The Chicago Office of Tourism’s free visitor service, Chicago Greeter, highlights more than…
The Chicago Office of Tourism’s free visitor service, Chicago Greeter, highlights more than 40 special interest areas and over 25 neighborhoods for visitors to explore. Since April 2002, Chicago Greeter has been a resource for visitors as well as locals entertaining visiting family and friends. Chicago Greeter volunteers have grown from 150 greeters speaking 13 different languages to 180 greeters speaking 20 languages. In the last year, the number of visits conducted has doubled from over 2,000 to more than 4,000 with guests from all 50 states and 53 different countries.
Chicago Greeter is designed to match a friendly, enthusiastic, and city knowledgeable local with a visitor for a two to four hour informal, insider orientation to Chicago’s sights. Visitors meet with a greeter who takes them around the city and demonstrates its walk-ability and the user-friendliness of its public transportation system. Visitors are matched with greeters through an online registration system based on special interest and language.
“Chicago Greeter is a great opportunity for visitors to see and learn about the city,” said Dorothy Coyle, Director of the Chicago Office of Tourism. “Visitors are introduced to the city with our local volunteer greeters who can give them an unforgettable Chicago experience from a local’s perspective. Chicago Greeter is a great service for Chicagoans to utilize when they host out-of-town family and friends.”
Launched in September 2003, InstaGreeter is Chicago Greeter’s “on-the-spot” greeter service, offering visitors the opportunity to see downtown Chicago in an hour with a greeter leading free downtown walking visits.
Chicago Greeter is the only service of seven worldwide Greeter programs that offers InstaGreeter. Since August 2003, more than 533 InstaGreeter visits have been conducted with visitors from 40 states and 32 different countries.
Millennium Park Greeter Service, launched in summer 2005, provides visitors with a specialized tour of the park’s development, architecture and environment. The service, which conducted over 200 walks in its first season, is on hiatus for the winter season and will return in summer 2006.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
