PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Representatives from regional tourism groups across Rhode Island say they were never consulted in developing the state’s now controversial new tourism campaign.
WPRI-TV reports (https://bit.ly/1SRJsVC ) Commerce Corporation Chief of Staff Wade Gibson told legislators in January that his agency was working with regional tourism groups in preparing the much-maligned $4.5 million “Cooler & Warmer” campaign.
But many of those groups are now saying that their opinions were never sought out to begin with.
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council head Bob Billington said Wednesday that his group didn’t really have a chance to comment on the campaign or even review it.
Martha Sheridan of the Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau says she only saw the campaign once it had already been finalized.
Calls to the Commerce Corporation for comment weren’t returned.
___
Information from: WPRI-TV, https://www.wpri.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.