For obvious reasons, July is a particularly busy time for businesses serving the visitor community, but that didn’t stop the Chamber Tourism Council from gathering on July 16 to discuss the current season and the months ahead.
One of the more interesting conversations went beyond summer and applied to aspects of Cape Ann that attract visitors throughout the year. We continued to share ideas for capitalizing on Cape Ann’s prominence as special place for birding in all seasons, suggesting the development of “handbooks” for birding enthusiasts, with a focus on providing information and resources to help and engage novice birders. And we agreed to look at opportunities to use this same approach to wildlife, dining, historic homes, sea glass and other topics of interest to visitors.
We reviewed a calendar of events and activities recently updated by the Chamber and were reminded that summer events like Manchester’s Festival by the Sea and the Gloucester Waterfront Festival are back on the schedule for summer 2021. Check the Chamber’s events page to learn about these and other activities.
We discussed a number of other events, including Gloucester’s Culture Splash, which features activities each Thursday through August 16 in the city’s two cultural districts, Harbortown and Rocky Neck. One of the organizers, Maritime Gloucester’s Michael DeKoster put out a call for volunteers.
Discover Gloucester’s Elizabeth Carey provided an update on a visitor program featuring the city’s new travel ambassador, Loblolly, the Gloucester lobster, and the Chamber’s Peter Weber reminded us that Rockport Art Association and Museum is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2021.
In the days following this meeting, we began discussions on extending our reach to Ipswich, whose chamber merged with the Cape Ann Chamber this summer. We’ll be looking for members of their tourism community to join our group.
Our next Tourism Council meeting is scheduled for August 20, and anyone is welcome. Please contact me if you’re interested in learning more about our group. We meet at the Chamber offices at 8:30am on the third Friday of each month. We welcome you to be part of our discussions aimed at supporting the tourism community on Cape Ann!
Thank you!
Tony Sapienza
Co-owner, Blue Shutters Beachside Inn
Chair, Tourism Council
617-650-2995
