HomeMy WebLinkAboutVisitor Services and Information Advisory Committee Minutes March 25, 2009_201402041408007384
Minutes of Visitor Services Advisory Committee
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Land Bank Conference Room
In attendance: Kate Hamilton, Director, David Sharpe, Office Administrator,
Gene Mahon, Chairman, David Place and Louise Swift
Gene called the meeting to order at 3:07pm
Kate began by discussing that the office has been receiving a lot of telephone calls
regarding the summer. Louise Swift asked if anyone had seen the Massachusetts Getaway
guide. Louise was in New York the previous week and found a copy in the New York
Times. The Visitor Services phone number was in the Nantucket section. Kate added that
the office is promoting “One Call Does It All” via press releases to Northeastern
newspapers.
David then read the statistics and then explained the Restaurant Specials. David
noted that he recently sent out information requests for Easter Sunday and Daffodil
Weekend to the restaurants.
The FY10 budget was next on the agenda. Kate explained that she will be placing
an ad in the paper and will hiring seasonal staff after Town Meeting. They way the
budget is planned this year some will be hired for the summer and others will be hired for
the fall.
The Downtown Revitalization Committee was the fifth item on the agenda. Kate
reported that this committee is in the process of creating a survey to be sent to businesses
in the downtown area. The results will be presented in a few weeks. Kate is please that a
survey is being done.
Next on the agenda are the Bathrooms. Kate reported that the Federal Street
bathrooms are now closed until April 15 for renovations. Press Releases to the island
media have been sent out noting the closure and renovations. Kate showed the committee
the wall tile design.
The seventh item on the agenda was the Greenhound and Airport Update. Kate
reported that this year, Visitor Services will be splitting the Greenhound building hours
with the NRTA. Kate thanked Gene Mahon with his help in assisting in coordinating the
days this summer. Kate noted that the building will have a public bathroom available.
As for the Airport, Kate reported that she will be going to the Airport
Commission meeting on Tuesday, April 7 at 4:30 to see if the airport would be willing to
coordinate and help with an information desk at the new terminal this summer.
New Business was the final item on the agenda. Many restaurants have been
offering specials thru the winter and spring. The SeaGrille has offered specials on certain
nights and they are full on those nights. David Place noted that business is down and
agreed that restaurants should keep offering deals. Gene Mahon noted that the Chamber
of Commerce islander discount card will be out in June. This might help with saving
money for many people.
Kate reported that she went to the Atheneum on Friday night to help talk about a
possible short term rentals tax. Kate noted that she refuted a lot of misinformation
especially that it is too much work to process the payments to the state. However, it is
easy to do on the Mass DOR website. Kate added that there are many, many other towns
and states nationwide that have a rental tax.
The committee then discussed the upcoming season. Kate noted that tourism will
get Nantucket through the recession.
Gene Mahon adjourned the meeting at 4:12pm