CEO Corner: Better Together
2025 was a year of meaningful transition—and real momentum—for the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. We didn’t just talk about collaboration; we lived it. From our merger with the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce to welcoming the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative into our organization, we leaned fully into partnership as a growth strategy and a guiding principle. Because when we work together, we are not only stronger—we are better together. And so is Cape Cod. We experienced both celebration and loss this year. We were honored to receive 4-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—a powerful affirmation of the professionalism, impact, and credibility of this organization. And we mourned the passing of our dear friend Patti Lloyd, whose love for Cape Cod and unwavering generosity left an indelible mark on this community. Through it all, our team remained exactly that—a true team—steadfast in our mission and united in purpose. There is so much we can accomplish together for this special place we call home—and we’re not waiting. We’re already off and running. As we begin shaping what’s ahead for 2026, it’s important to pause and reflect on a year that delivered real impact across marketing, membership, advocacy, workforce, and community. 2025 Highlights & Wins Cape Cod Travel Guide For the third consecutive year, our Cape Cod Travel Guide earned a Gold MarCom Award for excellence in publication. With 40,000 glossy copies in distribution, the Guide reaches visitors and residents alike—across Cape Cod and well beyond—from Boston hotels and Copley Square to TF Green Airport and New Jersey thruways. It remains one of our most powerful storytelling and economic development tools. Travel Website CapeCodChamber.org continues to be our most effective marketing engine. Year to date, the site has logged more than 5.5 million unique visits and delivered over 58,000 direct booking referrals to our members. With an 80% engagement rate—compared to a 58% industry benchmark—and continued dominance of Google search rankings for Cape Cod, the platform remains the backbone of our destination marketing strategy. Blue Economy The Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation launched its new podcast, Coastal Characters, telling the stories of innovators working on the water and along our shores. The Foundation also introduced a blue economy-inspired merchandise line in partnership with Cape Clasp—another creative way to tell the Cape Cod story while supporting coastal entrepreneurship. Hydrangea Fest July marked the 11th anniversary of the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival, with more than 100 private gardens opening their gates for a cause. Together, the Festival raised an extraordinary $110,000 for 37 local nonprofits—a true demonstration of how tourism and philanthropy can thrive side by side. “The Collective” Our monthly Chamber newsletter continued to outperform industry standards, maintaining a 47% open rate, up 5% from last year. Meaningful content still matters—and our members are clearly engaged. Membership & Engagement In our 2025 membership survey, an extraordinary 94% of members reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their Chamber benefits. This year alone, we hosted 38 events, workshops, and roundtables with more than 2,000 participants, along with 12 ribbon cuttings celebrating new businesses and growing enterprises across the region. Government Relations & Advocacy Under Chamber leadership, the Cape & Islands Bridges Coalition has become the leading business-driven advocate for replacement of the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges. Our first-ever CIBC State House Day elevated the importance of this issue with legislative and executive leaders. As members of the Seasonal Communities Advisory Council, with support from our legislative delegation, we successfully secured Seasonal Communities Designation eligibility for all 15 Cape towns, restored regional economic development (REDO) funding, and secured $100,000 in state funding for workforce and business engagement initiatives. We were also honored to be appointed to Governor Healey’s Competitiveness Council, ensuring that Cape Cod’s voice is present in critical statewide economic conversations. Growing Our Team This year, we officially welcomed the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce team—Michael Kasparian, Maura Aldrich, and Susan Zavala—into the Cape Cod Chamber family. As Susan retires after 16 years of distinguished service, we extend our deepest thanks for her extraordinary dedication. We were also pleased to welcome Dina Lyons Howell, who is supporting our expanding blue economy and climate initiatives. Leadership Spotlight – Katy Acheson Katy stepped into her new role as Vice President of Community Impact, now overseeing both the Blue Economy Foundation and the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative. In the midst of that expanded leadership, she also graduated from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Institute for Organization Management (IOM)—an achievement that ultimately strengthens all of us and the work we do together for Cape Cod. And finally—no Chamber recap would be complete without our good friend Doug the Quahog. He predicted 80 days of beach weather this summer… and delivered 84. Legendary accuracy, once again. Here’s to even more sunshine—literal and figurative—in 2026. Thank you for believing in this organization, for showing up, and for continuing to invest in the future of Cape Cod. Together, we are building something special. And we’re just getting started. …
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