Our Story & Mission
Building a stronger Blackstone Valley for
visitors and residents
Our
Mission
|
The Keys to
Our Success
|
Why Sustainable Tourism |
Organization
Partnerships
|
How Did It
Begin? |
Programs,
Activities & Initiatives
|
Awards &
Recognition
Looking
Forward
Since its
creation in 1985, the
Blackstone
Valley Tourism
Council has been
a leader in
transforming
Rhode Island’s
Blackstone
Valley into a
tourist
destination -- a
strong, vibrant
region for
visitors and
residents alike.
Working in
conjunction with
local
communities,
state and
federal
governments, and
like-minded
nonprofits and
businesses, the
Council has not
only increased
the number of
visitors and
enhanced their
visitor
experience, but
strengthened the
region’s
economy, created
a stronger,
cleaner
environment, and
improved the
quality of life
for Blackstone
Valley
residents.
The key to the
Council’s
success has been
quality
planning,
collaboration,
and the use of
sustainable
tourism
principles that
encourage
responsible
destination
development
aimed at
enhancing the
environment,
culture,
aesthetics,
heritage, and
well-being
without
compromising the
Blackstone
Valley for
future
generations.
With no
mountains or
ocean beaches,
the Council
built on many of
the assets
existing in
the
region prior to
the Council’s
creation: a
rich, cultural
heritage and
historic legacy,
ethnic
diversity, the
Blackstone
River, parks and
recreational
facilities, and
existing
attractions such
as the Pawsox,
Lincoln Park
(now Twin
River), Slater
Mill, and a
number of other
historical
attractions.
Another major
key is the
Council’s
mission
to improve the
quality of life
for residents,
believing that
healthy, vibrant
and unique
communities
become stronger
visitor
destinations.
Proud, happy
residents, after
all, are more
likely to
encourage people
to visit their
home towns.
Our Mission
The Council’s
mission is to
create positive
change with
regard to
community values
by developing
and promoting
coordinated,
responsible and
sustainable
tourism in Rhode
Island’s
Blackstone
Valley
communities. It
is unique among
Rhode Island’s
regional tourism
councils in its
use of
sustainable
tourism
principles to
improve quality
of life,
preserve the
region’s
history, build a
stronger,
cleaner
environment, and
celebrate our
cultural
heritage – all
of which
contributed to
making the
region a
destination for
visitors and
home for
residents.
The Council’s
mission can be
summed up as
improving:
-
Quality of life
-
Historical
preservation
-
Environmental
justice and
conservation
-
Cultural
appreciation and
interpretation
These
overarching
missions are met
through direct
approaches
including:
-
Social
justice
& voice
-
Youth,
adult &
elder education
-
Urban
planning
& design
-
Community
development
-
Disaster
resiliency
-
Event &
festival
programming
-
Support of
local entrepreneurs
-
The
arts &
creative
development
-
Promotional
support
Top Menu
The Keys to
Our Success
The keys to our success can be
summed up as follows:
-
Understanding that tourism
is key to building a
stronger economy and
improving the lives and
opportunities for residents
as well as visitors
-
Building on the region's
history, culture, and existing
strength
-
Building a healthier
environment and adhering to sustainable environmental principles
-
Partnerships and
collaboration between business, local, state and federal government,
the tourism and nonprofit sector
-
An emphasis on creating and
operating attractions as well as promoting them
Why Sustainable
Tourism?
Sustainable
development
demands that we
improve our
lifestyle and
the quality of a
region while
preserving and
building on the
region’s
environment and
natural
resources,
culture and
heritage, health
and safety
needs, and other
positive
components. To
be sustainable,
a community must
strive to: avoid
decreasing bio
diversity, avoid
consuming
resources faster
than they are
renewed, recycle
and reuse
virtually all
materials, and
rely primarily
on resources of
its own region.
Sustainable
planning
principles are
playing a much
more important
role in all
tourism planning
and policy
development,
local to global.
A growing number
of communities,
nations, regions
and planning
agencies are
recognizing that
sustainable
tourism
management of
the natural and
physical
environment,
more than ever
before, must
coexist with
economic,
sociocultural,
and health and
safety
objectives of
localities and
nations.
The Tourism
Council believes
that the use of
sustainable
tourism
principles has
played an
important role
in building a
stronger region
for residents
and visitors by
improving upon
environmental
quality,
cultural
appreciation and
interpretation,
historical
preservation,
and overall
quality of life.
Through its
Blackstone River
and
environmental
cleanup efforts
and education
programs, the
Council has
become one of
the most
stalwart
environmental
educators and
patrons of the
region.
Through its
tourism
development
practices, the
Council has
become an award
winning
international
leader in the
use of
sustainable
tourism
principles for
local regional
and
international
destination
management
organizations.
It is now
part of the
United Nations’
Global
Sustainable
Tourism
Alliance.
Through its
Sustainable
Tourism Lab, the
Council has
become a leader
in educating the
global community
about
sustainable
tourism, and the
need and ability
to build a
strong tourism
industry while
respecting the
local culture
and environment.
Top Menu
Organization
The Blackstone
Valley Tourism
Council is one
of seven
regional tourism
agencies created
by state law in
1985. Its
designated
coverage is the
Northern Rhode
Island Tourism
District
comprised of:
Pawtucket,
Central Falls,
and Woonsocket,
and the towns of
Cumberland,
Lincoln, North
Smithfield,
Smithfield,
Glocester, and
Burrillville.
The Council is a
501(c)(3)
educational, tax
exempt
organization,
supported in
part by regional
hotel room tax
revenues via
state law. Its
Board of
Directors
representing
tourism
development
interests
throughout the
region.
Additional
financial
support comes
from the public
and private
sector,
charitable
organizations,
grants, and its
own revenue
producing
activities.
Since its
inception, the
Council has been
headed by its
founder, Robert
Billington, who
has been
appointed by the
Board with the
titles of
President and
Executive
Director of the
agency.
Top Menu
Partnerships
The
transformation
of the
Blackstone
Valley into a
significant
tourism
destination has
been the result
of many
agencies,
businesses, and
community groups
working together
towards a common
goal. The
Council has
worked and
partnered with
local
communities,
planning and
development
groups,
foundations,
environmental
and river
cleanup groups,
nonprofits,
state, local and
federal
governments, and
businesses to
carry out its
mission.
It has worked
closely with the
Statewide
Tourism Division
and the federal
John H. Chafee
Blackstone River
Valley National
Heritage
Corridor, in
addition to
international
communities and
entities in the
United Kingdom,
Brazil,
Colombia, Canada
and
Taiwan. (there
are more)
The broad
partnerships, in
conjunction with
the Council’s
two decades of
experience, has
meant there is
an unparalleled
capacity for
regional
sustainable
development.
Besides
continuous
action and
community
support
services, the
Council’s
Sustainable
Tourism Lab
connects the
foremost
thinkers,
writers,
planners, and
developers of
sustainable
development
concepts.
State-of-the-art
conferences and
consulting
applications
allow not only
for discussion,
but also of
physical
application in
communities
around the
world.
Top Menu
How did it
begin?
As you might
expect, trying
to turn a region
where many
weren’t
happy
about living
into a tourism
designation was
not easy. Sure
it was at the
heart of the
Industrial
Revolution but
in the mid 80s,
when it came to
booming
economics, it
was on the
outside looking
in. Billington
got the idea
when a Factory
Outlet
Association he
created in 1984
attracted
shoppers to the
region who, he
thought, might
also be
interested in
local
restaurants and
attractions. The
Rhode Island
Division of
Tourism offered
a matching grant
to begin the
effort,
stipulating that
local
communities
contribute the
same amount.
Setting out to
convince local
government and
civic groups,
the only
question was
whether he would
be met with a
snicker, guffaw,
or the all too
occasional belly
laugh. He
persevered and
each community
eventually met
the matching
grant, with many
more groups and
individuals
coming over to
his side during
the next few
years.
In 1985, the
Tourism Council
was born with
Billington
elected
President.
Rallying support
in the early
years among
local and statewide
agencies and
tourism
directors was
difficult. But
with the help of
several
corporations and
businesses that
recognized the
real value of
tourism to the
region’s
residents, and
the National
Guard and
Heritage
Corridor
promoting
environmental cleanup and
other projects,
he convinced
many supporters
to come aboard.
With the
purchase of the
49 passenger
Blackstone
Explorer
Riverboat and
public river
tours came the
dawn of the
Blackstone River
being the
centerpiece of
efforts to
attract visitors
to the region
and build up the
pride and spirit
of those living
and working
here. Read the
full story here.
Top Menu
Council
Programs, Activities and
Initiatives
In addition to
managing the
day-to-day
activities of
the Council
office, the
Council manages
the two visitor
centers in the
Valley, providing
information
resources,
brochures and
destination
routing for
travelers and
visitors on
events,
attractions,
interests,
activities and
respond to
telephone and
mail inquiries.
Information
distribution
services are
also provided to
the region's
visitor centers
and
destinations.
In addition, it
carries out
intergovernmental
and public
relations
programs,
working with
local and
regional media
outlets to
promote and
publicize
regional events
and work with
federal state,
local and
private sector
officials on
matters relating
to tourism
development in
the region.
Finally, the
Council develops
and manages a
number of
projects and
initiatives
including:
-
Annual or
ongoing events:
including public
River tours on
the Explorer,
bicycle tours,
the annual Rhode
Island Dragonboat Races
and Taiwan Day
Festival, weekly
restaurant
tours, theme
related
“backyard” and
“no place like
home” tours, the
annual Cherry
Tree Festival,
annual golf
tournament,
paddling tours,
Polar Express
and other train
tours, River and
environmental
cleanup events.
-
Planning and
development
projects:
including
various
waterfront
development
projects, Broad
Street
Regeneration
Initiative,
Blackstone
Valley Bikeway
and connection
to other state
bike paths, the
Rhode Island
Music Hall of
Fame, Keep
Blackstone
Valley Beautiful
environmental
cleanup
programs, the
Amber
Valley
International
Compact, the
development and
promotion of
paddling routes
on the
Blackstone
River, and the
soon to be
developed
Chocolate
Overlook Park,
commemorating
chocolate
manufacturing in
the Valley.
-
Educational,
information
and
promotion
projects:
including Riverclassroom
(river education
for students
aboard the
Explorer),
resource
directories for
artists,
restaurants,
Valley
attractions, events
and others, a
Sustainable
Tourism Lab to
educate the
world about
sustainable
tourism, and
education
programs for
students to
learn about
tourism.
View Current Projects
Top Menu
Awards &
Recognition
Bob Billington
and the Council
have won a
number of awards
and recognition
for their
efforts to build
up the
Blackstone
Valley and
promote
sustainable
tourism. These
include:
-
Tourism for
Tomorrow
Destination
Award from the
World Travel &
Tourism Council
-
North American
Travel
Personality of
the Year from
the World Travel
Awards
-
SBEST
Certification of
Excellence from
the United
nations World
Tourism
Organization
-
Heritage Award
from the
Pawtucket
Foundation
-
Tom Roberts
Prize for
Creative
Achievement from
the Rhode Island
Council for the
Humanities
-
Mary Brennan
Tourism Award at
the “Stars of
the Industry”
annual meeting
and awards
ceremony
-
Ulysses Award
from the United
Nations World
Tourism
Organization for
destination
management
-
National Park Foundation Environmental
Conservation Award 2000
-
Rhode Island Coastal Cleanup
Institutional Award 1999
-
Blackstone Valley Explorer is Yankee
Magazine Editor's Pick 1999
-
Audubon Society of Rhode Island
Organization of the Year 1998
-
Save the Bay Environmental Achievement
Award 1997
-
American Society of Landscape Architects
Honor Award 1997
-
Awarded grant by National Trust for
Historic Preservation 1996
-
New England Foundation for the Arts
Cultural Programs Honor 1996
-
Society of American Travel Writers
Phoenix Award 1995
Top Menu
Looking Forward
The Blackstone
Valley Tourism
Council looks
forward to
continuing its
efforts to build
a stronger, more
vibrant
Blackstone
Valley, and
strengthen the
strong tourism
industry that
exists today. It
will continue
building on its
past
accomplishments
while initiating
new projects and
programs to
enhance the
experience and
opportunities
for visitors and
residents. It
will continue
ensuring that
the region is a
part of any
positive
economic changes
enjoyed by the
rest of the
state.
Some of the
things to look
forward to in
the coming
years.
-
Completion of
the Blackstone
Valley Bikeway
by 2018 and
increased usage
of the Bikeway
via general
cycling and
special events
-
Continuation of our annual events
-
Relaunch of
the Samuel
Slater Canal
Boat
-
Official opening of the Rhode Island Music Hall of
Fame Museum in
Hope Artiste
Village.
-
Completion of
the Blackstone
River Cleanup by
2015, allowing
at least limited
fishing
-
Designation of the Blackstone Valley as a national
park
Our
Mission
| The Keys to
Our Success |
Why Sustainable Tourism |
Organization Partnerships
| How Did It
Begin?
Programs,
Activities & Initiatives
| Awards &
Recognition
| Looking
Forward
Current Projects
|
Timeline
