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Mayor Menino Announces Campaign to Boost Holiday Shopping, Dining & Entertainment
11/12/2008 - Released by Mayor's Office
For more information contact Press Office

Central Marketing Effort Will Help Local Businesses & Residents in Holiday Season

Mayor Thomas M. Menino today launched an enhanced holiday promotional website designed to boost holiday sales and encourage families to enjoy the city’s broad range of holiday events – many free or deeply discounted. Working in partnership with the local hospitality industry, arts organizations, businesses, neighborhood Main Street programs, Downtown Crossing Partnership, Copley Place and Prudential Mall, the City has pulled together a central marketing effort to offer discounts for theater, dining, shopping, lodging, and parking at www.MayorsHolidaySpecial.com. The original promotion was launched five years ago to support the local performing arts community, and it has become a major resource as most of these organizations generate over 40% of their annual sales during the holiday season.

“The arts have an extraordinary ability to lift our spirits and remind us of all we have to celebrate,” Mayor Menino said. “I invite residents and visitors to bring their families into the City to enjoy a show, holiday shopping, a festive meal, a stroll through the holiday lights, and even a skate on the Frog Pond. www.MayorsHolidaySpecial.com is the ticket to a great Boston experience and memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime.”

“We are so pleased to partner with the Mayor on such a wonderful project,” Catherine Peterson, executive director of ArtsBoston, said. “The arts really sparkle at this time of year. Sharing these joyful arts experiences truly brings people together. Plus, each ticket sale directly supports these organizations’ year-round work, so each purchase is like a gift to Boston’s cultural scene as well.”

The newly enhanced Mayor’s Holiday Special website will feature:

Take in a Holiday Show!
  • Discounted Theater tickets: www.MayorsHolidaySpecial.com puts all of Boston’s big holiday performances on sale in one convenient place. Visitors will enjoy direct links to all the box offices, all the tickets, and even arts gift certificates.
  • Shows include “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”, Boston Ballet’s “Nutcracker”, Holiday Pops, Handel & Haydn Society’s “Messiah”, “Black Nativity”, and dozens more. Each production offers a limited number of special half-price tickets, available only at www.MayorsHolidaySpecial.com.
  • As a new, free service this year, the BosTix Booths on Copley Square and at Faneuil Hall can assist arts-goers with in-person purchases, if desired.


Shop Locally!
  • Special shopping / parking packages: These include the Prudential Center discounted parking available with proof of purchase from the Mayor’s Holiday Special and a PRUferred Holiday Savings Pass.
  • The Boston Main Streets' Boston Community Change Card program allows cardholders to “shop locally, share locally.” Customers earn a cash rebate on their purchase, while a portion also goes to a nonprofit or school of the cardholder's choosing, as well as to the Boston Main Streets Foundation.
  • The Boston Redevelopment Authority is working with the Downtown Crossing Partnership on a “Downtown Crossing Holiday Savings Pass,” which includes a variety of discounts, good at more than 125 businesses within the district, to encourage shoppers to frequent the Crossing’s retailers.
  • The Boston USA Specials card; and the Faneuil Hall Marketplace Passport of Savings card.


Free Events!
  • The enhanced website will now also highlight free, public events that make the season special, including the Boston Common Tree Lighting, skating on the Frog Pond, the Neighborhood Enchanted Trolley Tour, and First Night.


Dine Out!
  • Dozens of offers are available, including special deals at individual restaurants and promotions such as the “OpenTable Appetite Stimulus Plan.”


Stay in Boston!
  • Take advantage of hotel packages, from the romantic to the family-friendly. Turn your day in Boston into an overnight getaway, with special offers for Thanksgiving, the holiday season and New Year's.


Free Parking!
  • Free on street parking: Once again, the City will waive meter fees for parking on Saturday’s (as well as Sunday’s) from November 29 through the Holidays, and many of our shopping districts have discounted parking available.


For a complete listing of participating organizations, events, and deals visit www.MayorsHolidaySpecial.com.
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