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Downtown Boston BID: BID Launches "It's Time" Campaign As Foot Traffic & Opening Numbers Rise
Downtown Boston Business Improvement District (BID) Launches
“It’s Time” Campaign as Foot Traffic and Opening Numbers Rise
In its 10th Year, Organization Welcomes a Return to the Heart of Boston
BOSTON (June 24, 2021) – The Downtown Boston Business Improvement District (BID), a non-profit corporation created by property owners to improve the experience of all who live, work, visit, go to school, or shop within the downtown area, today announced the launch of its digital media and public relations campaign, “It’s Time.” The campaign, which coincides with the organization’s 10th anniversary, welcomes back guests to retail shops, restaurants and bars, bookstores, hotels and fitness facilities that call the history-rich, 34-block Downtown District home.
The “It’s Time” campaign will utilize targeted public relations outreach, social media, and creative marketing assets that include in-store posters, large outdoor signage, the popular uniformed BID Ambassadors, and many of the Downtown area’s historic sites and iconic statues. The social media posts and videos will feature the Ambassadors in lighthearted ways as they conduct their daily duties and eagerly anticipate the return of shoppers, diners, office workers, students, and visitors from around the world.
“We have been patiently waiting for the day when we could safely welcome people back to Downtown Boston,” said Rosemarie Sansone, President & CEO of the Downtown Boston BID. “‘It’s Time’ captures everyone’s wishes to return to the activities, destinations and social interactions that we’ve missed so much this past year. With most restrictions lifted and with regional vaccination rates among the highest in the country, we are seeing a steady uptick in foot traffic and the reopening of restaurants, retailers and entertainment venues, all of which signals a strong resurgence in Downtown Boston. We are grateful for the strong leadership from our city and state officials.”
According to data collected by the BID, approximately 78 percent of ground-floor retailers and 65 percent of restaurants that were open pre-pandemic have now reopened to the public, with many more scheduled or planned. The beloved Last Hurrah at the Omni Parker House recently reopened, while the nearby Scholars Bistro, Silvertone and Merchant are also planning to relaunch. The Ritz-Carlton, Boston, a mainstay of Downtown’s hospitality offerings, reopened on June 3. Additionally, the BID’s pedestrian-traffic sensors have measured a 148 percent increase in foot traffic in the area since December 2020, a month typically busy with holiday shoppers and travelers.
“Downtown Boston is buzzing once again as shops, restaurants and offices safely reopen – the energy is palpable,” said Alison Lies, chief investment officer at the global real estate investment firm Gazit Horizons and chair of the Boston BID Welcome Back committee. “Right now we’re seeing a record number of companies looking for office space downtown and the listings for residential condominiums are outpacing 2020 numbers.”
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the membership-based Downtown Boston BID continued to support local businesses throughout the pandemic by taking extra measures to ensure a safe, clean, and welcoming reopening of the district. The BID also provides much needed advocacy, in some cases financial assistance, and supplemental services including keeping the streets and sidewalks clean, maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the district and ensuring that people feel welcomed and safe.
“The past year has been very challenging for all of us, but our work never stopped,” said Nojdar Aga, the Downtown Boston BID's Operations Director. “The BID, along with the Ambassadors, have spent the last year maintaining the district. Everything is looking great, and we’re thrilled to be greeting visitors again and welcoming back familiar faces.”