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About
Big Apple Greeter
Founded in
1992 as the first “welcome visitor” program of its kind in the United
States, the idea grew from friendly exchanges Founder Lynn Brooks had
with people she met on her own vacation travels around the world. Lynn
realized that New York City suffered from an image problem: almost
everyone she spoke to wanted to visit New York City, but thought the
city was too dangerous, expensive and overwhelming. Lynn wanted the
world to know New York City as she did: a great big small town with
diverse neighborhoods, mom-and-pop stores, fun places to dine, and
friendly residents who go out of their way to help an out-of-towner
feel welcome.
Today, there are 300
plus volunteer Greeters who
each year bring approximately 7,000 visitors to 114 neighborhoods
throughout the City. Since
its start in 1992, Big Apple Greeter has welcomed nearly 100,000
visitors from all 50 states and 124 countries, with visits
conducted in over 20 languages. A December 2004 survey conducted by
New York University Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports
Management found that 97% of survey respondents said that their Greeter
experience made their trips to New York City much more successful.
Big Apple Greeter
services are provided free of charge
thanks to the support of our generous donors. Please consider
becoming a donor at this time, so that we may continue sharing the
city’s diverse neighborhoods and hidden treasures with visitors from
around the world.
Big Apple Greeter's
office is staffed by 6 paid staff
and about 35 volunteers who work in every aspect of the program, from
answering visitors’ questions and matching visitors with Greeters, to
computer tech support and special events. What might look easy to
do on the surface (you submit a request and a volunteer meets you at
your accommodation) actually takes a large infrastructure to support.
We receive over 10,000 requests a year, and it takes a lot of people to
make sure the right volunteer speaking the right language is meeting
the right visitors at the right time and location.
Big Apple Greeter is
proud to partner with NYC
& Company and the Make A Wish
Foundation® of Metro New York, Inc, and is associated with The Global Greeter
Network.
In
August 2008,
Big Apple Greeter introduced the Greeter for a
Day Program in which business, community, and government
leaders are invited to fill a Greeter’s shoes for a few
hours. By sharing his or her love and enthusiasm for New York
City and its neighborhoods with an appreciative visitor, the Greeter
for a Day promotes New York City "the Big Apple Greeter way.”
Photo: Arthur Gold
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