Georgetown Business Improvement District will open a visitor’s center for the Georgetown neighborhood in the lobby of the Georgetown Park shopping mall this April.

The center, which will be located across from specialty foods market Dean and Deluca at the corner of M and Potomac streets, is part of the BID’s 2028 Action Plan, a list of 75 actions to invigorate the Georgetown neighborhood.
BID Director of Communications Rachel Cothran said the purpose of the center is to attract visitors to the Georgetown area and provide information for their stay.

“Ultimately, the goal is to provide a welcoming experience for visitors to Georgetown, provide helpful tips and resources, and to encourage discovery of the neighborhood: its history, unique physical environment, and diverse shopping and dining options,” Cothran said.

Cothran added that the new center will emphasize Georgetown’s history and entertainment options for tourists.

“The Georgetown Visitor Center will set the stage for the best possible visitor experience in a neighborhood that has long been a destination among both domestic and international visitors to Washington, D.C.,” Cothran said. “The visitor center will help provide an overview of the Georgetown neighborhood, from its history to what there is to do today. From there, visitors will be better prepared to create their own Georgetown experience.”

The BID is currently recruiting 40 to 50 volunteers from the community to work as “Georgetown Ambassadors” and help with a variety of tasks, including greeting visitors and providing orientation information.

While the online application stresses that volunteers should already be knowledgeable about the area, the BID will provide training on Georgetown’s history, as well as amenities and services that the neighborhood provides, including lodging, food, entertainment, recreation and transportation.

Cothran said that Georgetown students’ familiarity with the area makes them ideal volunteer candidates.

“Georgetown University students have the curiosity and passion for the area that we seek in our recruitment of volunteer Georgetown Ambassadors. We would really love to have [a] GU student contingent on this team,” Cothran said.

Georgetown University Student Association Undersecretary of Neighborhood Relations Olivia Hinerfeld (SFS ’17) said that although the BID has not yet reached out to GUSA about the possibility of volunteer work by Georgetown students, she is optimistic about this potential relationship.

“I believe this could be a great opportunity for increased engagement in the Georgetown Community,” Hinerfeld said.

She added that volunteering at the visitor center could be an option for students to work off their sanctions for conduct cases.

“Currently, many students receive sanctions hours for conduct cases, which are often resolved by participating in events such as the neighborhood cleanups,” Hinerfeld said. “Volunteering at the visitor center could serve as a welcome alternative for completing sanction hours and would likely provide a better opportunity for direct involvement with the local community.”

Tyler Welsh (COL ’18) said he would be interested in volunteering and that student involvement at the visitor center could be mutually beneficial for the campus community and greater Georgetown neighborhood.

“I think it’s a good idea. I think that the Georgetown community could benefit a lot from learning about the Georgetown campus and vice versa, so I think I would be willing to volunteer to talk about Georgetown because I love it a lot,” Welsh said.
Rahul Desai (MSB ’17) echoed Welsh, noting that increased interaction between students and community members could assist negotiations for the 2018 Campus Plan.

“I think getting student volunteers at the visitor center is a good idea because it might help bridge the gap between the town and Georgetown,” Desai said. “If the townspeople actually appreciate student volunteers and get to know them on a personal level and students understand the concerns of the residents, then we might be able to come to more effective compromises in regard to the campus plan.”