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Old Market Ambassadors

The Berkshire Hathaway weekend brings thousands of visitors into the Metro every year, and each year the city tries to make the shareholders feel right at home.

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Reporter: Gary Smollen

Old Market Ambassadors

The Berkshire Hathaway weekend brings thousands of visitors into the Metro every year, and each year the city tries to make the shareholders feel right at home.

This year a group of ambassadors, dedicated to giving directions or advice, are available on almost any street corner.

The ambassadors are deployed to the Old Market area anytime large crowds are expected.

Berkshire Hathaway weekend certainly qualifies. Groups of red shirted volunteers have been in the Old Market giving directions, or advice. Generally helping people whether they are visitors or simply a little unfamiliar with the Old Market.

It's a daddy/daughter day for Tyler Strain and his daughter Ava. The balloon wrist cat she has is just the latest memory the pair will have for the rest of their lives.

Tyler Strain says, "We just decided to come downtown. I took her to the new candy store and we plan on going to the park later maybe hit the slides down there."

Strain obviously knows his way around the Old Market and get to the places he and Ava want to be but there are others who don't.

Whether in town for the shareholders meeting or just from west Omaha there are those who need Lorin Guenette pointing them in the right direction.

Lorin Guenette says, "I keep getting feedback from the east coast and from the west coast people who are visiting this weekend that they are amazed. They think this is a beautiful place with friendly people."

Like the other ambassadors, Guenette considers herself a "street concierge" there to help people anyway they can.

One of the more surprising developments of the job is helping people from the Metro find their way around the Old Market.

Lorin Guenette says, "They're rediscovering this gem. We've met a lot of people who haven't been down to the Old Market in a long time."

The Old Market does offer a lot; music, the occasional balloon animal or just people watching. Now there is a group of dedicated volunteers there who will help people reach their entertainment destination.

The ambassadors are part of the Downtown Improvement District and they have been on the front line greeting visitors.
This morning alone the ambassadors had some 160 contacts with people. One of the most popular questions was "can I walk from here to see Warren Buffett's house?"