HomeMy WebLinkAboutVisitor Services and Information Advisory Committee Minutes December 8, 2011_201402041407572852Minutes of Visitor Services Advisory Committee
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Land Bank Conference Room
In attendance: Kate Hamilton, Director, David Sharpe, Office Administrator,
Gene Mahon, Chairman, Diane Reis-Flaherty and Louise Swift.
Absent: Charles Balas, David Larivee and Wendy McRae.
Gene called the meeting to order at 3:16pm
The first item on the agenda was the Visitor Services Update. David reported the
statistics for November. He noted that it was the best November in 5 years.
Kate then discussed Christmas Stroll. She noted that a large group of women who
came into her office couldn’t get reservations at any restaurant until 9:45pm Saturday
night. Diane Flaherty reported that the biggest complaint she heard was that people
couldn’t get into the restaurants. Unlike past years where people would go home for
dinner, people wanted to go out and they also wanted to hear music in places other than the Chicken Box. Other items of positive note included having Santa Claus at the Jared
Coffin House this year to meet the children. It brought more people to the Broad Street
area. At the Airport, the private plane area was full. Kate noted that the pilots called
earlier in the week looking for lodging. Lodging was sold out for Saturday night.
Kate also reported that few events happen on Sunday. She and the Committee felt that there needs to be more creativity for Sunday. One idea could be to have the Stroll
Christmas Market which replaced the food tent at the Grand Union parking lot this year
to be carried over to Sunday morning. The market included many non-profit groups
selling cookies, sodas, hot dogs, etc…The Sunday market would serve coffee, muffins,
etc…Kate noted that Fifty-Six Union restaurant promoted a Sunday Brunch that included pictures with the mannequin, Veronica and also brought it donations for the food pantry.
Another idea was for a closing parade with Santa Claus. Kate reported that State
Representative Tim Madden flew over to Cape Cod and attended the Falmouth parade on
Sunday.
David had attended a Stroll wrap up meeting at the Chamber and suggested many of these ideas for next year. This concept should be applied to Daffodil Weekend as well.
The Website was the next item discussed on the agenda. Kate reported that the
NVS webpage is a work in progress. She would like to change its appearance and feel,
but it is under Town jurisdiction.
The next item on the agenda was the QR Code printed on the 2012 T&L brochure.
David demonstrated how to read the new code on the back of the 2012 Travel and Lodging brochure. By swiping a smart phone over the code, Tonight’s Lodging
Availability list can be accessed without typing the address needed to get to that link.
Kate reported that there was a press release in today’s Inquirer and Mirror newspaper
mentioning the code.
The House Light Contest was the sixth item on the agenda. Kate reported that the
House Light Contest or the Tour of Lights is now underway. She has sent out press
releases to the local media. This year, instead of having people sign up for specific
categories, the public would nominate their favorite house lit up for the holiday season.
The deadline to nominate houses is Thursday, December 22. The house with the most votes will be announced on Friday, December 23. David will design a map for the Tour
of Lights and the map will be available for the public to take. Kate reminded the
committee that due to ethics laws, Visitor Services could not give out any prizes.
The 7th item on the agenda was Christmas/ New Years Restaurants Open. Kate reported that only one restaurant will be open Christmas Day. It will be the one at the
airport, Crosswinds. The committee stated that in years past, The Jared Coffin House,
Mad Hatter and Woodbox restaurants all would be open for Christmas Dinner. Kate also
noted that the office will be open from 9am to 2pm on Christmas Eve Day, closed
Christmas Day and the Monday after because of the Town holiday. The Chamber of Commerce will be closed during the week between Christmas and New Years, but Visitor
Services will be open.
New Business-Fireworks Bid was the final item on the agenda. Kate reported that
the Request for Bids for the Fourth of July Fireworks was in today’s newspaper. Kate noted that this will be the 20th year that Visitor Services has produced the fireworks.
Diane Flaherty reported that she went to a recent Selectmen meeting and they
brought up the Visitor Services-Chamber of Commerce ad-hoc committee again. The
committee considered the Chamber to be a private organization.
Louise Swift discussed the possibility of adding a new event for New Years Eve.
When she was a student in Europe, the town she was in held a First Night. Gene Mahon
thought that he could get in touch with Gennifer Costanzo who had been on the Arts
Council to discuss the possibility.
Gene adjourned the meeting at 4:03