A Historic Season for Greater Cape Ann’s Tourism Community
This time of year is always among the busiest periods for the tourism community, but we’ve never seen the kind of excitement that has defined May and June 2025. This historic season was the focus of the June 20 meeting of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Tourism Council.
Our June meeting took place the day before the 250th reenactment of the Battle of Bunker Hill at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester on June 21 & 22. This history-making event was a success by all accounts – among organizers, volunteers, reenactors, visitors, and locals. Media and social media reports showed the thousands who gathered in Gloucester to commemorate this landmark moment in our nation’s history. Cape Ann never looked better, and members of the Tourism Council joined the Chamber and Discover Gloucester at an information desk that helped guide attendees that day and share background on all that our region offers.
Just days after the reenactment, Gloucester saw another historic milestone – the annual St. Peter’s Fiesta. This event always attracts a crowd of locals and visitors, and 2025 was no exception. All this unfolded just days before the annual Independence Day celebrations across Greater Cape Ann.
While all this was happening, Cape Ann’s weather made history with the hottest temperatures in recent memory – perfect for a day on the beach, along the waterfront, or cruising at sea.
The Tourism Council also turned its attention to local and global events that are impacting travel to Cape Ann – some positive and some challenging.
Until the warm sunny days arrived, weather was a major challenge in May and June, continuing a string of more than a dozen rainy weekends. Despite this, many businesses – particularly restaurants, museums, and indoor attractions – reported a strong spring season. We also discussed concerns raised by Canadians and international visitors and agreed to watch how this travel trend plays out in the months ahead.
On the positive side, we discussed the recent string of positive media coverage, the continued interest shown by travel writers, and the ongoing efforts to encourage these reports.
We also discussed the role tourism should play in government, given the sector’s contribution to the local economy. The group agreed to seek a more active role in candidate debates and community forums.
The group discussed the influence of tourism on Greater Cape Ann’s non-profit community – the Tourism Council fielded a team for the Cape Ann Community Foundation’s recent Candlepins for a Cause fundraiser. A key source of the Foundation’s funding has been revenue from the sale of the Cape Ann License Plate, which helps to raise the region’s visibility on automobiles traveling throughout Cape Ann and beyond.
In the June meeting, the Council heard updates from a number of tourism businesses, including a new member – one of the owners of the Pearl, a short-term rental property on Main Street in Rockport. The Council continues to be a platform for any business, new or established, to share information with others in the community.
There will be more updates and discussions like this at our next meeting, on July 18. Anyone who is involved in or has an interest in Cape Ann’s visitor-based economy is invited to join us for this and upcoming monthly meetings. We gather on the third Friday of each month at the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce offices — and via Zoom. If you’d like to be part of these discussions, please reach out to me or contact the Chamber staff.
Tony Sapienza
Co-owner, Blue Shutters Beachside Inn
Chair, Tourism Council
tsapienza@gmail.com
Learn more about the Greater Cape Ann Chamber’s Tourism Council