Boston Debuts New Facilities for Visitors

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced Berkshire Bank as the official community partner of City Hall Plaza and the year-round seasonal activation plan for the next three years. The first season, 'Boston Winter presented by Berkshire Bank' is set to open in early December and will debut New England's first custom designed outdoor Skating Path and a Holiday Shopping Market. Open to the public seven days a week, Bostonians and visitors alike will be dazzled by the winter activities, holiday shopping from a mix of local and international vendors, an eclectic array of hospitality experiences at the Urban Lodge, Vinopolis Interactive Wine Experiences, The Chocolate Story, and attractions including Santa's House and a pedal-powered Holiday Tree.

Known for its great corporate citizenship and strong support of small businesses, Berkshire Bank has agreed to a three-year deal to become the official community partner of 'Boston Seasons presented by Berkshire Bank'. As the community partner, Berkshire Bank will help bring to life year-round programming to City Hall Plaza. For Boston Winter, the brand will be integrated throughout the plaza, including the 'Berkshire Bank Community Stage', which will provide an opportunity for local artists and community groups to showcase their talents. Berkshire Bank is also proud to provide discounts at the Skating Path to local educators, students and veterans. In conjunction with Berkshire Bank's expansion into the Boston area, they will also have a dedicated location within the Holiday Shopping Market to engage with the community.

"I thank Berkshire Bank for this generous community partnership which will make activating City Hall Plaza for our residents and visitors to enjoy this winter a reality," said Mayor Walsh.

"We're thrilled to work with Mayor Walsh and the City of Boston to activate this space in the heart of Boston, create a setting that will bring business and community together and provide exciting memories at City Hall Plaza for all," said Sean A. Gray, Berkshire Bank's Chief Operating Officer. "Berkshire Bank is set to expand into the downtown neighborhood, with a permanent location on Congress Street soon. This is a great opportunity for Boston to create an experience similar to Bryant Park in New York City and enrich the plaza for its residents - at Berkshire Bank life is exciting - let us help!"

The nearly 11,000 square foot outdoor ice Skating Path, operated by Rink Management Services, the largest operator of ice skating facilities in the United States, will remain open through February, offering learn-to-skate programs, and many special events. The Holiday Shopping Market, operated by Millennial Exhibitions (MX), a global provider of traveling exhibitions and seasonal experiences, will run through December 31st and include unique attractions and over 40 chalets with boutique style shops offering a wide array of gifts and food. Vendors are 60% local and include The Grommet, LovePop, Etsy Artists of Boston, Boston Olive Oil Company, Le Souk, Campeon Soccer, Grace Oliver, and many other specialty retailers from Massachusetts.

Boston Winter is just the first installment of 'Boston Seasons presented by Berkshire Bank', a three-year activation plan created by Boston Garden Development Corp and the City of Boston Property Management Department to revitalize the existing plaza at City Hall and create a vibrant welcome public space for all. Boston Garden Development Corp, a subsidiary of Delaware North, is overseeing the efforts as the City's selected vendor to enhance City Hall Plaza. Programming and activations for upcoming seasons will be announced at a later date.

"We are less than one month away from unveiling our winter activations at City Hall Plaza, and all of our teams are working in overdrive to deliver a great experience in time for the holiday season," said Charlie Jacobs, CEO of Delaware North's Boston Holdings. "We are excited to be collaborators in this area, pumping life back into the heart of City Hall Plaza and transforming the plaza into a year-round destination with a unique set of attractions to be enjoyed by all."

'Boston Winter presented by Berkshire Bank' is set to open in early December. For more information, including tickets for the Skating Path and attractions, various discount programs, and to apply for the Berkshire Bank Community Stage go to www.CityHallPlazaBoston.com. Follow along on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BostonCityHallPlaza, Twitter @CHP_Boston and Instagram @CHP_Boston, with #BostonWinter.

About Berkshire Bank: Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank, America's Most Exciting Bank(r). The Company, recognized for its entrepreneurial approach and distinctive culture, has $7.9 billion in assets and 91 full service branch offices in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont providing personal and business banking, insurance, and wealth management services. The company has a pending agreement to acquire First Choice Bank, a $1.1 billion bank with eight branches in Princeton, New Jersey area and a national mortgage originations subsidiary. Berkshire Bank was named one of Massachusetts Most Charitable Companies in 2016 by the Boston Business Journal. To learn more, visit www.berkshirebank.com, call 800-773-5601