March Roars in With Artistic & Athletic Events to Bolster Economy
Providence, RI– In the span of a month- over 20,000 visitors will be descending on Providence for conventions and conferences expected to generate over $10 million in direct economic impact.
From March 10th through April 12th expect to see an eclectic mix that includes among others thousands of artists, musicians, construction and manufacturing professionals and championship hockey players.
The Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau today released the numbers as part of its new economic impact tracking system that quantifies anticipated spending by visitors, including facility and hotel accommodations, recreation, food shopping and other leisure activities.
“This snapshot of a month’s activities illustrates the powerful impact conventions and tourism have on our state’s economy,” said Martha Sheridan, President and CEO of Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau. “In the next month, there are only five days without significant bookings. This is especially noteworthy when you consider that March is just before busy season. We are very optimistic about summer and fall, when our business is really at its peak.”
In addition to the direct economic impact, this also provides an opportunity to showcase Providence and Rhode Island for potential business growth.
Of particular note are conventions that play to Providence’s strength as a Creative Capital. The National Council on Education for Ceramic Arts is holding its annual conference on March 21st, and the National Association of Music Education holds its biennial eastern division conference on April 8th.
The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) focuses on the teaching and learning of the ceramic arts. NCEA has approximately 4,000 members from the United States and 20 foreign countries, and reaches thousands more each year through their events, publications and programs.
The National Association of Music Education (NAfME) is one of the world’s largest arts education organizations and orchestrates success for millions of students nationwide while supporting music educators at all teaching levels for more than a century.
“Attracting core sector industry representatives to Rhode Island for conventions and conferences creates valuable exposure among business decision makers,” said Sheridan. “This provides an opportunity for us to create familiarity among corporate leaders in targeted economic growth areas, and to take advantage of direct opportunities for economic development by deepening connections with attendees.”
A recent study by Oxford Economics notes that destination marketing drives economic growth. The study includes case studies from Denver, Phoenix, New Orleans, Cleveland and Chicago where conferences and trade shows are being leveraged to target key industry sectors for growth.
The Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau is an accredited, 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization whose mission is to create vibrant growth for the local hospitality economy by promoting, developing, and expanding a united visitor industry. For more information, contact 401-456-0200 or visit www.GoProvidence.com.