HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-05-02-TOUR2-min `OVs MORN'
O� 1775 tic
(7 N P
APRIL 19'
�FXI NGSO�
Town of Lexington
Tourism Committee
Dawn McKenna, Chair (781) 862-0500 ext 84585
DRAFT Tourism Committee Minutes
May 2, 2019 4:30—6:00 pm
Harris Room(Cary Memorial Hall)
Members Present: Dawn McKenna, Marsha Baker, Margaret Coppe, Bebe Fallick, Jon Himmel, Wim
Nijenberg, Kerry Brandin
Center Committee Liaison: Fred Johnson
Staff Present: Melisa Tintocalis, Katie Johnson, and Casey Hagerty
Members Absent: Trisha Kennealy, Erica McAvoy
1. Visitors Center Construction- Tour of Temp Plans
The meeting began with a tour of the temporary Visitors Center. Members of the Tourism Committee were
shown the Ellen Stone room where the retail operations will be run out of and the Robbins room where the
office and stock room will be housed.
2. Staffing Update
Melisa Tintocalis reported that interviews for the Economic Development Coordinator will take place on
Thursday May 9, 2019. The new assistant manager for the Visitors Center will start on Monday May 13, 2019.
Katie Johnson mentioned that Bill Mix and Beth Hopkins are still working as Tourism Advisors and she has a
few more people starting in the next few weeks.
3. Visitors Center Construction
a. Temporary Center
Katie Johnson explained that full retail operations will be open in the Cary Memorial Building starting on
Monday May 6, 2019. The Liberty Ride will operate out of the Cary Memorial Building during the weekend of
May 4-5, 2019.
b. Signage
The Tourism Committee was given copies of the proposed signage for the fencing at the construction site of the
new Visitors Center. The Committee provided feedback on the design which will be passed to the designer.
Edits include removing the Minuteman statue, adding the Linger in Lexington logo and the Tour Lexington web
address, and including a small map highlighting public restroom locations. Additionally, more signage will be
posted at the existing Liberty Ride stop alerting people of the new start location and explaining that the trolley
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE•LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02420
will stop at the Battle Green ten minutes after departure if a visitor cannot make it to the Temporary Visitors
Center before the trolley departs.
c. Liberty Ride Update
Dawn McKenna expressed concern about the consistency of the Liberty Ride Tour. She stated that the Liberty
Ride Trolley must do the route even if no one is on the trolley. This is part of the marketing strategy for the
trolley. She also mentioned that tours should not be cancelled ahead of time even if there are no tickets bought
ahead of time. Katie Johnson has invited members from the Greater Boston Concierge Association to take a free
ride on the trolley on specific dates in order to boost the programs reach.
d. Digital content development and management:
The Tourism Committee discussed possible options and companies to develop the content for the self-serve
kiosk stations in the new Visitors Center. Jon Himmel suggested that a working group be formed to delve
further into this issue. Jon Himmel, Marsha Baker, and Fred Johnson volunteered to get started on this project
and will ask Trisha Kennealy to join them.
4. Updates and Miscellaneous
The committee started to discuss how to make their meetings more efficient. At the meeting in June, they will
discuss future meeting dates and structure.
Dawn McKenna encouraged all members to attend the Economic Development Trends presentation on May
16'h 2019 at 7pm. She explained that this is a good opportunity to explain to the Comprehensive Plan Advisory
Committee that the visitor based economy is an important piece of Lexington's make up and should be included
in the Comprehensive Plan update.
Margaret stated that she has participated in some of the activities organized through the Freedom's Way Hidden
Treasures program. This is something that Lexington could consider participating in. She explained that this
program has brought her to many different places that she otherwise would not have gone.
The Board of Selectmen has a received an invitation from Lexington's Sister City, Antony France inviting town
officials and committee members to attend their annual Wine and Cheese festival. The invitation will be
forwarded to the Tourism Committee.
5. Mass Cultural District
This initiative will be discussed at the next meeting. There is no deadline for this application.
6. Battle Green Masterplan Interpretive Signs Content Update
The proposed signs on the Battle Green will focus solely on the Battle Green and not on the Visitors Center or
Linger in Lexington. The previous third rail that was originally designed will be changed to focus on the men
who died on April 19, 1775 as their story is not told anywhere. As of right now, no QR codes are proposed. It is
anticipated that there will be two more drafts of the proposed signage to review.
Adjourned at approximately 6:06 p.m.
Documents available:Tourism Committee Agenda,proposed signage for fencing scrim, Groups that have been contacted about the
temporary Visitors Center,Patriots Day visitorship data,email from Katie Johnson dated may 2 regarding April 2019 donations to
the VC Stabilization Fund,Economic Development Trends night announcement
Respectfully submitted, Casey Hagerty
Approved, 6/10/2019