South County Tourism Council, Inc.

 In This Issue:
Taste of South County
Yawgoo Valley Ski & Sports Park Honored
South County in Times Square
Priceless Free Publicity
Calling All Photographers!
Discover New England
Free Extra Exposure
Free Brochure Space
Tour Rhode Island
Farewell Karen...Hello Michele
Taste of South County
 
NBC 10 logo"A Taste of South County" was the theme of the 17th Annual Celebrate South County Day...and the rest of the state" held at the State House on Tuesday, May 12. "Celebrate South County Day" is a collaborative event that increases awareness of the travel and tourism industry's economic, social and cultural contributions to the region. The event generated great media coverage. Click here to see the story that aired on NBC10.
 
Chowder, Johnny Cakes and oysters were enjoyed by Legislators, General Officers and visitors touring the State House. A special thank you goes out to Aunt Carrie's, B&B Referrals of South Coast RI, Babcock Smith House Museum, Cracker Barrel in Coventry, Del's of South County, Fortuna's Sausage Company, Kenyon's Corn Meal Company, Matunuck Oyster Farm, Nana's Ice Cream & Gelato Cafe, Newport Vineyards, Shelter Harbor Inn, Updike's Newtowne Coffee Roasting Company, US Fish & Wildlife and Yawgoo Bakes & Barbeques for providing samples of South County's finest specialties.
 
Other participants included Interstate Navigation/ Block Island Ferry, Friends of the Kingston Station, General Nathanael Greene Homestead, RI Resource Conservation & Development Area Council, Seabee Museum, South County Chambers, Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation/Tourism Division and the other tourism regions.
 
And a big thank you to Sweenor's Chocolates of Wakefield for donating SCTC branded, scallop shell chocolates as a token to all our Legislators and General Officers. Again, thank you for the perfect touch!
Yawgoo Valley Ski & Sports Park Honored 
 
South County Tourism Council presented Max and Pati deWardener, Owners and General Managers of Yawgoo Valley Ski & Sports Park, with the "Tourism Works for Rhode Island" Award during the Governor's Tourism Unity Luncheon held at the Westin Hotel in Providence on May 13.
 
"Over the past 45 years the deWardener's have managed 210 employees while providing endless hours of learning fun combined with physical activity to many - from within our borders and beyond - all the time dealing with the elements to do so. Bravo! Max and Pati, you are a shining light of what's right when Tourism Works for Rhode Island", said Myrna George, SCTC President.

Yawgoo Valley award

Pictured from left to right:  RIEDC Tourism Division Director Mark Brodeur, Pati deWardener, Governor Carcieri, Max deWardener, Myrna George.  Photograph by Chet Browning.
South County in Times Square
 
Images of South County were seen in the heart of Times Square in New York City. South County Tourism Council purchased 15 second spots on the CBS SuperScreen in May and June with a viewership of over 1.5 million impressions daily. A picture is worth a thousand words!
 
 

Priceless Free Publicity
 
Boston Globe
June 21, 2009
 
10 reasons to love South County, R.I.
Rhode Island has five official counties (second lowest in the nation to Delaware's three), and what is called South County isn't one of them. It's more a state of mind, an area from Coventry at its northernmost, to Narragansett in the southeast, to Westerly on the Connecticut border.

The ocean beaches are its main draw, 16 public ones in all, but the diversity of attractions is not to be missed. So here is a tour of 10 things to love about South County, starting in the north.
 
For the complete article click here.
Calling All Photographers!
 
Open your shutters and capture the beauty here in South County! Snap your favorite moments spent in Charlestown, Coventry, East Greenwich, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett, North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown, Westerly and West Greenwich. Entries for the 8th Annual South County Photo Contest are being accepted through August 12, 2009. For entry form and contest rules click here.
Discover New England
 
The Council attended Discover New England's 14th Annual Tourism Summit & International Marketplace in April in collaboration with the State Division of Tourism. Tour operators in attendance represented the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Japan and China, as well as international press. This event is one of the finest international marketing opportunities to promote South County to our European and Asian friends, right here in New England. 
Free Extra Exposure
 
Congratulations to:
 
Yankee Magazine's Best of New England 2009 Editors' Choice recipients: Stone's Throw Inn in Narragansett for Best Inn Breakfast, The Cooked Goose in Westerly for Best Reason To Greet The New Day, Jim's Dock in East Matunuck for Best Fresh Seafood, Ocean State Job Lot for Bargains-A Lot to Choose From, Brickley's in Wakefield and Narragansett for Best Homemade Ice Cream, Shelter Harbor Inn in Westerly for Best Place to Play, Black Point in Narragansett for Best Beachside Hike, Narrow River Kayaks in Narragansett for Best River-to-Ocean Glide, and The Towers in Narragansett for Best Dancing at Sunset
 
Matunuck Oyster Bar & Seafood Market for their new restaurant opening in June next door to their Matununk Oyster Farm. Both the market and restaurant specialize in locally grown produce and seafood.
 
Inside Scoop for the opening of their 2nd South County location on Route 2 in Exeter.
 
Aunt Carrie's in Narragansett, The Coast Guard House in Narragansett, Jigger's Diner in East Greenwich, The Olympia Tea Room in Watch Hill, George's of Galilee in Narragansett, The Pump House in South Kingstown for their ability to "stand the test of time, especially given the economic gloom and doom these days", according to Providence Business News' Bruce Newbury.  
 
Westerly's Wilcox Park and Art Stroll made AAA Horizon's "10 Free Things To Do in Rhode Island" list and Misquamicut State Beach made the "Best of the Beach" list in their July issue.
Free Brochure Space 
 
Combining the Registry of Motor Vehicles offices has brought an increase of visitors to our offices at the Stedman Government Center.  Can you believe almost 700 people are processed every Wednesday and Thursday?  You are invited to take advantage of this increased 'traffic' and drop off your brochures at our office and we will be happy to display them on our front rack at no charge.
Tour Rhode Island
 
Tour Rhode Island, which is a collaboration of all regions with the State Division of Tourism, requires many hours of planning. Thank you to all of our South County partners for making this year's event a huge success: Gilbert Stuart Birthplace Museum in North Kingstown, the Department of Environmental Management, South County Museum in Narragansett, Wilcox Park and Westerly Public Library, Westerly Armory, Babcock-Smith House, General Nathanael Greene Homestead in Coventry, the Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum & Nuweetooun School in Exeter, Arcadia Management Area, Kenyon's Grist Mill in Usquepaugh, and Smith's Castle in Wickford.  And a special thank you to Tim Cranston and Carol Salisbury who added their historical magic to the South County tours.
Farewell Karen...Hello Michele 
 
Karen Cooke, Marketing/Promotion Manager, has assumed new career adventures. The Council is grateful to Karen for her efforts over the past 4 years. We certainly understand Karen's desire to achieve career growth and her work on behalf of SCTC promoting South County will be missed.
 
We are very pleased to welcome Michele Bednarick as Promotional Specialist. Michele is a graduate of Rutgers University with a major in Computer Technology. Her extensive background will be invaluable to the Council in achieving its goals to promote and encourage tourism.  
 

   2009 South County Style Vacation Planner

 

Did You Know?
  • The Council fulfilled 5,200 requests for South County Style Vacation Planner in April and May.

  • South County RI is the #1 online search term on Google for people visiting www.SouthCountyRI.com. Our branding is a success!  

  • 161,479 page views in April and May on www.SouthCountyRI.com.

  • Over 65% of callers in April and May to our 800-number requesting information on South County were from New York.
  • Visitors calling our 800-number are requesting a South County Style Vacation Planner from as far away as Hawaii, Arizona, California and Texas! 
 
 
 
 
 

Join us on myspace 

Follow us on twitter 

Join us on facebook