New London — The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut has cut the ribbon on a new tourism brochure booth in Union Station, a project chamber President Tony Sheridan said has been at least two years in the works.

Sheridan believes that with 34 trains stopping at the station each day, the wooden display of glossy pamphlets will generate more business revenue in the region. He hopes the display of local things to do will keep people from just getting off the train or ferry and heading out of town.

"The owner is doing (his) best to try and promote and upgrade the station, which is great, and we wanted to be a part of it," Sheridan said of Union Station owner James Coleman. "And so they gave us permission to put the racks in so it would fit into the décor of the station."

The setup includes space for several dozen different brochures and magazines, along with a TV screen and charging station. Chamber communication coordinator Matt Levy said the chamber is working on a video showcasing eastern Connecticut, which will loop on the screen.

The display went up last month and is sponsored by the Waterford Hotel Group.

Places and organizations represented include Thames River Heritage Park & Water Taxi, Connecticut Art Trail, Mystic Seaport, Maugle Sierra Vineyards, the Stonington Historical Society, Florence Griswold Museum, multiple hotels and more.

"We got it done, and it's already in need of expansion," Sheridan said. "We need to add some more to it, because it's obviously a great location to attract people."

Shortly after the ribbon-cutting last Tuesday morning, New London Maritime Society director Susan Tamulevich and Holiday Inn New London sales director Deidre McGhee stopped in to see if their respective brochures were represented. (They weren't at the time but were the next day.)

McGhee said she felt the display was a good representation of the district, adding, "We needed something like this, and I think it's something that is really good for people coming off the train."

e.moser@theday.com