Rhode Island hires new tourism firms

Rhode Island hires new tourism firms

 

PROVIDENCE, R.I.: Rhode Island is launching a new tourism campaign after last year’s brought international embarrassment over its “Cooler and Warmer” slogan and a promotional video that featured a scene from Iceland.

 

The state Commerce Corporation approved $4.3 million to hire four vendors to work on this year’s tourism and business attraction efforts.

 

They include two Providence-based firms: RDW Group, which gets $1.7 million for advertising and strategic planning; and NAIL Communications, which receives $1.4 million. There are also two New York-based firms: MMGY Global, which receives $473,000; and Havas PR North America, which receives $691,000 to attract businesses. Havas is the only one that also worked on last year’s $5 million campaign.

 

State Rep. Robert Nardolillo, a Coventry Republican, is criticizing the plan as wasteful. -AP