Positive media, economic growth highlighted at PWCVB meeting

PROVIDENCE – Positive media coverage and strong economic growth were highlighted at the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau’s annual meeting this week.

“I am happy to say that business is good and the future looks bright,” PWCVB Board Chairman Eric Churchill of the Providence Marriott Downtown said at the meeting Wednesday at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

Churchill said that in fiscal 2015, the bureau contracted 101,448 rooms affiliated with meetings, conventions and sporting events for future years. He said those events will have a direct economic impact of $81.5 million in the community.

The bureau celebrated positive media coverage that the destination has had in the past year, noting Providence’s ranking as “America’s Favorite City” by the readers at Travel + Leisure and citing recent coverage from such outlets as Forbes.com, USA Today and GQ.

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PWCVB President and CEO Martha Sheridan asked that community partners learn more about PWCVB’s ambassador program, called “Recommend Rhode Island,” to champion the Ocean State.

“We recently developed an advocacy portion of our website that explains the role of the PWCVB, the impact our work has on the community, and – most importantly – how Rhode Islanders can help us. A big part of that is Recommend Rhode Island, which spotlights local people who have recommended our state as a great place to hold a meeting, convention and sporting event and tells people how to get involved,” she said.

La Gondola received the bureau’s Member of the Year Award and Joseph Brouillard of the North American Contract Bridge League received the Rhode Island Sports Champion Award. The bureau also recognized WPRI-TV CBS 12’s “The Rhode Show” and Providence Journal Food Editor Gail Ciampa, who was inducted into the PWCVB’s “Hall of Fame.”

In addition, approximately 20 front-line employees in the tourism industry were honored with ROSE (Recognition of Service Excellence) Awards:

  • Nancy Allen, docent, Roger Williams Park Zoo
  • Estelle Barada, concierge lounge attendant, Providence Marriott Downtown
  • Erika Berntson, office manager, La Gondola
  • Tamika Brown, the front desk supervisor, Hampton Inn & Suites Warwick Airport
  • Jillian Cosgrove, event and exhibitor services manager, R.I. Convention Center
  • Bradley Causey, bartender, Ted’s Montana Grill
  • Friendtzdy Dabady, head bartender, CAV
  • Kat Dacier, bartender at the Lighthouse Bar in Twin River Casino
  • Joseph England, server, Fred & Steve’s Steakhouse
  • Ailton Evora, houseman, Twin River Casino
  • Gabby Highly, lead hair stylist, Spa at the Providence Biltmore
  • Joan Hoyle, table games and slot beverage server, Twin River Casino
  • Trent Jordan, houseperson, Hilton Providence
  • Brian Lamothe, night auditor, Providence Biltmore
  • Beverly Pettine, docent, John Brown House Museum
  • Domenic Silvestro, server, Shula’s 347
  • Shalonda Spruill, front desk associate, Wyndham Garden Providence
  • Macaria Toj, prep cook, Local 121
  • Glenna Worrell, administrative assistant in the Business Rental Department of Enterprise Rent-a-Car
  • Deborah Young, breakfast ambassador, Residence Inn by Marriott Providence/Coventry

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