Tourism planning, development and operations should be part of conservation or sustainable development strategies for a region, a state or a nation.

Tourism planning, development and operation should be cross-sectoral and integrated, involving different government agencies, private corporations, citizens groups and individuals thus providing
the widest possible benefits.

– Organization of American States

Robert Billington grew up in the Blackstone River Valley of Rhode Island.  He was trained and worked as a cabinetmaker in the family business in the river community of Pawtucket. After six years in the US Coast Guard he pursued his college education at Johnson & Wales University. He has always been an entrepreneur and has developed several businesses. He takes special pride in his work to bring the tourism to America's first industrial region: the Blackstone River Valley.

His effort to create numerous public/private partnerships has been a key factor in the success of tourism planning and development in the Blackstone Valley. He founded the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council in 1985 following the Blackstone Valley Factory Outlet Association in 1982. He was a co-founder of the Cumberland Historic District Commission. In 1992 he developed Rhode Island's first regional comprehensive tourism development plan. It is still in use today. Through the years he has worked
with the National Park Service to develop the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.

In 2000 Billington assisted in the development of a 12,000 square foot Visitor Center. Billington works on the development of Main Streets throughout the Blackstone Valley and is currently working on river access in several urban locations along the Blackstone River.

His interest in community development, job creation, pride of place and education have all come together under the non-profit agency he has lead for 20 years: the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council. He has a strong interest in international tourism and has created partnerships to encourage tourism between foreign countries and the Blackstone River Valley.

Billington has presented at conferences in the US, England, Scotland and Hong Kong. He has been a guest of the Taiwanese and Brazilian Governments due to his interest in tourism development. He has taught as an Adjunct Professor at Johnson & Wales University Graduate program. He has recently completed his Doctorate in Educational Leadership. His ultimate goal is to develop an experiential, graduate level, tourism
planning and development program to be taught in the Blackstone River Valley.