Get ready to "Visit Addison" starting September 7-9 at Village on the Parkway

Innovative facility houses the Town of Addison's Visitors Services Department plus Craft Guild's Artisan Center and Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce offices

For more information:

Town of Addison | 800.ADDISON

Shiroma Southwest, Mary Shiroma

| 972.732.6100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 1, 2011

Get ready to "Visit Addison" starting September 7-9 at

Village on the Parkway
Innovative facility houses the Town of Addison's Visitors Services Department plus Craft Guild's Artisan Center and Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce offices

As official city buildings go, Visit Addison is quite a departure from the expected. Its official description? Visitor Services-Artisan Center. Innovatively configured and branded by bright exterior signage, Visit Addison brings tourism, economic development and interactive visual arts together into a single dynamic, flexible storefront space.

"It's really a departure from anything that comes to mind when one uses the term, 'municipal facility,'"

says Addison City Manager Ron Whitehead, "but Visit Addison represents the things that Addison values - service, community, art, culture, education, commerce."

Visit Addison officially opens its doors September 7, 8 and 9 with a series of noontime events that invite residents, the hotel and restaurant community and area businesses to come, experience and get the feel of the unique facility.

Conveniently located in the Village on the Parkway retail center at the Dallas North Tollway and Belt Line

Road, Visit Addison features

a walk-in visitor and tourism information center fully staffed with trained volunteers and three touch screen kiosks that offer information on hotel accommodations, restaurants, attractions and shopping not only in Addison but throughout North Texas and the state
a large flexible gallery-type space for meetings, gatherings and exhibitions. One gallery wall is floor to ceiling glass that allows visitors to watch glass blowing, metal work, jewelry making and other classes taking place in the Guild's studios.
Craft Guild registration and information desk where visitors can learn about and sign up for classes, workshops and activities offered on site
The Store - a retail space that features objects produced by Craft Guild students as well as "keepsake" items to commemorate visits to Addison and North Texas
three outdoor kilns surrounded by a functional yet decorative metalwork enclosure
offices for the Town of Addison's Visitor's Services Department and the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce
state of-the-art meeting rooms accommodating up to 150 persons plus a configurable flex meeting room
a fully-equipped catering kitchen and prep area.

"We know Visit Addison is unlike any other visitors' center in the country," says Addison Visitors Services Director Bob Phillips. "Besides being the place to get visitor and tourism information, it's an interactive, arts-based attraction in and of itself. And, there is no other facility like this in Texas for meetings-your creative side can't help but come to the surface when you are surrounded by artists creating their art."

Phillips says Village on the Parkway was selected because of the role the center plays as Addison's

signature retail destination, and because of its location at the North Dallas Tollway and Belt Line Road,

the heart of the Addison-North Dallas Corridor. City officials envision Visit Addison as a resource to

visitors not only to Addison but to the broader North Dallas area.

City Manager Whitehead adds that Addison's reputation as the home to more restaurants per capita

than any city in the United States, along with the national visibility of its special events, makes the town

a recognized entertainment destination for guests. With over 170 restaurants and 22 hotel properties in

less than 4.4 square miles, a number of corporate headquarters as well as its central DFW location,

Addison anticipates continued growth in the corporate and leisure visitor sectors.

"First and foremost, Visit Addison provides a place for people to come for information about Addison's

hotels, its restaurants, and its attractions," explains Whitehead. "Whether you live nearby or across the

country, you'll want to begin your Addison adventure here!"

Visit Addison!

5100 Belt Line Road, Suite 400

Dallas, Texas 75254

PO Box 9010

Addison, Texas 75001

800-ADDISON

www.addisontexas.net

The Craft Guild

Same address as above

972-490-0303

www.craftguildofdallas.com

For a list of hotels and restaurants in Addison and to find out about all the great activities

happening in Addison, visit http://ADDISONTEXAS.NET and http://facebook.com/addison.specialevents for the most up-to-date information about Addison.

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Get ready to "Visit Addison" starting September 7-9 at Village on the Parkway

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