APRIL 2022: TOURISM COUNCIL REPORT

With spring at our doorstep, the Greater Cape Ann Tourism Council used its March monthly meeting to turn its attention toward the warmer months of the year after a very successful winter season.

The Council recalled the March Girls’ Getaway Weekend and other late winter initiatives and discussed the Winter Birding activities that are continuing into the spring. The Girls’ Getaway Weekend again generated visibility for the region as an off-season destination, with special events and activities, while Winter Birding kicked off on March 12, with the annual boat trip. The birding effort extends into April with a speaker series — the first of these presentations took place at the Blue Shutters on April 2, and there are more planned at the Emerson Inn, on April 30, and the Beauport Hotel, at a date TBD. Council members expressed hope that both of these off-season offerings – and more – will become annual wintertime experiences.

The majority of the meeting was dedicated to spring and summer plans and new developments on the business front. We learned of the 2022 return of many events and activities impact by the pandemic and talked about new restaurants, improvement at area accommodations, and visitor-based businesses establishing a presence on Cape Ann – all taking place this spring, summer and fall.

These and other updates will the focus of the annual Cape Ann Tourism Mixer, which the Council will help organize in May. Stay tuned for more details on this.

A final topic of discussion was an important focus for the Council over the past several months: efforts to provide summer employment support. Council members Mechelle Brown of Rockport and Chamber Senior VP Peter Webber shared updates on programs being developed to attract much-needed workers for the busy summer season and provide them with housing, transportation, and other services. Meetings with regional partners and area elected officials continue, as this initiative moves forward toward the summer.

There will be more updates on this and other tourism-related plans and activities at our next meeting, on Friday, April 15. Anyone interested in this and/or upcoming monthly Tourism Council meetings – held on the third Friday of each month – is encouraged to reach out to me or the Chamber staff.

Tony Sapienza
Co-owner, Blue Shutters Beachside Inn
Chair, Tourism Council
tsapienza@gmail.com 617-650-2995