tourism

Newport Folk Fest Kicks Off This Weekend

By • Jul 27, 2017

The annual event begins Friday in the City by the Sea. The three-day festival is one of the marquee events of Newport’s lucrative tourist season.

Remembering The Book That Opened The Road For African-American Travelers

By • Jul 20, 2017
Catherine Zipf

Elmer Booze, The Man Behind The Piano At The Newport Music Festival

By • Jul 20, 2017
John Bender / RIPR

Behind every great pianist, is a page-turner. And at the Newport Music Festival – which turns 50 next year – that page-turner is Elmer Booze.

Three PR Firms Tapped To Promote RI Tourism

By Chuck Hinman • Feb 28, 2017
Rhode Island State Archives

Rhode Island’s Commerce Corporation has chosen three public relations vendors to carry out the state’s upcoming tourism campaign. 

As Ski Season Approaches, Several New England Resorts Being Sold

By • Nov 7, 2016
Jack Haddon / Creative Commons License via Flickr

In a big preseason sale, Sugarloaf, Sunday River and four other New England ski resorts are being sold. And that’s just part of an $830 million deal that includes ski resorts, theme parks and other recreation properties around the country.

Sugarloaf and Sunday River’s land and infrastructure are owned by a massive real estate investment trust called CNL Lifestyle Properties. Now the resorts are changing hands in a deal that involves two companies, Kansas City-based EPR Properties and Och-Ziff, a multibillion-dollar institutional asset management firm based in New York.

The Bottom Line: Conventions And The Economy

By & Mark Murphy • Sep 30, 2016

Providence Business News Editor Mark Murphy joins Rhode Island Public Radio's Dave Fallon for our weekly business segment, The Bottom Line.

This week, we focus on the Rhode Island Convention Center. How deeply do convention center events reach into the local economy? Is the convention business changing? These are just a few of the questions we ask Martha Sheridan, president and CEO of the Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau.  

When to listen:

Audio Postcard: A Ride On The Providence-Newport Ferry's Maiden Voyage

By Mitchell Johnson & Alex Braunstein • Jul 8, 2016
RIPR file

The ferry from Providence to Newport set sail last Friday, for the first time since 2009.

State Hires Warwick Native As New Chief Marketing Officer

By • Jun 10, 2016
Ian Donnis / RIPR

Warwick native Lara Salamano has been hired as the state’s new chief marketing officer

Salamano graduated from URI in 1992. According to her LinkedIn profile, Salamano has worked in marketing for MTV Networks and Viacom, among other companies. Her profile said she has worked since August 2013 as vice president/partner marketing for for the Pop/CBS/Lionsgate partnership.

Bonus Q&A: Paiva Weed On Charters, Ethics, RI's Tourism Fiasco & More

By • Apr 15, 2016

State Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed joins Bonus Q&A this week to discuss charter schools, the outlook on ethics reform, her future plans, promoting green jobs, leadership at the state Board of Elections, and other issues.

After Gaffes, Lawmakers Back Main Thrust of RI's New Tourism Push

By • Apr 13, 2016
Ian Donnis / RIPR

House Finance Committee members expressed backing Wednesday for the intention of the state’s new effort to boost tourism, despite the much-publicized mistakes in the initial rollout

Rhode Island Foundation Awards 2016 300K Innovation Grant

By • Apr 13, 2016
Chuck Hinman

This year's award goes to Raymond Two Hawks Watson, a Providence resident and the chief executive officer of the Providence Cultural Equity Initiative. 

TGIF: 22 Things To Know About Rhode Island Politics & Media (Late Edition)

By • Apr 1, 2016

It was quite the week in Rhode Island politics, and the fallout led to tardy publication of this week's column. So thanks for stopping by. As usual, your tips and comments are welcome, and you can follow me through the week on the twitters. Here we go.

Embattled Marketing Director Resigns; Raimondo Vows Improved Tourism Campaign

By • Apr 1, 2016
Ian Donnis / RIPR

  Responding to a week of criticism over the state's new tourism campaign, Governor Gina Raimondo announced Friday she has accepted the resignation of the state's chief marketing officer, is recovering some of the spending on the campaign, and will involve Rhode Islanders in a revised effort to better market the state.

The Bottom Line: Botched Tourism Plan Rollout

By & Mark Murphy • Apr 1, 2016

Providence Business News Editor Mark Murphy joins Rhode Island Public Radio's Dave Fallon for our weekly business segment, The Bottom Line.  

This week Mark and Dave sit down with Rhode Island Public Radio Political Analyst Scott MacKay, a vocal critic of a new tourism marketing plan unveiled by state officials this week. 

On Friday, Governor Gina Raimondo announced the resignation of a top state marketing officer and did away with the highly-criticized slogan "cooler and warmer."

When to listen:

RI's Chief Marketing Officer Defends - And Apologizes For - Troubled Tourism Push

By • Mar 31, 2016
Ian Donnis / RIPR

Betsy Wall, Rhode Island's chief marketing officer, apologized Thursday for the troubled rollout of the state's new $5 million push to promote tourism 

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