| We Value Your Opinion |
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South County Tourism Council has partnered with BizGrader to produce an opinion survey for visitors to complete after their stay in South County. Business owners need to be aware of what's happening on their front lines and visitors need a place to give feedback to inform businesses if their service is meeting acceptable standards. Survey cards have been distributed to the larger B&B's, hotels and inns, as well as in 75,000 copies of South County Style Magazine, and we will release the findings at a later date. |
| Branding South County |
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Our new static stickers are in! Membership fees are not required to display the new South County Tourism logo that distinguishes South County within the state and beyond. For over 20 years, the scallop shell logo has branded our destination. One of the keys to successful marketing is consistent branding, and we ask that you place this logo prominently in your business to welcome visitors. |
| New SCTC DVD Press Kit |
Electronic press kits are becoming increasingly popular, and to stay abreast of current technology, the Council has produced a new DVD press kit. The press kit consists of a 2-minute video of South County, a 5-minute photography slide show with our best images representing all eleven towns and itineraries as suggestions to what South County has to offer visitors. A total of 175 DVD press kits were distributed at the Canadian Travel Media Conference and Discover New England Tourism Summit/International Marketplace, which were received with great enthusiasm! |
| Spotlight on Woody Hill B&B |
The Rhode Island Monthly article, "Fire Works", featured Woody Hill Bed and Breakfast in the February 2007 issue. Innkeeper, Ellen Madison, a longtime fan of hearth cooking, is sharing her hobby by offering colonial hearth cooking lessons for her guests and the general public. She uses her own collection of antique and reproduction cast-iron pots and pans for historic and modern recipes, such as Fish House Punch from George Washington's time and Thomas Jefferson's Bread Pudding. For more information, go to www.woodyhill.com/cooking.html or call 401-322-0452.
The cooking classes at Woody Hill B&B are an example of culinary tourism, which is packaging unique food and drink experiences as visitor attractions. To learn more about developing and promoting culinary tourism, the International Culinary Tourism Association will be holding the New England Culinary Tourism Symposium in Sturbridge, Massachusetts on April 18, 2007. For more information, go to www.culinarytourism.org/newengland.
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| Wickford Gourmet on the Rachael Ray Show |
Wickford Gourmet's signature brownies were featured on Rachael Ray's "Snack of the Day" segment on March 22. Shannon McLoud, an employee at Wickford Gourmet, contacted the company who produces the show and sent one of their award-winning gift baskets of goodies, including the brownies. She got the call to send 420 brownies by the following week! Wickford Gourmet's managers hand delivered the brownies to the nationally-syndicated show, and now everyone across the country will be able to see how special Wickford Gourmet really is! For more information, go to www.wickfordgourmet.com. |
| Venice Restaurant Awarded Plantinum Plate |
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Venice Restaurant in Westerly has been awarded a Platinum Plate award for Best Casual Fine Dining by the Best Independent Restaurants Association (BIRA). After an outstanding report by mystery shoppers, Venice was awarded this prestigious honor. The Best Independent Restaurants Association is a national trade association designed to encourage consumers to patron the country's best independent restaurants. Through mystery shopping and public awareness, the role of the BIRA is to educate consumers that their locally-owned independent restaurants are their best choice. |
| Welcome Leslie |
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As the newest member of the South County Tourism Council support staff, I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Leslie McKay and I started my new part-time position in early January 2007. I spend a large portion of my day assisting visitors with questions about the area, as well as mailing South County publications. I provide the Council with support by setting appointments and confirming attendance for various meetings. I help with Council mailings and work closely with the rest of our team based on the demands of the day. If you call our office on Monday or Friday, you'll probably find me asking, "How may I help you?" |
| Interns Make a Difference |
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Hi Everyone! My name is Jodi O'Prandy and I have been interning at South County Tourism Council since early January. Being able to intern here has been a great opportunity because of its small setting and enthusiastic team. Up to this point, my experience here has been challenging, yet refreshing. Throughout my time here, I have taken on many projects such as assisting in the production of the South County Wedding Guide and Celebrate South County Brochure, as well as updating contact lists. The enthusiastic and friendly atmosphere has assisted me in gaining the knowledge and professional experiences that will help me succeed in my future endeavors. |
| Coming Soon - 6th Annual SC Photo Contest |
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Get your camera ready...Charlestown, Coventry, East Greenwich, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett, North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown, Westerly and West Greenwich! The 6th Annual South County Photo Contest deadline is August 8th. For entry form and contest rules, visit www.southcountyri.com. |
| SCTC Website Upgrades |
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New improvements are being made to the Council's website, www.southcountyri.com, including new and updated photography changing with the four seasons and a new interactive map. Areas of interest - Beaches, Boating & Fishing, Lighthouses, Museums, Parks & Recreation and Public Golf Courses - are spotted by location and are "clickable" for more detailed information. The revamped website is experiencing a 28% increase in traffic over previous years' figures and is continuing to grow every day. If you haven't been to our site lately, be sure to check it out!
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| Results are Blooming |
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The weather outside was frightful but South County Tourism Council's collaboration was delightful during this past winter! South County was represented at the American Bus Association Marketplace, Travel Media Association of Canada and Discover New England Travel Summit conferences. The Council distributed over 175 press kits, 400 South County Style Vacation Planners, 625 South County maps and 680 South County Golf Guides. Results are blooming! |
| Environmentally Responsible in South County |
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South County continues to do our part in saving the environment, and here are a few more ways to conserve:
● Encourage guests to follow energy-saving practices, such as switching off lights and AC's and using towels more than once.
● Cook vegetables with a minimum amount of water, and use the cooking water for soup stock.
● Replace incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lamps (they produce just as much light and use 75% less power).
● Install water-saving devices such as low-flow shower heads and low-flow toilets, which can reduce the flow of water by 50% without affecting the comfort level of the user.
The adoption of green practices typically helps businesses realize considerable savings that can range from several thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
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Did You Know?
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Ridership at Kingston Station exceeds the number of passengers in Dallas, Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Atlanta.
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The Kenyon Grist Mill is the second oldest continuously operated business in Rhode Island.
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In West Greenwich, 45% of the land has been designated as permanent open space.
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North Kingstown is the only South County town that shares its borders with five other towns.
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