Providence
- The Dunkin’ Donuts Center (401.331.0700; www.dunkindonutscenter.com) completed an $80 million renovation in September. Fresh features include a skybridge to the Rhode Island Convention Center.
- Among the newest venues in Providence is Chace Center (401.454.6500; www.risd.edu/campus_initiatives_risd.htm), which opened in 2008 at the Rhode Island School of Design. The facility includes a student exhibition gallery, a museum exhibition gallery and a 210-seat auditorium.
Warwick
- The 24,000-square-foot Plaza Pavilion at the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick (401.732.6000; www.ichotelsgroup.com) is slated to open in 2010, bringing the property’s total square footage of meeting and event space to more than 58,000.
Newport
- The Stone House (401.635.2222; www.stonehouse1854.com), a historic former home owned and operated by Goosewing Hotels & Resorts, recently opened in Newport. Originally built in 1854, the building debuted as a hotel in July 2009. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has 13 suites, two restaurants and a spa.
- Forty 1 North (401.846.8018; www.41no.com), a four-suite property set on the waterfront, is scheduled to debut in 2010 with more than 3,500 square feet of waterfront function space.
- The 317-room Newport Marriott (401.849.1000; www.marriott.com), which has 24,800 square feet of renovated meeting space, recently opened a 4,500-square-foot spa, billed as the largest facility of its kind in downtown Newport. The spa has eight treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge and a full-service hair and nail salon.
- Newport will offer a new venue for planners when the 500-seat Newport Casino Theatre (www.salve.edu), which first opened in 1881, completes a $4.5 million renovation in 2010.