In The News - Empress of the North Expands 2004 Alaska Offerings

New Chicago Greeter Offering

Chicago from the Waterfront
Photo by Charles Pannell

The Chicago Office of Tourism recently unveiled their new InstaGreeter program; an on-the-spot greeter service which offers visitors a quick tour of downtown Chicago. "We are excited about InstaGreeter because it is a service that immediately introduces visitors to our downtown neighborhood," says Dorothy Cole, Director of the Chicago Office of Tourism.

Like the Chicago Greeter tours, InstaGreeter tours are free and are conducted by local volunteers. The main differences are that the InstaGreeter tours only cover the immediate downtown area, and visitors can sign up for an InstaGreeter tour on a walk-in basis.

InstaGreeter Tours are wheelchair accessible and they can be tailored to specific access needs. For example, if a visitor is interested in getting around on public transportation, a greeter volunteer can sit down and discuss accessible options and offer a brief orientation. The idea is to give visitors a quick introduction to downtown Chicago, answer questions and provide assistance.

Visitors can sign up for an InstaGreeter tour at the Visitor Information Center in the Chicago Cultural Center, located at 77 E. Randolph Street. Visit www.ChicagoGreeter.com or call (312)744-8000 for more information on InstaGreeter hours of operation.

For a more in-depth tour of one of Chicago's many unique neighborhoods, sign up for a Chicago Greeter tour. Currently the Chicago Greeter program offers over 40 themed tours and visits 33 neighborhoods. Tours must be requested at least seven business days in advance, and because of the individualized nature of this service, accessible tours are available. Visit www.ChicagoGreeter.com or call (312)744-8000 for more information or to sign up for a tour.

Visit www.877chicago.com for tourism information on the windy city, and be sure and read the Winter 2004 issue of Emerging Horizons for more details about Chicago Greeter tours and for the inside scoop on an accessible and eclectic downtown Chicago hotel.