HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-10-05-TOUR2-minTown of Lexington
Tourism Committee
Dawn McKenna, Chair (781) 862 -0500 ext 84585
Draft Minutes
Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at 4:30 — 6:00 pm
Parker Room (Lower level Town Office Building)
Members Present: Marsha Baker, Margaret Coppe, Bebe Fai ick, Jon Himmel, Dawn McKenna, Wim Nijenberg,
Staff Present: Masha Traber, Megan Zammuto
Center Committee Liaison: Fred Johnson
Members Absent: Kerry Brandin, Leeying Wu
1) State Committee on Tourism, Arts & Cultural Development 2016 Listening Tour — Fri. 10/14
The committee discussed the listening tour. All committee members and tourism partners are
encouraged to attend.
2) Liberty Ride 15th Anniversary Celebration
The committee discussed the 15t Liberty Ride Anniversary and decided to host a joint celebration in
honor of Masha Traber's retirement. The committee decided to look into the Community Center during
the week of November 16th. Bebe Fallick and Margaret Coppe agreed to help work on the celebration.
3) Tourism Committee Operations — Staff update
Staff updated the committee on where the Liberty Ride Coordinator position has been posted. The
committee gave suggestions and Megan Zammuto agreed to follow up and continue to post the position
in the suggested locations. People counter figures are slightly down from 2015. Staff updated the
committee on the online ticketing project. IT has taken the lead on this project and the goal is to select a
vendor by November 1 and have the product live by March 1st 2017.
The committee also discussed the Visitors Guide and Map. We have almost run out of the product and it
is now time to consider updating the brochure. The committee discussed possibly going in a different
direction in the future, with a more robust map. Ideally the process would include all other Lexington
tourism partners. The committee decided to make minimal updates for this year, and to pursue exploring
a collaborative effort on a new map as well.
The committee looked over the FY16 and FY17 budget figures in their packet. Chair, Dawn McKenna
suggested that the international and marketing budgets be combined and increased to $50,000. The
committee also discussed the future of Revolutionary Revelry. Ideally the committee would make a
decision at the next meeting, whether to continue or cancel and when to ask for increased funding. Staff
updated the committee on the webpage progress. A newly designed site will be sent to the committee
prior to the next meeting. A draft schedule of future meetings was distributed for feedback before being
finalized.
4) Town Report — due 10/30
The committee has until October 30th to update the Town Report.
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420
5) Visitors Center Warrant Article
Committee members discussed the possibility of creating a warrant article for a new Visitor Center at an
upcoming Town Meeting. Some members felt that we need more conversation prior to the next Town
Meeting.
Adjourned at approximately 6:08 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Megan J. Zammuto
Approved, October 26, 2016