Published: July 25, 2008 09:33 pm      

PROFILE: Putting a smile on the face of tourism

Rich Hogan has been a volunteer greeter for five years

Being a world traveler himself, Rich Hogan knows the value of having access to free information to help guide a trip.

That’s why he’s spending his retirement years stationed in downtown Niagara Falls interacting with tourists as a volunteer for the Niagara Greeters “Info on the Go” program. At age 61, Hogan spends two days a week and a total of eight hours providing free maps and materials and answering questions ranging from where’s the closest restroom to directions back to the airport in Buffalo.

“To be able to sit out here in the park on a nice day and help people, what more could you want?” Hogan said Friday afternoon while stationed near the corner of Buffalo Avenue and Rainbow Boulevard, less than 100 yards from the Niagara River.

Hogan taught Spanish and French for 31 years as a teacher in the Lewiston-Porter School District before retiring in 2001. He now lives in North Tonawanda and drives to the Summit Mall on Thursdays and Fridays before taking the trolley to downtown Niagara Falls to serve as a greeter.

Sponsored by the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp., and organized by Louise Yots, the greeter program is now in its sixth summer. Volunteers, mostly retired residents, are stationed at various spots in Niagara Falls answering questions and directing tourists to points of interest.

A former tour guide, Hogan has been in the greeter program for the past five years. He usually stations himself at various spots downtown with the tour box bicycle — picture a portable ice cream stand filled with free street maps, tour guides and other information Hogan happily disperses throughout his shift. Wearing a shirt and hat promoting “USA Niagara,” he estimates assisting about 200 visitors a day.

“If we can each help that many people in a shift, it makes a big difference,” said Hogan, who typically tries to veer visitors toward free attractions when possible. “It can be hard for people on the street to get even simple directions.”

The strangest question Hogan has ever received while on duty?

“I have people coming up to me asking if I know where they parked their car.”

Yots cited Hogan’s friendliness and penchant for trying to make everyone satisfied as the reasons he’s an asset to the greeter program. The fact he is multi-lingual also helps when dealing with visitors from other countries.

“He is a person who really goes beyond the call of duty,” Yots said. “He’s always been one of our better greeters.”

Driving a lost woman all the way back to her hotel in Tonawanda and spending his free time taking a visiting group of nuns sightseeing for an entire weekend are recent examples of Hogan’s extra efforts.

About an hour into his shift Friday, a young couple approached him to offer thanks on his previous directions to the Cave of the Winds and Maid of the Mist. Sensing they didn’t have any plans for the rest of the afternoon, Hogan quickly gave them a brochure for the free power vista.

“Thanks, we needed something to do,” was the reply.

For Hogan, that type of interaction is worth standing in the sun all day.

“There’s a lot of personal satisfaction in knowing you helped someone,” he said with a smile.