he results are in and Providence earned rave reviews as one of America’s favorite cities. The destination placed exceedingly well in several categories, including dining and airports. Comprised of several categories that range from dining to attractiveness of destination, the survey included 29 other US cities.
T.F. Green airport, located 8 miles south of Providence in Warwick RI, earned the loftiest accolades. The airport landed first overall in on-time arrivals, security and baggage-handling and second overall in design and functionality. The airport also placed fourth nationally in transportation to, from and within the building. In recent years, the airport has done much to enhance the customer experience, adding many new shops and concessions, promoting its parking offerings and strengthening its web site www.pvdairport.com.
“As a destination marketing organization, visitor experience is paramount,” said Martha Sheridan, President & CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau (PWCVB). “From the moment guests arrive at T.F. Green airport, it sends a positive message about our destination. It is convenient, accessible and undeniably an asset to our region.”
“Plus, with work underway on an intermodal station, the airport will soon have rail access to downtown Providence, Boston and beyond,” Sheridan said. “I would think that transportation score will take off next year.”
According to the visitors survey, Providence also ranks among the top ten nationally in “neighborhood joints” (dining, 2), theater (4), bed and breakfasts (5), cafes and coffee bars (6) and ethnic foods (7).
This year marks Providence’s first appearance in the survey, conducted annually by Travel + Leisure magazine. The results are determined by reader surveys, with results paired between residents and visitors.
Providence was one of 10 new cities offered the chance to be included in the survey. The PWCVB initiated several marketing and social media campaigns throughout the survey, helping Providence outpace several other US cities both for initial inclusion in the survey and in the results themselves.
The results can be seen in their entirety on the Travel + Leisure website, http://www.travelandleisure.com/afc/2009/www.travelandleisure.com. Providence specific rankings are viewable here http://www.travelandleisure.com/afc/2009/city/providence/.