HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-12-04-TOUR2-minTourism Committee
Minutes of the meeting of
Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 11:30 a.m.
Parker Room (G -15)
Members Present: Kerry Brandin, Bebe Fallick, Dawn McKenna, Denise Ricketts, Lou Sideris, Jim
Shaw
Staff: Masha Traber Center Committee Liaison: Fred Johnson
Absent: Mary Jo Bohart, Trisha Kennealy
1. Updates
a. The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism is holding Tourism U on the
growing China market on December 14 Denise and Dawn will attend.
b. Antony Park is moving along and we will be seeking approvals at the December
5 th meeting of the HDC. Also, Christina Gamota is hosting a French holiday
fundraising party at her house for the Park on December 7 .
c. Work has begun on Revolutionary Revelry 2013. It was suggested that we work
on having a printable on -line version of the calendar. Also, Committee members
were frustrated that the 300 Committee was not part wanting to be part of the
festival. It would reflect poorly if the final celebrations of Memorial Day
weekend were not part of Revolutionary Revelry.
d. Given that most tourists are either coming or going from Salem, Dawn and Masha
will be meeting with the Salem Tourism sites on December 13 to see if we might
collaborate. The Director of the Salem Witch Museum is a college friend of
Dawn's.
e. Whether or not we should pursue the Phase III Battle Green Master Plan funding
for this year was discussed. The Town is currently working on engaging the
parking and traffic consultant to include tourism information in proposed changes
to the Center. This study was one we had requested as part of the Master Plan.
Carl Valente decided to combine it with an overall Center study which made
sense to the Tourism Committee.
L Committee vacancies were discussed. Suggestions included someone from the
business community — Bill Wright (Avenue Deli), Joe Rancatore (Rancatore's Ice
Cream), Pat Clancy (Candy Castle), Kathleen Kearney (Atlas Travel).
2. Signage
a. Fred Johnson presented the Center Committee suggestion that we change the
parking signs to the standard P. The Committee was willing to consider changes
to the sign as we all agree that the current parking signs are not effective.
Suggestions were made as to how we could maintain the current signage program
and still provide more effective signs. Kerry is going to mock -up some
possibilities.
b. Dawn, Paul and Lou have met with Christopher Bing regarding the Battle Green
sign. We are now reviewing sketches and hope to have these signs available to
bring to the Committee in the near future.
c. The HDC hearing for the three new signs we wish to propose for The Belfry, the
back of the Visitors Center, and for Massachusetts Avenue in front of the Visitors
that are additions to the signage program will be this Thursday, December 6th
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420
3. November 28 George Burnell Tourism Strategic Review Meeting The bulk of the
meeting was spent discussing the November 28 meeting. Jim who attended, was
perplexed over the understanding of the meeting. Denise talked about how poorly
organized the meeting was and that there has been a tremendous amount of valuable
time expended over this. She also talked about the frustrations of the total lack of
cooperation from the 300 Those attending the meeting from other groups had also
expressed a question as to why they were there and what was being accomplished.
From the Tourism Committee's perspective, this meeting and George's efforts are
expending a lot of energy pulling us backwards rather than working to further our
mission and goal.
4. Updated continued:
a. Denise, Trisha, Jim and Dawn all attended the Greater Merrimack Convention &
Visitors Bureau annual tourism breakfast on November 28 A summary of the
tourism data was presented. Tourism is up in Massachusetts and the Greater
Merrimack Region is now 3 rd in the State for dollars spent.
b. The staff is working to fill the webmaster position. Kerry is representing the
Committee in those interviews.
5. People Counter Dawn met with Carl regarding the people counter. He is still not
prepared to approve it. He is looking for information about what our goal is
regarding the counter. The Committee is frustrated that he will not sign off on what
we believe is a tool necessary to help quantify the numbers and guide our efforts.
The Committee asked Dawn to continue to pursue this item with Carl.
The following items were deferred to a future meeting:
1. Visitors Guide
2. Budget Hearings
3. People Counter
4. Minutes Review and Approval
Adjourned at approximately 1 pm
Respectfully submitted, Dawn McKenna
Documents available at the meeting:
1. Initial draft Revolutionary Revelry Calendar
2. Membership History of the Tourism Committee
3. Handout from Visitor Review Collaboration Meeting 11.28.2012
4. Minutes of 6.4.2012
5. Minutes of 6.18.2012
6. Official Visitors Guide & Map word draft of 12.3.2012 9:30 PM
7. Official Visitors Guide & Map business spreadsheet
8. MOTT Tourism U email dated 11.27.201 10:48 AM