Rhode Island tourism – never been bigger
PROVIDENCE – Early this summer Gov. Lincoln Almond saluted Rhode Island’s travel and tourism industry for setting another record – nearly $2.7 billion in 1999 sales revenues, representing a 9 percent increase over the numbers from a record 1998. The Rhode Island Tourism Division reported that the state’s travel and tourism industry has increased its sales with each successive year, generating total receipts of $1.87 billion in 1996, $2.26 billion in 1997 and $2.48 billion in 1998. The statistics are compiled annually by University of Rhode Island Professor Timothy Tyrrell, of the Department of Resource Economics. Tyrrell’s estimates include 14.4 million visitors traveling to Rhode Island in 1999 for business, conventions or leisure.
Additional figures in Tyrrell’s report show that the number of tourism-related businesses and jobs have increased as well. In 1999, 5,152 businesses contributed to 35,092 jobs and more than $559 million in full-time equivalent wages paid.
Rhode Island's Market Has Changed. Developers, Builders, Investors and Sellers Must Change With It.
By Emilio DiSpirito IV License Partner | Engel & Völkers Oceanside Leader | The DiSpirito…
Learn More
Bookings have continued in 2000
PROVIDENCE – Bookings are up at the Providence-Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, which just released its sales results for the year ending June 30, 2000.
There were 95 total bookings of meetings and conventions this year, up from 74 total bookings in fiscal year 1999, with 55 bookings at the R.I. Convention Center, an increase of 16 conventions over last year. The PWCVB booked 106,606 definite room nights this year, down slightly from 106,920 in 1999, and sold more than a million square feet of exhibit space, 1,006,511 compared to 832,571 square feet last year.
Total delegate spending was estimated at $67,046,545 with a total of 79,862 delegates attending conventions, a figure based on an average per delegate spending of $839.53 as determined by the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus Foundation’s Convention Income Survey Report. And attendance for conventions during the 2001 fiscal year is estimated to rise to 123,742 attendees.
The PWCVB also released survey results of overnight leisure visitors to the greater Providence area during 1998 to 1999. Conducted by D.K. Shifflet & Associates, the survey reported that trip expenditures of Providence visitors totaled $89 per day, consistent with the national average.
Sixty-one percent of the visitors rated their overall satisfaction of the trip as excellent, and 53 percent felt that it was an excellent value for the money. The survey showed that most visitors to Providence are families, couples or lone travelers as opposed to groups of friends or same sex travelers, and that the primary purpose for the trips included visiting friends and relatives or attending a special event.
The study showed the average visitor to Providence is 43 years old, has a household income of $60,100 and 15.3 years of education. Most travel either over 100 miles or under 100 miles to visit Providence, with the majority of travelers coming from Connecticut, Massachusetts or New York.
Most often the visitor will spend three nights in a hotel or motel, and visit during the summer season.
Magazine recognizes PWCVB with Gold Service Award
PROVIDENCE — The Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau has been selected by the readers of Meetings & Conventions (M&C) magazine to receive its 2000 Gold Service Award. Now in its 17th year, Meetings & Conventions’ Gold Service Award is presented to industry Convention and Visitors Bureaus that have excelled in professionalism and dedication in their service to meeting professionals.
”The PWCVB is proud to receive this award from one of the most respected national publications in the meetings and conventions industry,” said John Flaherty, vice president of convention sales and marketing at the PWCVB. “I congratulate our staff and our business partners who have gone the extra mile to satisfy our convention clients on an award-winning level.”
This marks the second time that PWCVB has earned this honor.
This year, 72 domestic and international CVBs were honored with the Gold Service distinction through voting by M&C’s readers. The publication’s more than 76,000 corporate, incentive and association meeting professionals used the following criteria for voting: Overall professionalism of staff; support on hotels and site inspections; assistance with ground transportation and planning; guidance on local attractions and facilities; and liaison with local vendors and services.
The PWCVB and other winners will be honored and receive their Gold Service Award as part of M&C’s Gold Award gala ceremony on November 10, 2000 in New York City.
