| Several cities now have "Greeter" or "Ambassador" | | | | questionnaire, has a personal interview and, if |
| programs, where local volunteers provide | | | | selected, attends a 3-hour orientation. We look for |
| out-of-town travelers with their time and knowledge | | | | enthusiasm, communication and people skills. |
| of their city. I have used these greeter services | | | | 5. Who can take advantage of a Big Apple Greeter? |
| twice, once in 2003 in Chicago, and just recently this | | | | How is the Greeter matched up with the visitor? |
| May in New York City. | | | | Big Apple Greeter's services are for visitors to New |
| Greeter services are a fabulous - and free - way of | | | | York City. Visitors must stay within the five boroughs |
| exploring a city through the eyes of an insider, a local | | | | of New York City for at least 2 nights. Visitors and |
| resident who shows you around. They are also a | | | | Greeters are matched by the language spoken by |
| great way to make a local human connection and to | | | | the visitors, the neighborhoods the visitors would like |
| find an instant friend in a new city. Gail Morse, | | | | to see, and, if possible, the visitors' interests. |
| Director of Marketing and Public Relations of the Big | | | | 6. The Big Apple Greeter experience is free for the |
| Apple Greeter organization, will tell us more now | | | | traveler. How is that possible? Please also comment |
| about the Greeter program in New York City. | | | | on your no-tipping policy. |
| 1. What are "Big Apple Greeters"? What does a visit | | | | The 350 Greeters are all volunteers, and there are |
| with a Big Apple Greeter entail? What makes this | | | | about 30 volunteers in the office who administer the |
| experience so special? | | | | program or work in other areas of the organization, |
| The mission of the organization is to enhance the | | | | such as fundraising, computer network maintenance, |
| worldwide image of New York City by connecting | | | | and public relations. There are 8 paid staff. Funds are |
| visitors with enthusiastic volunteers. What we do is | | | | raised through grants from corporations and |
| match visitors with New Yorkers who volunteer to | | | | foundations, and donations from individuals. |
| show some of New York City's many neighborhoods. | | | | Big Apple Greeter is a free service, and Greeters |
| Visits are 2 to 4 hours long, and Greeters meet no | | | | don't accept tips. The Greeter service is based on a |
| more than a total of 6 visitors at one time. We do | | | | love of New York City, a willingness to share that |
| not match up visitors who don't know each other, so | | | | love with a visitor, and the human connection created |
| if one person asks for a Greeter, that visitor has his | | | | between people - New Yorker and visitor. If a visitor |
| or her own Greeter. | | | | would like to show appreciation for the service and |
| 2. Please tell us how the Big Apple Greeter | | | | generous spirit of a Greeter, the visitor might like to |
| organization creates a unique and customized | | | | make a donation to Big Apple Greeter through our |
| experience for each visit, based on the visitors' | | | | website, |
| interests. Do you have some Greeters that offer | | | | 7. In addition to being free, a visit with a Big Apple |
| their services in foreign languages? | | | | Greeter also offers some additional free benefits. |
| Visitors are matched by neighborhoods requested, | | | | Please tell us a bit more about that. |
| language the visitor speaks, and, when possible, | | | | Each visitor gets a $4 (2-ride) Metro Card to be used |
| interests. We don't take visitors to the major tourist | | | | during a Greeter visit. Greeters help visitors become |
| attractions since visitor's can easily do that on their | | | | oriented to the busses and subways of New York |
| own. Greeters take visitors to places that are | | | | City, showing them how easy and quickly they can |
| generally off the beaten tourist path, giving personal | | | | get all over the city. |
| recommendations for places to eat and shop, and | | | | 8. What is the procedure for requesting to meet a |
| other things to see and do. Greeters also help visitors | | | | greeter? How far in advance should the request be |
| use the subway and busses. Visitors get to see New | | | | made? What is the likelihood of getting to meet a |
| York City through the eyes of a New Yorker and | | | | Greeter? |
| get to make an instant friend. This makes the city | | | | Visitors fill in the Visit Request Form found on our |
| seem more manageable and less daunting. Greeters | | | | website, , at least one month prior to arrival in New |
| are not licensed, professional tour guides. There are | | | | York City. Before submitting the Form, please have |
| no set itineraries, theme tours or pre-set start times; | | | | travel dates and accommodations confirmed for at |
| each Greeter visit is unique. Greeters can welcome | | | | least 2 nights within New York City. During the |
| visitors in 22 languages. | | | | busiest months we may run out of available |
| 3. Having a greeter program in any large city is a | | | | volunteer Greeters and disappoint some visitors. |
| fabulous resource for visitors. Who came up with the | | | | 9. New York City was one of the first North |
| idea and when? How has the Big Apple Greeter | | | | American city to develop a greeter program. Since |
| Program evolved since its inception? | | | | then this popular initiative has spawned other greeter |
| Big Apple Greeter is the first Greeter service of its | | | | programs in other cities across the US, Canada and |
| kind. Founder Lynn Brooks came up with the idea | | | | internationally. Please tell us a bit about how the NYC |
| during the 1980s while she was traveling through | | | | Big Apple Greeters helped other cities to develop |
| Europe on vacation. Lynn found that, while most | | | | their own greeters program. |
| people wanted to visit New York City, most felt the | | | | The first off-shoot was Melbourne Greeter Service in |
| city was too overwhelming, dangerous and | | | | Melbourne, Australia, in 1999, started in anticipation of |
| expensive. Lynn decided that everyone needed to | | | | the increased tourism expected due to the Sydney |
| know what she knew - that New York City is just a | | | | Olympics in 2000. Big Apple Greeter was asked to |
| great big small town. Since Lynn couldn't personally | | | | act as consultants on the project. Big Apple Greeter |
| show every visitor the New York City she knew, she | | | | next consulted on Chicago Greeter in 2002. There are |
| thought the best way to change peoples' minds was | | | | now Greeter programs in Adelaide, Australia; |
| to have visitors get to know New York City through | | | | Fairbanks, Alaska; Houston, Texas; and Toronto, |
| the eyes of a New Yorker. Big Apple Greeter started | | | | Ontario, Canada. Whether we consulted on a project |
| as an initiative of the Office of the Manhattan | | | | or helped out with friendly support and |
| Borough President and became an independent | | | | encouragement, all these programs are excellent. |
| non-profit organization in 1992. | | | | Each is a little different, reflecting the differences in |
| 4. How many Greeters are there today? What does | | | | each city, but the principles are the same: extending |
| it take to become a Big Apple Greeter? | | | | a volunteer's welcoming hand to a visitor, showing |
| There are about 350 Greeters today. Greeters are | | | | hometown pride, offering a free service to the public |
| not licensed, professional tour guides, but volunteers | | | | and a great volunteer opportunity to a local resident. |
| who are enthusiastic, love to meet people, love New | | | | Thank you for your time, Gail, and for informing us |
| York City and want to give something back. To | | | | about this unique organization. |
| become a Greeter, an applicant fills out a long | | | | |