International Greeter Association

Why Greeters love to be Greeters

When we asked Greeters about their motivation this is what they replied.

Barbara Bongardt – Bonn/Germany

Barbara Bongardt – Bonn/Germany

I love my city. I’m interested in history, architecture, music and so on.
After more than six years as a greeter: Our guests are always sympathetic.
I like to share my interests with visitors.
We too found wonderful greeters worldwide!

Barbara Kuhn – Freiburg / Germany

Barbara Kuhn – Freiburg / Germany

Freiburg is a very lovely place to live in. Being a Greeter gives me the chance to show visitors my town in a personal way.
In addition, it fascinates me to come in contact with interesting people from all over the world, spending good time together.

Bernard Bo̩ly  РLyon/France

Bernard Bo̩ly РLyon/France

Being Greeter is great
– if you like to share the interesting posts of your City with other people and improve your knowledge of the City
– if you want to be in contact with other people and even practice foreign languages
– if you prefer light involvement (just the visitor)

Blandine Souchaud – Marseille/France

Blandine Souchaud – Marseille/France

I have been greeter for 7 years now.
As I am a retired English Teacher I try to meet foreign visitors but also French visitors.
So please join the Greeters, You learn about your visitors too.

Chantal Bertholon – Paris/France

Chantal Bertholon – Paris/France

I have been greeter for 7 years now.
As I am a retired English Teacher I try to meet foreign visitors but also French visitors.
So please join the Greeters, You learn about your visitors too.
Wonderful!

David Young – Rotterdam/Netherlands

David Young – Rotterdam/Netherlands

Being a Greeter is such fun because you get to meet all sorts of people from different backgrounds and cultures while sharing with them your own personal story about your town.

Elena Leibo – Grenoble/France

Elena Leibo – Grenoble/France

As a Greeter, I can easily get in touch with many interesting people from different cities, countries and continents. It’s a wonderful thing to experience my town through them and their personality.

Elena Yarmakova – Volgograd/Russia

Elena Yarmakova – Volgograd/Russia

You’ve read a lot and you’ve seen a lot and you think you understand this world… until you meet greeters from all over the world, small and big places… then you start to realise how diverse and versatile we are.

Hartmut Roderfeld – Hamburg/Germany

Hartmut Roderfeld – Hamburg/Germany

I have traveled a lot in the world and met many nice people. As a Greeter I can now give something back and show guests “my area”. Here I know my way around and can tell them background stories and show them corners that are not in any travel guide.

Jay Freeman  – New York and London

Jay Freeman – New York and London

Being a Greeter is a great way to meet people from other countries. They are eager to listen to your stories and experiences in your city and you have a chance learn about them as well.

Joachim Meyer – Hamburg/Germany

Joachim Meyer – Hamburg/Germany

To meet people, coming from all over the world.
To transfer interesting parts of my hometown.

To talk to the people, what’s important for them, how and where do they live.
To hear different languages, different dialects.
To see, we are all equal.

Kanatta Kyazze – London/United Kingdom

Kanatta Kyazze – London/United Kingdom

Being a greeter is about sharing time to explore the best bits in my home city (whatever the weather!). I love to connect with people, to share fun stories and to feel part of a positive, responsible, global community.

Karine Tosch – Mulhouse/France

Karine Tosch – Mulhouse/France

First of all I like the contact and exchange with people, on foot or by bike, I love to share the unusual corners and little stories. I adapt the themes of my walks : street art, gardens, architecture, recalling the industrial past of my city.

Libby Wallace – Adelaide/Australia

Libby Wallace – Adelaide/Australia

I love to travel and it’s always special when I get shown round by someone passionate about their city. I also love Adelaide and being a Greeter lets me share my passion with visitors in my home city.

Liz Kadin – New York City/USA

Liz Kadin – New York City/USA

If you love where you live and enjoy meeting people from all over the world, nothing could be better than becoming a Greeter. You get to continually learn (and share) new things about your city/town, all while getting fresh air, and making friends.

Lorenzo Todaro – Milan/Italy

Lorenzo Todaro – Milan/Italy

Being a Greeter is like travelling the world without moving from your own city. By becoming a Greeter, you’ll get to know new people, new cultures and imrpove your languages level: it’s an opportunity you can’t miss.

Lynn Neils – Chicago/USA

Lynn Neils – Chicago/USA

As a former teacher, I now have the best classroom – Chicago & the best students – my guests. I have been a Greeter for more than 20 years & have guided guests from all over the world. It is a joy to introduce them to my favorite place in the world.

Maite Reparaz – Donostia-San Sebastian/Spain

Maite Reparaz – Donostia-San Sebastian/Spain

I love to be a Greeter because i like my city and we can share the interesting places and wishes from visitors about Donostia and more. Always the experience is like a magic moment. Suddenly we are with comunication, friendly relationship, interesting etc…
To be a Greeter is a way to be a volunteer and to enjoy lots at the same time.

Massimo Chianella – Ferrara/Italy

Massimo Chianella – Ferrara/Italy

In 2006 I arrived in New York as tourist, a Greeter greeted me and I left as friend. Even today that he is over 95 he remembers me. A Greeter is your reference anywhere in the world. Being a Greeter means having many friends around the world.

Michel Teirlynck – Brussels/Belgium

Michel Teirlynck – Brussels/Belgium

Etre greeter donne une autre dimension à votre existence: le partage des connaissances, les contacts internationaux développent la vision personnelle, les échanges ouvrent des horizons et surtout la certitude de l’universalité des valeurs humaines.

Paul Olins – London/United Kingdom

Paul Olins – London/United Kingdom

There are two sides to being a greeter, firstly the temporary relationship when showing a visitor around and secondly the long term relationship with greeters in different parts of the world.

Rachel Muller – Tel Aviv/Israel

Rachel Muller – Tel Aviv/Israel

Enjoy being a hostess, an Embassador, an actor to the visitors – Share exiting and enjoyment tours, that presents the best of my hometown – Get to know my visitors, their hobbies, culture, interests. – Exchange ideas related to Greeters Activities

Sarthak Saxena – Delhi/India

Sarthak Saxena – Delhi/India

I love to do greets because I love meeting new people and giving them exposure to cultural diversity of my country make them aware about my own city. I will convince by making them aware about using local language, advantage of new areas in the city

Sharad Kumar – Delhi/India

Sharad Kumar – Delhi/India

I am a Greeter and it gives me immense pleasure to be proud a responsible citizen showcasing the rich cultural heritage of my city to visitors. I am ready to take visitors to my city on an exciting journey of exploring the hidden gems of my city.

Sheryl Busto – Adelaide/Australia

Sheryl Busto – Adelaide/Australia

I absolutely love being a Greeter, I love it because I am able to show Adelaide to people from all over the World, to help them enjoy my wonderful city, but most of all it’s the connection that I’m able to make with so many extraordinary people.

Milan Greeters on tour

Benefits of being Greeter