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Unwrap Minneapolis at the new MVI

Meet Minneapolis' new Minneapolis Visitor Information on Nicollet (MVI) had its grand opening this week at the corner of 5th and Nicollet. This is the first time in more than a decade that there has been a center city visitor information facility in town. As the number of visitors continues to grow and as we prepare to host many more major events in the community, it is essential that we have the ability to provide a higher level of service to those visitors.

An added feature of the new MVI is the Mary Tyler Moore statue, which we unveiled in MVI during the grand opening. She will remain there for the duration of the Nicollet Mall transformation, and the plan is for her to reclaim on the street once the Nicollet project is complete. In the meantime, pedestrians and METRO riders can see her prominently displayed through our large windows in the CenterPoint Energy building and come in to MVI for a selfie, then do some shopping. Yes, shopping.

As we approach the holiday season, many of us struggle with what unique and special gifts we can get our loved ones. That’s why we encourage shoppers to give the gift of Minneapolis through our "Minneapolis Unwrapped” promotion. Minneapolis Unwrapped highlights Shop Minneapolis at MVI, along with a range of local stores, restaurants, hotels and attractions so shoppers can find just the right gift for that special person. All the deals are featured on the Minneapolis Unwrapped and Go Minneapolis web pages.

MVI has also allowed us to create a new opportunity for partner businesses to be a part of Minneapolis Unwrapped. This year, we are including the opportunity for businesses to be the featured partner of the day at the Social Media Command Center at MVI. Team members from partner businesses, with help from our social media experts, will have exclusive access to the Social Media Command Center on a specific day they choose between now and Dec. 23. Partners will be able to push brand awareness and special discounts or promotions, or execute a giveaway via social media during the time slot. The Meet Minneapolis team will also provide a giveaway to encourage consumer interaction. Let us know if you think your business could benefit from joining in the fun.

Our sincere thanks to those who were able to join us for the MVI grand opening activities. MVI adds a new dimension to our ability to welcome and educate visitors to town. The launch also provides another high visibility platform for Meet Minneapolis partner businesses to gain exposure. Minneapolis Unwrapped is just the first of many opportunities to do this.