Tourism Council December Meeting Recap: Extending the Season, Extending the Region
A common topic across the Greater Cape Ann tourism community is the importance of extending the season, building on our popularity as a summer visitor destination. In addition, there is another discussion key to the success of tourism on Cape Ann: extending the region. Both of these topics were highlighted In the latest meeting of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber’s Tourism Council, on December 20.
Updates in the December Tourism Council meeting provided examples of progress made in extending the season, including the continuation of traditional Cape Ann community holiday celebrations. We also heard from Council members about their plans for the winter season, such as holiday events at Hammond Castle Museum and Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, the upcoming Gloucester So Salty activities (January 25-26), and this year’s version of the annual Cape Ann Winter Lights. Chamber staff also discussed the launch of Mistletoe Madness, a new “shop local” program.
In recent monthly Tourism Council meetings, we discussed initiatives in the spring and fall. This past spring saw the return of Motif #1 Day in Rockport, and next June, Cape Ann will be the setting for the Battle of Bunker Hill reenactment at Stage Fort Park. The fall features a growing number of events and activities, including Cape Ann Plein Air, the Blackburn Brew Fest, Essex ClamFest, and Rockport Harvest Fest. In the summer, our conversations focused on encouraging summer visitors to return in the spring, fall, and winter.
Equally exciting were discussions in our December Tourism Council around the extension of the Cape Ann region for visitors. Representatives from The Cabot Theater in Beverly were on hand to share not only their plans for the coming months but also their interest in tapping into the Cape Ann visitor community. Tourism Council members regularly share updates that we pass on to visitors to add to their experience here, and The Cabot – with its schedule of performances and role as a community resource – is an excellent example of the attractions and amenities offered in Cape Ann’s neighboring North Shore cities and towns.
The Council’s recent focus on issues like expanding Commuter Rail service and Lyft and Uber coverage and addressing downtown Gloucester parking options further demonstrate the group’s work on reaching greater numbers of visitors throughout the year.
We invite anyone interested in joining these discussions to attend future monthly meetings. Our Tourism Council meets on the third Friday of each month at the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce offices and via Zoom. If you would like to be added to our email list or share updates with the group, please contact me or the Chamber staff.
Tony Sapienza
Co-owner, Blue Shutters Beachside Inn
Chair, Tourism Council
tsapienza@gmail.com