HomeMy WebLinkAboutVisitor Services and Information Advisory Committee Minutes September 24, 2009_201402041408042540Minutes of Visitor Services Advisory Committee
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Land Bank Conference Room
The meeting was called to order at 3:00pm by Gene Mahon. In attendance: Kate
Hamilton, Director, David Sharpe, Office Administrator, Kevin Dugan, Assistant
Administrator, Charles Balas, Gene Mahon, Kristin Chambers-O’Reilly, Louise Swift
and Linda Williams.
Kate started the meeting by having Kevin review the lodging business. Kevin
reported that August had continued to be a strong month but noted that since Labor Day it
has obviously slowed down. He also reported that there has been a steady flow of
inquiries regarding Christmas Stroll. David then reported on the restaurants and noted
that as of now there are 4 or 5 that should be open for Thanksgiving dinner. David also
gave the statistics and brought everyone up to date on them. He also stated that the total
visitor count as compared to last year is down approximately 28%.
Kate then discussed the budget and mentioned that she has not received a definite
answer from the Town regarding the annual fireworks display but hopes to hear
something soon as we will need to go out for bid again as the contract is over. Kate also
said that she and Kristin Chambers-O’Reilly will have to re-schedule their fireworks
meeting as they both had a scheduling conflict. Kate then discussed the fact that she had a
budget meeting today with Town Administration and the other department heads and was
informed that the Town will be looking to cut expenses once again as revenues are down.
She also stated that an Ad Hoc Finance Committee had been formed to look at Town
expenses and to see where possible cuts could be made. A meeting will be held next
week to discuss, amongst other things, the outsourcing of some Town services and a
possible “merger” of NVS and the Chamber of Commerce. Kate will report back to the
Committee.
Discussion then ensued regarding the rooms tax. Many innkeepers are upset with
the passage of the increase which will be effective as of January 1st. Most are also very
concerned that the room occupancy tax still does not expand to the private home rentals.
Linda Williams stated that she will start attempting to drum up support for a major effort
to include the addition of private home rentals in the collection of the room occupancy
tax.
Kate then discussed the 2010 Travel & Lodging brochure and reported that the
production run will be 40,000 copies. She further stated that we have approximately 20
cases remaining of the 2009 brochure and we will monitor the distribution to insure that
we will have enough left to meet demand.
Kate brought up the NVS operation at the airport this summer and the fact that
everything seemed to go well. She also stated that she had a conversation with Al
Peterson regarding NVS using the space during major weekend events during the winter
and he was in agreement. Kate also mentioned that our partnership with Greenhound has
now ended and everyone who has been involved seems to be pleased with the way things
went. It was also noted that funds have been approved for the rehab of the Sconset
restrooms and that the bid should be awarded in March. Kate then stated that the Straight
Wharf kiosk will be closing this Sunday, September 27th, for the season. Kate also
mentioned that David is on the Taxi Commission. David stated that the Commission will
be doing something similar to Team Nantucket to create some training programs for the
taxi drivers. It was suggested that perhaps a DVD could be used in this regard.
Kevin then mentioned that 47 Nantucket Restaurant Week press releases have
been submitted to various newspapers, 4 to various food editors, 3 to Cape Cod based
radio stations and 1 TV ad that was produced with Geno TV Channel 17. Kate also re-
iterated that the NVS marketing for this event was for the purpose of promoting lodging
and not to interfere with the Chamber of Commerce efforts at promoting Restaurant
Week.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:05pm.