Bill Manger, Mayor of Southampton Village, and Gina Arresta, Deputy Mayor of Southampton Village, gathered with business and community leaders at the Southampton Inn to discuss how to boost the year-round economy in the village during the winter months.
Hosted by Dede Gotthelf, owner of the Southampton Inn, the assembled group included Christina Strassfield of the Southampton Arts Center, Steve Behar of The Bentley Hotel, Shariee Calderone of the Parrish Art Museum, Dr. Sang Pak of Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, Kirsten Lonnie of the Southampton Cultural Center, Ian Duke of Southampton Social Club, Elizabeth Millstein of Asprey, and Lianna Mizzi of Southampton History Museum.
“It takes a village to encourage more visitors to enjoy the beauty and charm of Southampton during the winter months. We need to work together to drive more visitors to spend, participate, and enjoy all the village has to offer,” said Gotthelf.
Mayor Manger spoke about improving the entrance to the village with new lighting and landscaping from the intersection of County Road 39 and the railroad trestle to create a more appealing entrance. He went on to discuss the many recreational and cultural opportunities available in the village which can attract more people year-round.
Gotthelf announced several marketing initiatives: Romance Month for February, specials for families with connecting rooms for school breaks, and single parents weekend in March. Gotthelf also invited local restaurants and retailers to participate in these initiatives by offering incentives to shop and dine at their local establishments.
“The Village of Southampton has so much to offer year-round. Our museums and cultural centers are open, as are our wonderful restaurants and shops. There’s so much to do in the beautiful natural environment, such as hiking, ice skating, and even ghost hunting, plus beach walks but in a parka not a bikini! Together, we have to do a much better job of creating awareness of how amazing a visit to Southampton Village can be, at any time of the year,” said Gotthelf.
To continue the momentum, the next ‘Turning On the Off Season’ Community Business meeting will be at the inn in February.