8; singles/bar scene, No. 10; classical music, No. 10; theater, No. 4; historical sites and monuments, No. 9; antique and vintage shops, No. 6; ethnic food, No. 7; cafes and coffee bars, No. 6; neighborhood taverns, No. 2; noteworthy neighborhoods, No. 7; safety, No. 10.
Other cities in the survey included obvious contenders such as New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago, along with Seattle, Honolulu, New Orleans, Kansas City, Charleston, Las Vegas, St. Paul/Minneapolis, Nashville and San Antonio. The magazine also ranked the cities on the basis of surveys completed by residents.
The full results of both surveys can be seen on the magazine’s Web site.
