Rhode Island Makes Big Statements and Leaves Lasting Impressions for Meeting Groups

 

Launched in July 2024 on Newport’s iconic mansion-lined, ocean-facing Cliff Walk, The Great Elephant Migration is a traveling public art exhibit that tells a compelling real-life story about “compassionate coexistence” among species. 

At 1.4 billion people, India has twice the population today than 30 years ago. Over the same period, India’s elephant, rhino, lion and tiger numbers have also doubled. Elephants, especially, live in relative peace alongside humans.

Not all species play nice, of course. The destructive Lantana camera weed is choking vast parts of India’s Protected Areas, forcing animals into urban areas and heightening human-wildlife conflict. 

The Coexistence Collective, a community of 200 Indigenous artisans from India’s Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, devoted five years to sculpting 100 life-sized elephants from the invasive weed. Animals got space back to roam while the intricately detailed elephants were shipped to Newport to start their awareness-building journey across the U.S.

[Related: Providence Is the Complete Package for Meetings]

I saw the installation this summer on a spin through Rhode Island that included celebrating Providence Warwick CVB President and CEO Kristen Adamo’s 20th anniversary with the bureau. The visit underscored the Ocean State’s strengths as a canvas for creativity and lasting impressions.

36 Hours In Rhode Island

The Ocean State always surprises and never disappoints. Small but mighty, there’s always something new to discover. 
My summer whirlwind began at Roger Williams Park. Named for Providence’s founder, who established the settlement in 1636, the crown jewel of the Providence Parks system is renowned as “the people’s pleasure ground.” Spanning 435 acres, the park offers diverse recreational, educational and event opportunities. Historic landmarks within include the Museum of Natural History + Planetarium and event-capable Roger Williams Zoo and Carousel Village.

Italy’s iconic Cipriani family put its stamp on the Providence hotel scene in 2021 with Bellini Restaurant and open-air Bellini Rooftop, two versatile event spaces at The Beatrice luxury hotel. Stylishly updating the 1845 Exchange Bank Building, this 47-room oasis in downtown’s National Historic District was named by owner and former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino Jr. after his late mother, Beatrice Temkin, whose portrait is displayed in the lobby.

Renowned for her philanthropy, Ms. Temkin is also featured in Providence’s latest large-scale outdoor mural. Unveiled in August, Empire Rising by internationally renowned artist Lauren YS honors Providence’s historic Chinese, South Asian, LGBTQ+ and theater communities. Francis Renault, a drag performer from 1910, is depicted with jewelry worn by Ms. Temkin. 

The project is among numerous city-wide public art installations from Rhode Island arts organization The Avenue Concept, which offers app-based self-guided tours of the fetching works around town.

Cultural tourism drives major dollars in Rhode Island, including Newport, which got a jumbo visitation boost from the elephant installation. 

[Related: How to Experience the Arts and Culture of Rhode Island at Meetings]

En route from Providence, I visited the Green Animals Topiary Gardens in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, part of The Preservation Society of Newport County collection of event- and tour-capable mansions and gardens.

The elephant sculptures paraded in front of Gilded Age treasures including The Breakers, Cornelius Vanderbilt II’s massive “summer cottage” from 1895 and Rough Point (1892), also built by the Vanderbilts. 

A Conversation With Kristen Adamo

In January 2005, Kristen Adamo joined the Providence Warwick CVB as director of communications. Promoted to vice president of marketing and communications in 2007, the Rhode Island native, born and raised in Providence, succeeded Martha Sheridan (who now leads the Greater Boston CVB) as the bureau’s president and CEO in April 2019. 

Just ahead of her 20-year and five-year anniversaries in 2025, respectively, she shared her memories and what drives her unstoppable “can-do” approach over pizza at wood-fired eatery Figidini, one of Providence’s many top-class restaurants. 
Here are the highlights of the free-wheeling conversation.

Jeff Heilman: How has the Providence group story changed most since 2005? 

Kristen Adamo: Shortly after I was hired, our CEO shared a survey which ranked Providence second-to-last among New England culinary destinations. Having worked at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, one of the nation’s leading culinary educators, I knew that was nuts. Over the past 20 years, our team and our community have collaboratively told the story of our city and our people through food. Media from around the world have since covered our culinary scene, which ranks among the best and most interesting in the country.

One of our enduring strengths is what we call “one degree of separation,” or our ability to access whatever and whomever a planner needs without having to wade through red tape. We have honed this skill over the years, including developing close working relationships with elected officials and local universities. Our “one team” selling approach with the Rhode Island Convention Center works so seamlessly that planners see us as one entity. 

[Related: Providence Warwick CVB President & CEO Adamo Leads Pandemic Reboot]

Most changed is how destinations tell their story. Attendees are no longer content to just see the convention center and inside a hotel. Our services team works with planners to ensure that delegates see more of the city and its diverse neighborhoods.

What accomplishment are you most proud of to date as president and CEO?

I have always believed in treating tourism like the large industry it is and having a say in community conversations. My biggest goal in becoming CEO was to use our voice and our platform to affect change that will benefit visitors and locals alike. I have achieved that. We are definitely having our say and being heard, with involvement in wide-ranging efforts including transportation, infrastructure and workforce development.

What’s on the horizon? 

March 2025 will be huge for us. We are hosting the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men’s Division One Basketball Tournament, plus, launching a new culinary event in tandem with a new comedy festival. Our signature event, WaterFire, turns 30 in 2025, so you can expect hot times city-wide, again. 

Our strategic philosophy is built around personalizing and crafting experiences for planners, attendees and leisure visitors that speak to their goals and interests. Right now, we are tailoring a scavenger hunt for a group client that is delivered to attendees’ phones through our website. These thoughtful, specific touches set us apart and we plan on developing more in the coming years.

I know first-hand your talent for creating lasting memories. What stands out for you at Go Providence?

Our company culture. Many colleagues are also long-timers. We work hard and have fun. Crazy traditions include our insanely competitive annual Easter egg hunt in the office. There is always one egg that never gets found, before turning up moldy months later. Our annual bowling tournament is another big one. We split up into multiple teams with a name and a theme. There are outfits and occasional dance numbers. We go hard in Providence.

This camaraderie helps us through dark times, too, such as the sudden passing of Rhode Island Sport Commission Executive Director John Gibbons in 2023. Telling our team this heart-breaking news was incredibly hard. Yet, from great sadness can come great beauty. I was honored to lead more than 50 present and former staff and board members from Go Providence and the Rhode Island Convention Center into the funeral home for John’s wake to express our condolences to his family. 

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Providence Warwick CVB

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