The Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau (PWCVB) reported last week that meetings, conventions and sporting events booked by the organization and held during 2019 yielded $74.9 million in direct spending for the state.

“Meetings, conventions and sporting events are a consistent source of revenue for Rhode Island throughout the year,” said Kristen Adamo, PWCVB president and CEO. “They serve as the backbone for hotel occupancy in the Providence/Warwick area. The destination does a robust sports business in the quiet winter months, while meetings and conventions comprise a lot of the weekday business throughout both the shoulder and peak seasons.”

Adamo said Warwick hotels with a total of 2,365 rooms – a few less than the Providence total – play an integral role in making the region an attractive destination for events.

According to the PWCVB, direct spending numbers are derived from a calculator developed by Destinations International, the professional association for destination marketing organizations and visitor bureaus, and has been specifically calibrated for the Providence market. Among the factors used to generate direct spend impact are lodging, food and beverage spending, space rental and transportation, as well as costs incurred with the host venue, such as the Rhode Island Convention Center.

In 2019, the PWCVB and its subsidiary the Rhode Island Sports Commission (RISC) hosted a total of 251 groups accounting for 187,417 attendees or visitors that contracted 110,294 room nights in Providence and Warwick. These groups ranged from smaller events like military reunions, to meetings of professional associations, to large-scale sporting events.

More than a quarter of that business was hosted by Warwick. Business from 66 groups led to more than 25,000 room nights and $16 million dollars in direct spending by the 39,224 attendees visiting or staying in the city.

“Warwick’s central location and its budget-conscious appeal make it an attractive option for meeting, convention and sporting event planners,” Adamo said. “The city plays a dual role, sometimes serving as the host destination for smaller meetings and other times adding its hotel room inventory to a larger meeting or event that is headquartered in Providence.”

Sights are already set ahead to future business coming to the Providence area. Throughout 2019, the PWCVB booked 246 groups for future events. Those events are expected to account for 116,615 hotel room nights and generate an estimated $78.8 million in direct spending.

Adamo said Mayor Joseph J. Solomon and Karen Jedson, the city’s director of tourism, played key roles in planning for the US Synchronized Skating Championships hosted by US Figure Skating to be held Feb. 25-29 in Providence. Warwick’s two rinks will be used for practice and Adamo said 1,000 Warwick hotel rooms have been booked. She said the “direct spending impact” on the city would be half a million dollars.

Adamo said Warwick hotels are often more attractive to families as many rooms offer double beds and prices are less than similar accommodations in Providence.

She said a “citywide” event is scheduled for this May when 2,150 Warwick rooms have been booked for the Native American Training Conference.

“The PWCVB undertakes a systematic and strategic effort to place meeting, convention and sporting event business not only in the Rhode Island Convention Center but also throughout the state,” said Thomas Riel, PWCVB vice president of sales and services in a release. “We have a strong slate of business for 2020 and all of Rhode Island will reap the benefits of it.”

Adamo said the trend for conventions has shifted from the giant meeting to breakout rooms and that the Crowne Plaza is an ideal locale. Looking ahead she foresees the need for more convention facilities and for expansion of the Rhode Island Convention Center.

As for the numbers, Warwick hotel occupancy rates for 2019 range from a low of 53.2 percent for January to a high of 76.6 percent for August, or slightly lower than 2018. The average daily room rates, ADR, for 2019 were on a par with 2018. The high was $118.07 for May 2019. The low was $91.91 for March.

Asked about developments at Green Airport during 2019, Adamo said it was a “real disappointment” to lose Norwegian Airlines that cut service to Ireland following the grounding of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Nonetheless, she said, PWCVB has made “inroads” to international markets.

As for a wish list for 2020, Adamo said, “We like direct routes to big cities,” naming San Francisco and Los Angeles.