Rhode Island has an opportunity to attract national attention in July, when the state hosts the National Governors Association summer meeting, a convention that is expected to draw at least 750 elected officials, their staff and business leaders who want to network with them.
State and local business partners, including the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, are marketing the three-day convention as an opportunity to showcase the state’s cultural, historic and culinary strengths.
Two marketing videos produced by the PWCVB have been posted on the NGA website. The first, narrated by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, is an invitation to come to Rhode Island, and includes an overview of the social events, including an introduction to the arts at the Providence Performing Arts Center, a taste of Rhode Island food at the Statehouse and an oceanfront clambake in Newport.
A second video is more broadly aimed at the features of Rhode Island in the summer, including aerial photographs of beaches, Block Island’s Southeast Light and the Newport mansions.
Martha Sheridan, president and CEO of the visitors bureau, said the video narrated by the governor was produced to specifically market the event, and aimed at the likely attendees.
“In this case, we customized the video for what we knew would be the agenda of the National Governors Association, … knowing they would be taking in many parts of Rhode Island while they are here,” Sheridan said.
The convention is a mid-sized one in terms of size of attendees, but given the nature of the group, it could be expected to attract national media. The National Governors Association has two conventions a year, including one always held in Washington, D.C., in the winter.
Rhode Island last hosted the summer event in 2001.
The only difference in the intervening years is the number of attendees expected, she said. The convention has contracted in size, possibly because of the advent of webcasting that allows media and other interested parties to watch live online rather than attend.
At least 30 governors are expected to attend the meeting this year.
In terms of impact, the convention business for Rhode Island has more economic power than the same number of visitors if they arrived as separate tourists. Not only do conventioneers spend money in the state, but the organizations typically spend a great deal of money on facility rentals and other services.
In terms of numbers, the NGA 2017 Summer Meeting is smaller than several that are scheduled for June and July.
The summer is actually becoming a peak period for conventions in Providence, despite the appeal of the coastal areas.
Rhode Island was to host a convention of airline managers and airline route managers this month, followed by an international association of university housing officials expected to attract 1,500 people.
For national exposure however, the NGA meeting is likelier to cast a brighter light on the state.
“Any time the majority of the nation’s governors get together, which is essentially what these meetings are, it attracts a lot of attention,” said Elena Watkins, a spokeswoman for the NGA.
Rhode Island made a bid for the program in 2015 and learned that summer it would be hosting the event, which runs from July 13-15. The decision tipped in its favor for reasons including location, hotel and venue space, transportation, and security and volunteer needs, according to the association.
The governors will discuss an agenda that includes pressing matters, such as cybersecurity, the global economy and trade, and the workforce of tomorrow. The social schedule will include a personalized WaterFire Providence event and an evening clambake, fireworks and performance by Billy Gilman at the Eisenhower House in Newport.
All of the venues give the state an opportunity to showcase its strength, explained Cara Cromwell, executive director of Rhode Island NGA 2017. The nonprofit has raised funds to produce the event. No state funds are used, she said. A figure was not disclosed.
The meeting was promoted by Raimondo at the last summer meeting, held in Des Moines, Iowa. She brought chowder from Blount Fine Foods. At the Washington meeting this year, the governor brought boxes of gourmet doughnuts from PVDonuts and a doughnut cake from Allie’s Donuts to help promote the summer event.
“It’s not only fantastic for the purpose of bringing in tourism dollars, but many business leaders from around the country come to these meetings to interact with the governors and learn about the policy issues that the governors are facing,” Cromwell said. “It really is an opportunity to showcase Rhode Island as a great place to live, work and do business.”
