Photo: Troy Freund.

Program Overview
In the Downtown Information Ambassador program, four part-time and approximately 90 volunteer Ambassadors work as "concierges" for Downtown Madison, ready to offer event information, downtown maps and directions, restaurant and shopping suggestions, and a friendly smile. Downtown Ambassadors work to create a welcoming environment downtown, provide information on downtown events and businesses, and serve as a liaison to BID businesses.

From May through early October, Ambassadors are stationed on State Street and the Capitol Square inside information booths, as well as on the Downtown trolley during the winter holiday season and at special events throughout the year.

BID Programming Coordinator Mitch Freund. Photo: Troy Freund.

Thanks to the efforts of Mitch Freund, BID Programming Coordinator and the Ambassador team, the Downtown Information Booths are now staffed 7 days a week during summer.

In 2009, the Ambassador team made 32,000 "Public Relations Contacts" (talking in a positive manner with a downtown patron long enough and meaningfully enough that it creates a positive impact) and 8,000 BID Business contacts (when an Ambassador conducts a delivery, collects information for a survey, or makes contact with a BID business during their assigned shift).

Also in 2009, the Ambassadors distributed 130,000 Downtown Map & Guides, plus 63,000 brochures or other materials about downtown events and organizations.

Volunteer as an Ambassador
To learn more about becoming a BID Ambassador, contact BID Programming Coordinator Mitch Freund at (608) 512-1341 or mfreund@visitdowntownmadison.com.