HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-04-27-TOUR2-minTown of Lexington
Tourism Committee
Minutes
April 27, 2026
Remote by Microsoft Teams
3:00—5:00pm
Members Present: Marsha Baker (joined after meeting began), Margaret Coppe (Chair), Katia
Del Rio, Ting Fang, Pam Fowler, Marie -Tristan Rago,
Members absent: Gardy Desrouleaux, Bebe Fa!lick, Melissa Robbins
Center Committee:
Select Board Liaison:
Staff Present: Sandhya Iyer, Economic Development Director
Stacia Cooper, Visitor Center Manager
Jackson Rhodes, Tour Services Coordinator
Quests:
Dawn McKenna
The meeting was called to order at 3:06 PM. The chair read the authorization for remote
meetings
A quorum was present.
Vote to call to order: Coppe, Aye; Del Rio, Aye; Fang, Aye; Fowler, Aye; Rago, Aye
The vote was unanimous.
Economic Development Report
i) VC People Counter, March, 2026, 5,814 close to 2025, up 11% from 2024
ii) VC Sales, March, $17,786 down from 2025, up 15% from 2024
iii) Tours sales, March Fair Harbor, $2600 up 37% from 2025, up 8% from 2024
iv) Patriots Day 2026 Report Friday April 17 -Monday April 20, 2026
Foot Traffic
2021*
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Foot Traffic
1212
4025
3173
3604
9,676
3,879
Merchandise
11,510
12,585
12,585
68,644
17,016
Sales
*year VC opened, not a full year
Top sellers 2026: hats, bears, muskets
v) Liberty Ride; not operating
vi) Sperling Report: January and February
vii) Seasonal Initiatives/Plans
a. Fifa Watch Parties, June 16-26
Visitor Center Lawn
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Grant money
Working with Chamber of Commerce
b. iREV kick off May 1, Green
May 1 -October 31, 2026
Virtual reality tours with headsets will begin at 12 noon, twice a day, 5
participants in each tour; guides will lead
Cost: Adult --$25
Student (10-17)--$22
Not available for under 10
Battle Green 360 Tours (with tablets and guides)
Adult: $20
Students 5-17 --$15
Under 5—Free
Family of 4--$50
Liberty Ride schedule varies from May -summer
Adults: $40
Seniors/Active Military: $30
Students: 5-17: $20
Under 5: Free
Minutes
March 30, 2026 Marsha Baker moved and Marie -Tristan Rago seconded approving the minutes.
Vote: Baker, Aye; Coppe, Aye; Del Rio, Aye; Fang, Aye; Fowler, Aye; Rago, Aye
The minutes were unanimously approved.
Vision Statement
Committee needs to adopt a vision statement;
3-5-8 years
Immediate, short term, and long term
Aspirational
Look at Minute Man National Historical Park data
Look at shoulder seasons, May and November -March
Inn at Hastings Park
Consider more than historic views/issues
Marie -Tristan Rago, Pam Fowler, and Margaret Coppe will draft and bring to next meeting.
Updates and Miscellaneous
• Center Committee: No report
• Lexington History Museums:
Paul Revere Ride, April 17
Naturalization ceremony on the Green April 21
Numbers increasing upward; up 33% in March
Executive Director finished six months
New office manager
2
New education director
First time hire, assistant curator for marketing and development
• Website and emails: no report
• Cultural District
Marsha Baker moved and Pam Fowler seconded adjournment.
Vote: Baker, Aye; Coppe, Aye; Del Rio, Aye; Fang, Aye; Fowler, Aye; Rago, Aye
The vote was unanimous.
The meeting adjourned at 4:24 PM
Next Meeting: Monday May 18, 2026 at 3:00 PM, Location TBD
Respectfully submitted:
Margaret Coppe
May 6, 2026
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