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B M & T ••• July/August 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 49 RHODE ISLAND WHERE SMALL STATE, BIG IDEAS TAKE HOLD B Y N E A L B E N N E T T Rhode Island may be the nation's smallest state by land mass yet it benefits from strategic location between Boston and New York and delivers an exceptional meetings destination. The Ocean State melds coastal character with modern event venues and urban personality in every neighborhood, providing distinct experiences that elevate gatherings. A wealth of professional venues supports a rich Black heritage interlaced throughout city streets, from evocative heritage mark- ers to cultural institutions. With down- towns framed by the sea and heritage architecture around every corner, Rhode Island offers planners an intimate and memorable stage for purposeful gather- ing. It welcomes investors and creative leaders alike • • PROVIDENCE• • Providence connects Rhode Island's conference scene with the Rhode Island Convention Center and adjacent Amica Mutual Pavilion. Together they offer over 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 20,000 square foot ballroom, 23 meeting rooms, and an arena seating 14,000 . Skybridge connections link these venues to over 2,800 hotel rooms including the recently refreshed Omni Providence and character rich Graduate Providence, both facing Kennedy Plaza . The compact downtown enables effortless planning. Professionals handle transit coordination and audiovisual inte- gration while attendees walk easily between theaters, galleries, restaurants and riverfront promenades. The Providence Warwick CVB earned a Northeast Stella Award in 2024 for coor- dinating destination support . Local heritage offerings highlight Black historical figures through guided Early Black History Walking Tours with medal- lion markers and stops at the North Burial Ground honoring pioneering Rhode Islanders . The Rhode Island Black Heritage Society and Brown University's Rites and Reason Theatre host panels, performance series, and storytelling ses- sions . Evening experiences fea- ture WaterFire installations on the Providence River that transform plazas into illumi- nated symposium points . Reception options include Caribbean flavors at Garden of Eve and Southern com- fort food at Kin Southern Table and Bar . Additional enrichment includes creative breakout sessions in loca- tions like The Steel Yard sculpture park and Indust- rious Spirit Company distill- ery with exhibition space. These options ensure mean- ingful networking across hospitality out- lets and cultural sites. Providence supports over 250 major events each year from industry conferences to incentive ban- quets ensuring both atmosphere and service meet high expectations. • • WARWICK• • Warwick serves as Rhode Island's gateway for conferences, located just 10 miles from Rhode Island T F Green International Airport. The city supports meetings with more than ten hotels equipped with business facilities and flexible conference rooms. Homewood Suites offers 600 square feet of config- urable space ideal for focused plenary or breakout sessions. The Hilton Garden Inn Providence Airport and Crowne Plaza host regional events and remain planner friendly. Sites include onsite audiovisual rentals, in-house catering and shuttle services linking airport and downtown. Offsite options comprise sailing team building along Narragansett Bay and wellness walks on coastal trails that inte- grate local environments into event flow. Historical Aldrich Mansion provides ele- gant waterfront event space with centu- ry-old architectural features. Event plan- ners can also reserve the Warwick Civic Center or outdoor waterfront pavilions for receptions, community engagement events or vendor fairs. Nearby greenways and public art installations enhance weekend extensions for attendees. For overflow functions or satellite meetups, Warwick combines immediate accessibility with cultured amenities and a coastal atmosphere extremely suitable for executive programs. AREA GUIDES R H O D E I S L A N D • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Crowne Plaza Providence Warwick 266 DoubleTree by Hilton Warwick Providence Airport 112 Radisson Hotel Providence Airport 112 Omni Providence Hotel 564 Hyatt Place Warwick / Providence Airport 125 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Rhode Island Convention Center Total Meeting Space 167,000 sq. ft. Largest Hall 100,000 sq. ft. Largest Ballroom 20,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 23 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Providence Warwick CVB (401) 456-0200 www.goprovidence.com Providence Warwick Convention Center photo credit: Rhode Island C.C. ••••••••••••••