From the 1950s until the early 1980s, when renaissance projects took root in the city, Rhode Island’s historic capital, then a mafia stronghold, was generally a place to avoid.
But as I discovered on my first-ever visit last November, Providence today is a destination not to miss.
I felt an unmistakable buzz in the air, even on my short walk from the Amtrak station to my hotel—the landmark 1922 Biltmore Providence, offering 294 newly renovated rooms and 19,000 square feet of space.
First, I met my CVB hosts at Providence City Hall, where we watched an all-woman Canadian quartet, in town for the 2016 convention of Harmony Inc., the International Organization of Women Barbershop Singers, perform a medley of songs.
After lunch at elegant event-capable Circe restaurant, I headed out with my camera when I happened upon the street-level studio of Big Nazo, an international performance troupe renowned for their giant, wildly imaginative puppet heads and costumes. I even helped carry a huge green head to a building three blocks away.
All this in barely two hours. The surprises only kept coming, and in this energetic, eclectic “Creative Capital,” groups can confidently expect the same.
Illuminating and Inspiring
Martha Sheridan, president and CEO of the Providence Warwick CVB (PWCVB), summarized the destination’s appeal.
“Two hallmarks are accessibility and walkability,” Sheridan said. “Easily reached from all major Northeast Corridor cities by car or train, we are also serviced by two airports, our own Green Airport in nearby Warwick and Boston’s Logan Airport.”
The accessibility of Providence is more than geographic.
“Providence is home to seven college campuses, including Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and leading culinary educator Johnson & Wales University,” Sheridan continued. “Having those intellectual resources accessible to meeting planners is definitely an advantage. Delegates also have access to critically lauded restaurants, a vibrant arts scene and scores of entertainment options right outside their door.”
Settled in 1636, Providence offers fetching scenes at every turn, from the 1928 Industrial Trust Tower, or “Superman Building” for its Gotham City likeness, to Colonial-era College Hill.
Aside from time capsule Federal Hill and its vintage Italian restaurants, food emporia and shops, virtually every major experience sits within easy walking distance of the Rhode Island Convention Center and group hotels, including Capitol Hill’s commanding Rhode Island State House, which offers guided and self-guided tours.
Updating a 1920s Masonic tower across the street, the elegant Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel offers 272 spacious rooms (including six regal suites) and nearly 15,000 square feet of space. The adjacent national landmark Veterans Memorial Auditorium, or The VETS, rents spaces that include the ornate 1,933-seat main theater, naturally lit Gallery, and VIP-style Encore Lounge.
Accentuating downtown’s Venice-inspired Waterplace Park are gondola rides on the Providence River. This tidal waterway is also for entertaining tours with Captain Tom McGinn and his Providence River Boat Company.
For art aficionados, the stellar RISD Museum, featuring exhibits from antiquities to the avant-garde, hosts corporate and association meetings, receptions and dinners.
Other cultural coordinates include downtown’s Providence Performing Arts Center. Originally a 1928 Loew’s movie palace, this neon-lit heirloom offers pre-show or post-show function rooms and other options.
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Connected by skybridge to the 200,000-square-foot Rhode Island Convention Center as part of the Rhode Island Convention & Entertainment Complex (The VETS included), the 14,000-seat Dunkin’ Donuts Center, home of the AHL Providence Bruins and Providence College men’s basketball, hosts concerts, tradeshows and more. The complex also connects to the newly renovated 564-room Omni Providence Hotel and Providence Place mall.
Richly deserving its national acclaim, Providence’s culinary scene is par excellence, from authentic Neapolitan fare at Trattoria Zooma on Federal Hill to bustling Mill’s Tavern.
Chef Cindy Salvato’s “Savoring Federal Hill” walking tours are a group must, along with drinks and events at riverside institution the Hot Club.
One highlight is WaterFire, a much-celebrated annual fire sculpture installation by WaterFire Providence founder Barnaby Evans’ (see Zoom In). Featuring nearly 100 bonfires crackling in metal “braziers” in downtown’s three confluent rivers accompanied by enchanting music, this free Venetian carnival-like experience attracts thousands of people each Saturday from April to November.
Taking Care of Business
On the business end, the PWCVB closely collaborates with state, local and business leaders.
“We have a laser focus on meetings and conventions aligned with state economic development initiatives,” explained Thomas Riel, PWCVB’s vice president of sales & services. “These include biomedical and healthcare, engineering, IT and software development (including data analytics), defense, shipbuilding and maritime, plus the design and customer manufacturing industries.”
Earlier this year, Providence hosted the American Wind Energy Association in conjunction with the launch of a wind farm off the city’s southern shore.
“As the University of Rhode Island (URI) completes a state-of-the-art nursing school, we are doubling down on soliciting specialty nursing associations and societies,” Riel said. “Engineering-based conferences, which generated 25,282 room nights and $12 million in direct-spend from 2016-2017, are also a focus as URI and Johnson & Wales expand their programs. We also saw biomedical and healthcare bookings generate 32,500-plus room nights and $16 million in the same timeframe.”
Target growth markets include amateur sports, small meetings and regional corporate meetings.
“Historically strong in the Northeast and national association markets, bookings are strong in the years ahead,” Riel continued. “Last year, we grew our regional corporate business by about 14 percent, attributable in part to the ‘sold-out’ status of Boston and other Tier 1 Northeast cities. Many of our regional corporate customers previously meeting in Boston are now experiencing Providence for the first time. Re-booking these customers and retaining the business share will be the real win.”
Some 618 new hotel rooms are under development. Slated for spring and fall 2018 openings, respectively, are a new 120-room Homewood Suites, two blocks from the convention center, and a 176-room Residence Inn directly across from the center.
Other projects include a 91-room Holiday Inn Express and 76-room Best Western GL in the hip, emerging Broadway neighborhood, and a new 155-room Aloft property as part of the city’s waterfront redevelopment.
These new hotels will collectively increase inventory for the market by 20 percent, according to Riel.
“Primarily serving the long-term-stay business traveler, the Residence Inn and Homewood Suites become our first extended-stay properties in the downtown area,” he said.
Extended stays are well-rewarded in Providence, a city that takes fun as seriously as it takes business.
