Education Conference to Bring Global Exposure, Economic Boost to the Ocean State
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February 3, 2010 | Print this page | Share This |
Educational Travel Conference will generate an estimated $500,000 for Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) today announced that the Rhode Island Tourism Division, Regional Tourism organization and the Rhode Island Airport Corporation will welcome the Educational Travel Community’s Educational Travel Conference (ETC) to Providence from February 3-6 at the Rhode Island Convention Center.
The conference is projected to generate approximately $500,000 for the state of Rhode Island and was drawn to Rhode Island through the work of the Rhode Island Tourism Division and its partners. Now in its 24th year, ETC is the only forum of its kind dedicated to the advancement and education of nonprofit alumni, museum, zoo, conservation, and other nonprofit travel professionals in the business of developing programs for lifelong learning through travel.
“Rhode Island is thrilled to host the ETC in Providence,” said Keith Stokes, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. “ETC will provide a great economic boost to the state and excellent exposure of Rhode Island’s rich resources to the travel industry. Tourism is a leading economic engine for Rhode Island and RIEDC is committed to growing hospitality and tourism jobs and supporting industry efforts.”
The conference will bring more than 400 delegates to Rhode Island who will participate in inspired sessions, first-rate social venues, and educationally rich "experiences" on site and throughout the state. Designed to address the issues of most critical importance today to alumni, museum and nonprofit travel, a substantive educational program with outstanding speakers will deliver a vertically rich and integrated educational experience over the course of 2.5 days with more than 60 educational sessions, collegial roundtables and different tracks on a variety of timely topics.
“This is a great sales call for Rhode Island. With several hundred tour planners and more than a dozen major media outlets expected to attend ETC Rhode Island is positioned to receive world wide exposure,” said Mark Brodeur, Director of the Rhode Island Tourism Division. “Hosting 400 well-profiled tour operators and travel suppliers here in Providence is an excellent start to increasing tourism for Rhode Island in 2010.”
The Tourism Division will host travel writers and encourage convention delegates to experience the local cuisine and the Ocean State’s tourism assets. The National Geographic Society, Smithsonian Journeys, USA Today, NY1, and Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor for CBS are among the delegates expected to attend and speak at the conference.
Nowhere has such a highly qualified international group of nonprofit travel planners, suppliers, specialty tour operators and destinations been assembled to focus on the development, operation and marketing of group educational, experiential and affinity travel worldwide. ETC’s global audience includes the Belgian Tourism Office, Botswana Tourism Board, Canada Tourism Commission, Dubai Tourism, Egyptian Tourism Authority, Guyana Tourism, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Israel Ministry of Tourism, Japan National Tourism Organization, Jordan Tourism Board, Mexico Tourism Board, Philippine Department of Tourism, and the China National Tourism commission.
To close out the conference, the Rhode Island Tourism Division will partner with the regional tourism organizations, the Rhode Island Airport Corporation and several private hotels and transportation companies to sponsor WaterFire February 4 and a closing gala event on February 5 at the Rhode Island Convention Center.
About the Educational Travel Community (ETC)
The Educational Travel Community (ETC) is a community of practice for organizations worldwide dedicated to advancing lifelong learning and the understanding of international relations through travel. Originally developed to support nonprofits in travel, ETC is defined by a service-oriented and collaborative philosophy. ETC serves its community members, their institutions, and their companies through offline and online education, training, and networking venues. To learn more about the Educational Travel Conference, visit: www.travelearning.com.
About the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (ETC)
The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation is the full service, official economic development organization for the state of Rhode Island. A quasi-public agency, the corporation serves as a government and community resource to help streamline the business expansion in, and relocation to, Rhode Island. The agency assists companies with commercial real estate, business financing, workforce training and other relevant issues. www.riedc.com
