HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-08-25-TOUR2-minTown of Lexington
Tourism Committee
Draft Minutes
August 25, 2025
Hybrid
Select Board Office, Town Office Building and by Zoom
3:30 pm
PRESENT: Marsha Baker, Margaret Coppe (Chair), Bebe Fallick, Pam Fowler,
Marie -Tristan Rago,
Absent: Gardy Desrouleaux Ting Fang, Melissa Robbins, Elsie Xu
Select Board Liaison: Doug Lucente
Center Committee Liaison: Kat McDonald
Staff Present: Sandhya Iyer, Economic Development Director
Jay Abdella, Senior Economic Development Coordinator
Guests: Fred Johnson, Dawn McKenna
Margaret called the meeting to order at 3:35 pm. She read the authorization for
remote meetings.
A quorum was present.
Vote to call meeting to order: Marsha Baker, Aye; Margaret Coppe, Aye; Bebe
Fallick, Pam Fowler, Aye; Marie -Tristan Rago, Aye
The vote was unanimous
Economic Development Report Jay Abdella/Sandhya Iyer
Patriots' Day Data (4 Days around April 19) 2 Attachments
• People counter: 15,689 June, up over 2024/13,350 July up over 2024.
• Visitor's Center Merchandise Sales: $47,000 June up over 2024/$34,900
July up over 2024; 15% increase over 2024
• Tour sales: June/July 37,000 up over May 2024
• Sperling March report
• All June/July numbers up
• Format changed after May 2025
11
• Visitor Center manager: interviews completed, offer made to
candidate, announcement will be made soon
• Fall initiative/Plans
You Tube and OTT (Over The Top) videos; new initiative started two weeks
ago; local distribution at this time; $600 for two weeks; millions of views;
Goal of integrated marketing; questions of what way these are viewed and
how to measure if they are attracting tourists.
Liberty Ride Contract
Current contract can be extended with Joseph's for one year through
March 2027 with slight increase ($220/hour over $210/hour)
Currently the Liberty Ride runs at approximately 50% full with tickets
$40 adult $23 Go Boston adult
$15 child $11 Go Boston child
Fred Johnson submitted his letter to the Select Board asking that the
Liberty Ride be terminated due to cost to taxpayer and inclusion of Concord
on the ride.
Sandhya presented a potential program using virtual reality that could be
implemented if funds were diverted from the Liberty Ride
Dawn McKenna presented some historical data and made the argument
supporting the importance of the Liberty Ride to tourism.
Minutes
Marsha Baker moved, and Pam Fowler seconded, approval of the June 30, 2025
minutes.
Vote to approve: Marsha Baker, Aye; Margaret Coppe, Aye; Bebe Fallick, Pam
Fowler, Aye; Marie -Tristan Rago, Aye
Marsha Baker moved and Pam Fowler seconded adjournment.
Marsha Baker, Aye; Margaret Coppe, Aye; Bebe Fallick Abstain, Pam Fowler, Aye;
Marie -Tristan Rago, Aye
Adjournment
5:00 PM
Next Meeting: Monday September 29, 2025 at 3:30 PM, Hybrid
Respectfully submitted:
Pa
Margaret Coppe
August 29, 2025