NEWPORT – The Newport & Bristol County Convention & Visitors Bureau may get a facelift.
The bureau announced this week the winners of contests to redesign its interior and exterior and better integrate technology.
Officials now plan to draft a final plan and seek money to pay for its implementation.
“We wanted to come up with really bold new dynamic exhibits and settings that would really impress and inspire visitors to seek out things throughout the entire destination,” bureau President and CEO Evan Smith said.
The 23-year-old center welcomes about 500,000 people a year. Originally paid for by the federal government and now owned by the city, the center includes a tourist information center, bus stop and parking garage.
Looking to upgrade the interior of the center, the bureau launched a competition in the summer. Smith said officials plan to take portions of each winning proposal and combine them into a final plan.
The winners are:
Best Interior Design
Best Exterior Design
Best Utilization of Technology
Being part of the winning design does not guarantee a contract. But the first place winner in the best interior design category received $2,000, the second place $1,000 and the honorable mention a certificate. First place winners in the exterior and technology categories received $1,000, second place winners $500 and honorable mentions a certificate.
Even with a plan, the bureau will be limited to renovating only the inside of the center. But officials plan to offer the exterior plans to the city free of charge.
This is a project that needs to happen desperately! Newport deserves a much better “front door” than the current Visitors’ Center offers.