What do Egypt, Turks and Caicos, New York City and the state of Rhode Island have in common? They are all official world-class destinations.
The biggest little state in the union earned that honor recently when it received the International Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, the most prestigious award in the tourism and hospitality industry. Rhode Island is the first and only state in America to receive the award, which in its 60-year history has gone to countries, resorts, cities, cruise lines, chefs – but never an American state.
“Rhode Island,” said Joseph Cinque, a native of Revere and president of the academy, “is the smallest state –- and the best.”

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