HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-15-TOUR2-minLexington Tourism Committee
Minutes of the meeting of
March 15, 2012 at 4 p.m.
Present: Dawn McKenna, Colin Smith, Maureen Rynn, Carla Fortmann, Mary Jo Bohart, John Patrick,
George Burnell, Denise Ricketts, Pat Costello, Fred Johnson, Kerry Brandin, Paul Ross, Susan Bennett
Visitors Center Public Information Meeting
The purpose of the session was to discuss the programmatic needs for the Visitors Center
building, and to have some conversations regarding the role of the Visitors Center in the context
of other offerings throughout the Town. Comments from all were recorded, whether or not there
was agreement on those issues and are listed in no particular order. The comments can be
categorized to several areas: adequate bathroom, design issues, tourism issues, cultural programs
and how entities work together. Here are the points raised at the meeting:
• What is the program taking place at the Visitors Center?
• Should be highlighting local businesses.
• Do we have the correct number of bathroom stalls for busloads of 55, or multiple busloads?
• What is the usage time? Are the lines waiting for the bathroom acceptable? Is this even an issue?
• Staff at the Visitors Center has received some feedback from guests that the restroom is the
cleanest public restroom they have used on their journey.
• Currently, the existing design requires people to cut through the center of the building to reach
the bathroom. This impacts other uses of the center. New design should segregate the bathrooms
away from other activities.
• We should not be designing a building for peak usage as it might be overdesign. Look at peak,
moderate, and low usage times and then design what is reasonable.
• Having other programming in the Center helps with peak bathroom needs as it gives people
something to do when waiting to use the bathroom, rather than focusing on the wait time.
• The "vending" area described is more of a hospitality area then a "vending" area. Perhaps
should be reflected as a seating area.
• Should local eateries have an area to sell their goods as a way of attracting potential new
customers?
• In what ways might we collect data from the people who use the Visitors Center? Consider ways
other than staff to do so, especially during the peak tourist season.
• We should continue and enhance current efforts to cultivate cultural (local repeat) tourists.
• November — March there is a strong need for local, interactive programs.
• Each organization needs to see the others, including the Town efforts, as working to broaden
offerings, not as competition. Places like Williamsburg that have multiple options for visitors
have proven this concept.
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420
• Contemplate to what extent there should be retail, programming, visitor information and /or
services in the Visitors Center.
• The retail sales at the Chamber provides the income needed to staff the Visitors Center
adequately.
• Our Visitors Center is unique in the industry in that it is open 362 days per year, closing only for
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. The need is year -round as we have daily visitors, even
when our attractions are closed.
• There should be a strong emphasis on providing information on things to do and see in Lexington
and the region.
• Tickets to all attractions should be available for sale at this central point for visitors.
• What can do to help maximize the time tour buses spend in Lexington?
• Why are the key parking spaces on the Battle Green left for busses who don't allow their riders to
shop in Lexington?
• Could we look at alternatives for tour busses that would force more time in the downtown?
• Visitor Center staff currently promotes all tour options and take great care to monitor the times so
that they give the visitor a planned route that meets the tour starting times closest to when they
come.
• Booking overnight accommodations should take place at the Visitors Center. Although not
advertised, the staff already does this.
• There is a lack of understanding amongst all groups in the Tourism industry as to what the staff
does at the Visitors Center, and the options the guests have and are offered.
• A self -serve kiosk should be included. Many prefer to self book. Could it also be combined with
ticket sales and bookings? Would this help with peak times?
• On the exterior we should look at how furnishings to make the area a welcoming place to stop.
How would this impact existing programming that takes place on the lawn?
• Consider the rear of the building and ways to make it more welcoming.
• Remember there is not one garden variety tourist. There are day- trippers from Boston, bicyclists,
cultural, foreign, organized tour groups on a schedule, etc. We need to design a center to meet
multiple types of tourists.
Adjourned at approximately 6 pm
Respectfully submitted, Dawn McKenna
Documents available at the meeting:
1. Posters of Architectural drawing of Visitor Center Current Conditions
2. Posters of Option 1 Design Concept drawing of Visitor Center
3. Posters of Option 2 Design Concept drawing of Visitor Center
4. Posters of Option 3 Design Concept drawing of Visitor Center