Visitors who have stopped by the William Way Community Center on Thursday afternoons in the past few months may have noticed a new addition to the lobby, another step in the city’s efforts to reach out to LGBT tourists.
The Independence Visitor Center Corporation launched a satellite information booth at the center in the spring, offering visitors to the city an array of tourism information and the opportunity to interact with a concierge who can help them get all they can out of their visit to the City of Brotherly Love.
The booth, which is set up every Thursday afternoon, was first proposed to the IVCC by Tami Sortman, former president of the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus.
“We were looking for William Way to be one of the points of entry for LGBT travelers,” Sortman said. “When people come into town, they don’t necessarily have to go to the Independence Visitor Center but can start at our center and get a lot of the same information.”
IVCC also operates satellite locations at City Hall, the Fairmount Park Welcome Center and the Free Library of Philadelphia Central Branch, as well as at conventions and events at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
“We’re trying to reach as many visitors as we can and make sure anyone who comes to Philadelphia knows everything the region has to offer,” said IVCC executive director Jim Cuorato, whose staff underwent PGTC’s gay-sensitivity training and who said the partnership with the center was a natural progression for the city. “This gives us a chance to build on the great work that [Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation] has done in marketing Philadelphia to the LGBT community and make the visitors feel welcome to our city.”
Cuorato noted the new booth also has personal significance for him, as he was a friend of the late William Way.
The William Way location offers traditional brochures and information about the city’s myriad tourist attractions, including LGBT-specific offerings, but Cuorato said one of the booth’s most appealing aspects is that it’s staffed by an IVCC employee.
“There’s a need for that face-to-face contact and conversation with our concierge to help with that personal trip planning. It’s easy to just set up a brochure rack and put brochures out, but we offer that extra personal touch. It’s the personal service where you can talk to someone, get personal recommendations, have someone call a restaurant for you or call a hotel and make reservations or check on theater tickets. That’s what distinguishes our satellite centers.”
The William Way location is a six-month pilot, but Cuorato said that, depending on funding and as long as the center is in agreement, the IVCC would be interested in continuing the relationship.
William Way executive director Chris Bartlett said the partnership has gone well so far.
“The goal is to have tourists on the Avenue of the Arts view the center as a place to come for information, and this is for both LGBT tourists and other tourists as well, who can come in, get information and look around,” Bartlett said. “I feel like it’s a win-win for everyone.”
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].