‘Ambassadors’ honored for promoting RI events

By Kelcy Dolan
Posted 4/19/16

“Even in this digital world there is still tremendous value in meeting face to face,” Martha Sheirdan, CEO and president of PWCVB, said. “To coming together and making personal connections with …

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‘Ambassadors’ honored for promoting RI events

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“Even in this digital world there is still tremendous value in meeting face to face,” Martha Sheirdan, CEO and president of PWCVB, said. “To coming together and making personal connections with one another.”

The PWCVB, or the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, hosted their 11th Annual Ambassador Luncheon last Thursday to celebrate members of the community who have successfully promoted the state as the perfect location for national and international conferences, conventions, and other large events.

The event coincided with events across the globe in the first annual International Global Meetings Industry Day, which spotlights the global meetings industry’s beneficial impact on business, and communities.

Sheridan said, “We join the rest of the world in celebrating the power of the meetings industry and the positive business outcomes that come from meeting one on one.”

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian spoke at the luncheon on their respective cities partnership with the PWCVB.

Avedisian said we need to “put Rhode Island’s best foot forward” to strengthen intercity partnerships.

“When you work alone you only get so far; to reach our very ambitious goals we need to partner with each community,” Elorza said.

Sheridan believes Rhode Island’s meetings industry needs to continue to improve community partnerships and innovating new ways to support the local economy, to promote Rhode Island as a “premier location.”

PWCVB’s “Recommend Rhode Island” marketing campaign encourages those outside of the meetings industry, with connections to national and international locations to recommend the state as a top destination.

“Having local advocates championing Rhode Island at the national level can really move the needle for us,” said Sheridan.  “They really play an important role in securing business.”

Governor Gina Raimondo herself was recognized as an ambassador for helping to secure the National Governors Association Annual Conference in 2017. The event is expected to generate $1.3 million in revenue for the state.

“When people spend time here they want to come back,” Raimondo said. “We need to let the rest of the world know what a great place Rhode Island is.”

She also thanked PWCVB for their continued support through the “choppy waters” of the tourism roll out. She admitted mistakes were made, but the campaign is now back on track and “we are going to get the job done.”

Sheridan said tourism is more than just “a logo and tagline,” while commending the Governor on other positive impacts from the Governor’s advocacy for the state to host the National Governors Association annual conference.

Alongside Raimondo the 2016 local ambassadors were Ruth Adler, Ben Yehuda, Mark Cooke, Stephen and Jordan Boyce, Mabel Desmarais, Peter Frazier with the RI Airport Corporation for a future event to be announced this summer; Rita Mohanty, David Osei, Rich Pezzillo, John Ruppert, Rebecca Ryan, June Speakman, Ramon Stern, Michael Ursillo, Lawrence Lepore, Frank Martucci, Mark Felag, Russell Bertrand and Jason Simmons.

Ambassadors are Rhode Islanders outside of the meeting and planning industry who “Recommend Rhode Island” for different conventions, conferences, tournaments and other large events.

These 20 ambassadors helped bring various conferences and events to Rhode Island such as the 2016 Firecracker Baseball Tournament, New England Political Science Association 2017 Annual Meeting, United States Bartenders Guild 2015 Leadership Conference and American Securities Administrators Association Annual Membership Conference 2016 among others.

For more information on the PWCVB visit their website, www.goprovidence.com.

 

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