Carcieri named first ‘ambassador’ for city
Donald L. Carcieri has held many titles in his life, including governor and CEO. Now, thanks to a new campaign by the Newport County Convention & Visitors Bureau, he can add ambassador.
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In a ceremony at the State House, Carcieri was named the organization’s first “ambassador,” a designation created to encourage Rhode Islanders to bring meetings and events to Newport.
The goal of the Newport Ambassador program, according to the bureau, is to get Rhode Islanders to bring meetings to Newport. Though the marketing of the region is outsourced to the general community under the program, the bureau will work with the ambassador to research hotel rates and availability, recommend off-site venues and recreational activities and make presentations to decision-makers about Newport.
While the bureau is not paying the ambassadors, they will get a star outside the Newport Gateway Visitors Center, much like the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
But more importantly, the ambassadors get a chance to trumpet Newport as a premier meeting location and get the opportunity to help boost the state’s economy, according to Martha Sheridan, vice president of sales for the visitors bureau. Conferences and meetings, she said, have the opportunity to pump money into the local market and create repeat visitors.
“We want to educate Rhode Islanders on just how important this business is to the state,” Sheridan said.
In accepting the ambassador title, Carcieri spoke about the importance of tourism to the state’s economy. He and his wife, Sue, have promoted tourism, most recently with a “see your own state” campaign. The one-day event, which took place earlier this month, took 1,200 residents across the state.
In Rhode Island, tourism has become a thriving part of the state’s economy, with more than $4.69 billion generated in 2004.
Particularly, Newport is a strong selling point to draw tourists to Rhode Island, the governor said.
“I think it’s the jewel of our state in terms of tourism,” he said.
Conferences and meetings are a key portion of visitor dollars, according to visitors bureau President and CEO Evan Smith. According to Destination Marketing Association International, conference attendees spend an average of $989 during their stay in a destination.
Smith said conferences and meetings generate business for local hotels, restaurants and shops.
In addition to Carcieri, who secured the meeting of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers in Newport for this month, the Newport bureau announced five ambassador awards. They included:
•Nancy Lalli of the city of Newport, who has helped bring the New England States Government Finance Officers Association to Newport for its October 2008 meeting.
•Ronald Lee, professor at the University of Rhode Island, who helped secure the National Association of Museum Executors at State Universities meeting for October 2006.
•Ned Quist, professor at Brown University, who helped persuade the Music Library Association to come to Newport in February 2008.
•Darrell Waldron, executive director of the Rhode Island Indian Council, who brought the National Indian Native American Employment Training Conference to Newport in April.
Anybody wishing to become an ambassador is encouraged to contact the bureau’s sales team and submit a letter of endorsement for their company or organization.
