Located on the eastern border of Rhode Island, Providence dazzles groups with its small-town flavor and impressive cultural, historical and natural amenities.
Known as the “Divine City,” Providence’s beauty is reflected off its three rivers—the Moshassuk, the Woonasquatucket and the Providence—snaking through the downtown district, an area filled with historic buildings, shops, museums, parks, hotels, and dedicated meeting spaces, all in close proximity to one another.
“Our package is tight and walkable and it is safe. Groups have great success with attendance when they come here,” says Neil Schriever, vice president of sales for the Providence Warwick CVB. “We are fortunate in our destination, because once people are here, the city sells itself.”
Another destination that is easy to sell is the nearby city of Warwick, which touts its enviable coastline, multitude of outdoor diversions, ample meeting space, and venues that shed a unique light on the city’s past—from historic homes to world-class museums.
Providence
Where can you go to see 100 bonfires burning brightly along a winding river, complete with music in the background? WaterFire, just one of Providence’s many world-class attractions, is an artistic presentation in downtown Providence that wows visitors and residents several times each summer.
Besides its nighttime art shows, Providence impresses visitors with its refined cultural scene, complete with venues such as the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum, the Providence Black Repertory Company, and the Veterans Memorial Auditorium Arts and Cultural Center.
History-loving groups can also take a stroll down Benefit Street, a one-mile, cobblestone stretch showcasing numerous historic homes, including the Nightingale–Brown House, built in 1792.
“Providence is really the hub of Southern New England,” Schriever says, adding that although the city aims to preserve its past, it is also looking into a future filled with a fair amount of growth. “We are fortunate as far as hotel expansion and reconstruction in the last several years.”
To that end, the Renaissance Providence Hotel will debut next month; the Westin Providence is in the midst of an expansion and is scheduled to open a new 200-room hotel tower in September; and the Courtyard Providence Downtown plans to complete a renovation later this year.
The new developments add to the city’s impressive lineup of existing venues, including the Hilton Providence, the Providence Biltmore and the Providence Marriott Downtown, all of which recently completed upgrades, and the 80-room Hotel Providence, which opened two years ago with 4,000 square feet of meeting space.
Additionally, the city’s largest meeting venue, the Rhode Island Convention Center (RICC), is adding a 3,000-square-foot ballroom to its existing 137,000 square feet of meeting space. The new ballroom is slated for completion this fall.
The neighboring Dunkin’ Donuts Arena, home to the Providence Bruins hockey team and affectionately called “The Dunk” by locals, is in the process of a major overhaul that will upgrade the venue and add an elevated skywalk connecting it to the RICC when the project is finished in late 2008.
“By connecting the arena to the convention center, it will allow us to offer more flexibility and options for seating and layering in group programs,” Schriever says.
When groups are not getting down to business at one of the city’s well-appointed venues, they have the option of sampling a taste of the destination’s culinary options.
“People can really find great dining venues here,” Schriever says, adding that groups often prefer to frequent neighborhoods such as Federal Hill, known for its Italian cuisine and popular hot spots, including Andino’s, Cafe Dolce Vita and Cassarino’s Ristorante.
Planners who think the city is a little out of the way needn’t worry, according to Schriever, who says the region is more conveniently located than many may think.
“The No. 1 thing that makes us ideal for groups is our accessibility to the U.S. population,” he says. “Twenty-five percent of the population is within a five-hour drive of our city.”
Warwick
Located about 12 miles south of Providence, the city of Warwick is a seaside locale that actually comprises 30 villages. The destination attracts groups with a wealth of history and group-friendly venues.
For attendees who have been locked in a conference room all day, walking around the city of Warwick can be quite a reprieve, and with 39 miles of scenic coastline, breathtaking vistas of the Atlantic Ocean and historic lighthouses, it may be just what the doctor ordered.
While enjoying the outdoors, delegates can also retreat to the 120-acre Warwick City Park, filled with walking and biking trails and perfect for off-session relaxation time.
In addition to its natural beauty, Warwick celebrates its storied history with the Gaspee Days each summer, a celebration of the sinking of a British ship prior to the Revolutionary War (see sidebar, page 21); historic Cloud Hill Farm, open for group tours; and the Aldrich Mansion, an historic home that overlooks the Narragansett Bay and offers plenty of space for large group gatherings.
The city also satisfies planners’ palates with numerous eateries catering to sizable parties. Popular options include Cozy Grill, Bugaboo Creek Steak House and Chelo’s Waterfront Bar & Grill.
When groups aren’t enjoying Warwick’s natural and cultural diversions, Schriever says the destination offers plenty of business-oriented venues for small groups.
“We have great smaller-meeting hotels,” he says. “Warwick alone has over 2,000 hotel rooms.”
Meetings properties include the Crowne Plaza Hotel Providence–Warwick, currently undergoing an expansion that is slated for completion in summer 2008; the Radisson Airport Hotel Providence, which completed a guest room upgrade last winter; the Sheraton Providence Airport Hotel; and the Hilton Garden Inn Providence Airport/Warwick.
Much like Providence, many may argue that Warwick’s greatest strength is its accessibility. The city is home to Theodore Francis Green State Airport as well as several major highways, which has earned it the moniker, the “Crossroads of Southern New England.”
“For small meetings or regional meetings that are looking for a drive-in draw, our Warwick properties really do well in that market,” Schriever says.
For More Info
Providence Warwick CVB 401.456.0200
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