| THE CITY PREPARES TO WELCOME TOURISTS BACK TO CAMBRIDGE |
| *The New & Temporary Location Will Open Mid-April 2022 on the ground floor of the Cambridge Savings Bank, adjacent to the original location of the Cambridge Visitor Information Booth *The Permanent Location will be at the original Out Of Town News Kiosk in Harvard Square, Currently Being Renovated, Restored and Updated *Cambridge is Experiencing a Surge in Tourism While Planning for Busy Tourism Seasons Cambridge, MA….Robyn Culbertson, Executive Director, Cambridge Office for Tourism announced today the plan to reopen the popular Cambridge Visitor Information Center located in Harvard Square. Staffed by a dedicated group of senior volunteers for more than a quarter century, and managed by the Cambridge Office for Tourism, the tiny but highly trafficked booth closed March 13, 2020 due to the onslaught of the pandemic. But Culbertson is excited to announce that the beloved senior volunteers will soon be back and ready to welcome Cambridge’s visitors in a new location graciously provided by Cambridge Savings Bank. “This opportunity created by Cambridge Savings Bank is an absolutely perfect solution to the city’s tourism needs” stated Culbertson. “The former Cambridge Visitor Information Booth has always played an integral role and is often the first point of welcome for visitors to the city. The new facilities will offer an indoor space where the staff can answer questions and offer guidance with more personal interaction. Through the efforts of Kathy Watkins from the City of Cambridge, Denise Jillson of HSBA (Harvard Square Business Association) and Dan Fraine of Cambridge Savings Bank, we proved once again that it truly does take a village. We are blessed with a creative and generous village here in Cambridge.” The planned reopening of the Cambridge Visitor Center at 1374 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge will be mid-April, in time for the influx of visitors expected for the Boston Marathon and warmer spring weather. Culbertson anticipates that this Spring and Summer will see a high volume of visitors eager to experience all that Cambridge has to offer. “We see it in the inquiries to our office and we hear it from Cambridge businesses; there is renewed energy and interest to reconnect and recharge with one another.” The Cambridge Visitor Information Booth has long been a landmark in the heart of Harvard Square. Hundreds of residents and visitors alike support the booth, stopping by for the latest news of Cambridge events, services and amenities. Need to know where to find live music or the latest in performance art? A recommendation for lunch, dinner or brunch? Looking for Harvard’s famous glass flowers exhibit, or where to purchase fresh flowers for a friend? Cambridge Visitor Information Booth volunteers were ready with maps, guides and answers. Now, the tradition continues in the new Cambridge Visitor Center. CONSTRUCTION IS ONGOING AT THE ORIGINAL KIOSK: SLATED TO OPEN AS THE PERMANENT CAMBRIDGE VISITORS CENTER IN APRIL 2023 Built in 1928 as the new main headhouse (entrance building) for the previously-opened Harvard Square subway station, the kiosk is perhaps best known as the former location for Out of Town News. The legendary newsstand opened in Harvard Square in 1955 and occupied the kiosk from 1984-2019. In 2019 the City of Cambridge, which owns the structure, decided to convert the space to public use. The historic kiosk is currently being meticulously renovated to restore the small but impactful structure to its original condition, with modern amenities and technology. After many community meetings and discussions about the building’s design and utilization, the kiosk is expected to be completed in April 2023 and will be the permanent new home of the Cambridge Visitor Center. About Cambridge Office for Tourism The Cambridge Office for Tourism is a non-profit organization and is responsible for the city’s tourism destination marketing, public relations and visitor services for Cambridge, MA. The office manages the Cambridge tourism website, oversees the development and distribution of visitor information collateral, partners with hotels and restaurants to solicit meetings and leisure business, and operates the Cambridge Visitor Center in the heart of Harvard Square. CambridgeUSA.org About Cambridge Savings Bank Cambridge Savings Bank is a full-service banking institution with over $5 billion in assets. As a mutual bank, CSB is committed to improving the quality of life of our employees, customers, and the communities we serve. One of the oldest and largest community banks in Massachusetts, Cambridge Savings Bank offers a full line of individual and business banking services across a robust Massachusetts-based branch network and through digital banking solutions for commercial, small business and consumer customers. To learn more about how we can meet your needs, visit us at cambridgesavings.com, or better yet, come meet us to help you make the most out of your banking relationship. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. |