The tourism sector is far too crucial to Rhode Island’s economy for it to get only partial attention from the state’s economic-development agency.
But that’s what is happening at R.I. Commerce Corp., where the chief marketing officer – the person in charge of promoting the Ocean State’s attractions – left the job in May and hasn’t been replaced.
Matt Sheaff, the agency’s director of communications and stakeholder outreach, has been filling in, and by all accounts has effectively overseen digital ad campaigns to draw in regional visitors.
But tourism has been brought to its knees by COVID-19, and R.I. Commerce would be better served by someone focused full time on taking the lead during the crisis.
Kristen Adamo, CEO and president of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, says R.I. Commerce is doing fine but acknowledges a permanent CMO will be needed to help the industry recover.
With thousands left jobless, tens of millions of dollars lost, the time for recovery planning is now and a permanent chief marketing officer should be in charge.