Providence Hotels and Restaurants to Receive Little Benefit from PVDFest
Sunday, June 05, 2016
GoLocalProv News Team
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PHOTO: Flckr Sarah&Boston
PVDFest might have made a significantly bigger economic impact if it had not been scheduled the same weekend at Rhode Island School of Design’s graduation. According to RISD officials, more than 5,000 attend the graduation weekend and in 2015, the hotels during the graduation weekend were close to full occupancy.
Hotel rooms and restaurant reservations are hard to get on graduation weekend. The Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) data from last year’s RISD graduation weekend, which did not correspond with the arts event, scored 91 percent and 97 percent hotel occupancy over the Friday and Saturday nights respectively.
The CVB’s Martha Sheridan reports that there are 2,400 hotel rooms in the greater downtown Providence area, thus with RISD graduation consistent each year, there would be roughly 216 rooms available for Friday night and just 72 for Saturday night for PVDFest visitors.
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The available hotel rooms for tourists wanting to stay over in Providence totals less than 300 rooms because of the date selected by the Administration of Jorge Elorza.
If the event had been scheduled on a non-graduation weekend when the occupancy late can drop to as low as 50 to 60 percent, the economic impact of PVDFest could have been substantial generating thousands of room stays and restaurant reservations.
Day Trippers are Coming
URI Distinguished Professor of Business Administration Edward Mazze believes the event will have a positive impact, as it will provide an opportunity for more day trippers to come to Providence.
Mazze told GoLocal, “The economic event will also be an increase in retail sales (gifts and other items, shopping at Providence Place Mall and other locations near the Fest), purchase of other food sales (fast food outlets, take-out foods, vending machines) and other sales (e.g. movie tickets, admission to museums, tours).”
The PVD Fest is a series of dozens of arts and music events throughout the City. “Building off the success of last year's festival, this year is an opportunity to combine our local talent with the works of artists from across the globe and truly turn our city into a stage. I look forward to welcoming these international acts here and seeing this celebration of the arts expand year after year,” said Jorge Elorza.
“The Art Fest is “local” – directed towards day-trippers and Providence residents with minimum or no effect on hotels. A completely different market than those coming for graduations," said Mazze. "PVDFest could also benefit from those attending graduations who may be looking for activities before and after the graduation that goes beyond dining, checking out of the hotel and leaving Providence immediately."
Related Slideshow: 2016 PVDFest Schedule of Events
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June 3
Live Painting
Live Painting courtesy of Overspray Studios will take place at Adrian Hall Way.
Painting begins at 5 p.m.
PHOTO: Overspray Studios Facebook
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June 3
Food Trucks at Providence City Hall
Food Trucks will line Eddy & Fulton Streets in front of Providence City Hall from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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June 3
2016 Summer Concert Series at Alex & Ani City Center
The PVDFest will officially kick off at the Alex & Ani City Center with performances by Ra Ra Riot, Vulgarrity and The Heavy.
The show will begin at 7 p.m.
PHOTO: Ra Ra Riot via Wikipedia
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June 4
Marketplace Curated by Providence Flea on Westminster Street
Check out the marketplace curated by The Providence Flea on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. See what cool stuff you can take home.
PHOTO: Facebook
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June 4
Plena Libre at FirstWorks Plaza Stage
Plena Libre will perform starting at 3:30 p.m.
Plena and bomba are distinctive musical styles of Puerto Rico, and the virtuoso musicians of Plena Libre are their contemporary masters. These four-time Grammy Award nominees combine a hard-hitting horn section, master hand drummers, and lush three-part vocal harmonies into a modern blend.
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June 4
Fair Trade Dance Party at Mathewson Street Stage
Fair Trade is a day long celebration of DJs and Hip Hop’s influence on music curated by Stay Silent PVD and Trade Pop-Up. Throughout the day, featured DJs will explore different themes and artist discographies that will provide the soundtrack to this outdoor party.
The dance party will happen from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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June 4
Procession from Washington Street to Kennedy Plaza
The PVDFest procession will start at 4:30 p.m. on Washington Street and go to Kennedy Plaza.
PHOTO: PVDFest Facebook
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June 4
Festival Welcome at Kennedy Plaza
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza as well as the Eastern Medicine Singers welcome everyone to the Festival.
The Festival Welcome is set for 5 p.m.
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June 4
Rocky Dawuni at Festival Rink Stage
Rocky Dawuni is a Grammy nominated Ghanaian singer and songwriter who performs his signature Afro Roots sound combined with some reggae, aftrobeat, highlife and soul music.
Dawuni's performance will start at 5:45 p.m.
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June 4
Doppelgänger Dance Collective at Coastway Community Stage.
Rhode Island’s own Doppelgänger Dance Collective (DDC) takes the stage. DDC reflects a deep love of contemporary movement and is committed to increasing public accessibility to dance and service to the community. At the inception, Co-founding dancers Shura Baryshnikov and Danielle Davidson believed that their similar, fierce physicality and versatile technique would be dynamic in duet.
The crew will perform starting at 6 p.m.
PHOTO: Facebook
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June 4
Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) at Festival Rink Stage
DBR will be performing Redemption Songs and Sonatas and Event Piece along with students from Trinity Academy of the Performing Arts.
The performance will take place at 7 p.m.
PHOTO: Facebook
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June 4
Saurus, Close-Act Theatre at Kennedy Plaza
The biggest beasts that ever walked the earth stomp their way through Downtown Providence as this multi-disciplinary street theater company from the Netherlands makes its East Coast debut with Saurus.
The performances will take place at 5:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
PHOTO: Facebook
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June 4
Chachi Carvalho at FirstWorks Plaza Stage
Chachi Carvalho has established himself as one of the most prolific and enduring local rappers, with positive messages that have made him a fan favorite. Rooted in classic hip-hop, Chachi’s sound is constantly evolving, seamlessly incorporating both live instrumentation and his Cape Verdean roots.
The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m.
PHOTO: Twitter
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June 4
Juan de Marcos and The Afro-Cuban All Stars at FirstWorks Plaza Stage
The 17-piece Afro-Cuban All Stars are a dream team of Cuba’s hottest musicians. Musical director Juan de Marcos González, who arranged the famed Buena Vista Social Club, leads a multi-generational line-up drawn from some of the island’s most beloved bands.
The performance will take place at 9 p.m.
PHOTO: Facebook
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June 4
Interactive Video Games projected on side of Drefyus
If you are a gamer than this is the event for you.
Interactive video games will begin at 9 p.m.
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June 4
Newpoli at Grant's Block
Newpoli carries on a tradition so old that it’s hard to date, performing music from the south of Italy that soaks up the diverse influences of surrounding regions. Newpoli’s music is the pulse of the Mediterranean, a heartbeat driven by the relentless rhythms of the tamburello.
The performance will take place at 9:15 p.m.
PHOTO: Facebook
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June 4
BIG NAZO Intergalactic Creature Band at ACT Stage
The Big Nazo Intergalactic Creature Band is an “extraterrestrial creature spectacle, space-funk dance party” featuring appearances by Alien Go-Go Dancers, Rowdy Robots and a cast of bizarre and unusual Creature Characters who rock out in a variety of mask & puppet performance styles.
The performance will take place at 9:30 p.m.
PHOTO: Facebook
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June 4
Lakou Mizik at Festival Rink Stage
When their country was devastated by an earthquake in 2010, a group of Haitian musicians rose up and called out to the world, “You tell them, we’re still here!” Lakou Mizik is a multigenerational collective united in their mission to showcase pride, strength, and hope through music.
The performance will take place at 11 p.m.
PHOTO: Facebook
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June 4
Sidy Maiga & Afrimanding at FirstWorks Plaza Stage
In the hands of master drummer Sidy Maiga the djembe does not just beat—it sings, shouts, whispers, laughs, cries, and electrifies. Originally from Mali, Maiga is based in Rhode Island and has traveled the world drumming and teaching. He combines the best of West African percussion traditions with the modern rhythms of the Caribbean and hip-hop.
The performance will take place at 11:00 p.m.
PHOTO: sidymaiga.com
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June 5
Oklahoma at Trinity Rep
Trinity Repertory Company will be performing selections from their current production Oklahoma!. Packed with humor, romance, square dances and an unforgettable score,
Shows will run at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
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