Celebrating travel and tourism
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May is a month of celebrations. It brings the flavors and colors of Cinco de Mayo, a salute to moms on Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day
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the unofficial start of the summer travel season and a chance to commemorate those who fought and died in battle.
This month also includes National Travel and Tourism Week, May 6-12, 2018. And, thanks to the Board of Supervisors for its Gold Resolution, May is Travel and Tourism Month in Sonoma County.
This is a time to celebrate the extraordinary value of travel and tourism. I consider myself lucky to be part of this amazing industry – one that drives economies, forges appreciation for cultures and customs, produces transformational and educational opportunities for people of all ages, and lets individual entrepreneurs achieve the goal of business ownership.
The funds derived from tourism directly support emergency services, regional parks, education, affordable housing, and economic development activities, and create an environment that gives residents superior professional services, health care, and other offerings. This is an industry that contributes to communities, enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors, and can transform economies from vacant to vibrant.
Please join me in thanking the employees of area lodgings, restaurants, wineries and tasting rooms, retailers, parks, tour companies, outfitters, and airports (to name just a few). Each provides a touchpoint for travelers and is an important contributor to the Sonoma County visitor experience.
In a world of social media and a never-ending news cycle, everyone who comes in contact with a visitor is part of the overall destination review and essential to the ongoing success of our glorious region. This is certainly worth celebrating!
- Claudia
Claudia Vecchio, CEO
Sonoma County Tourism
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Sonoma County Tourism News
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Celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week, May 6-12
Join travel and tourism professionals nationwide, highlighting how our industry improves our economies, communities, and personal lives. And s
how Sonoma County more of what the hospitality community is all about - service, care, teamwork, action, and community spirit - by joining one of three SCT volunteer opportunities:
Monday, May 7, at Redwood Empire Food Bank
Wednesday, May 9, with LandPaths at Riddle Preserve
Friday, May 11, at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore
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SCT offers updated toolkit
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Want to get the word out? Check out our recently updated communications toolkit at
sonomacounty.com/tools, with tips, resources, and graphics designed to help hospitality and tourism businesses, local chambers, cities, and visitor bureaus. It includes
special tips for celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week, May 6-12.
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May is now Outdoor Recreation Month
It's official
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this May is the first-ever Outdoor Recreation Month in Sonoma County, as approved by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. Throughout the month, many local businesses are offering special deals for outdoor events and activities, as well as lodging, dining, wine tasting, and more. These offers are listed online at
SonomaCounty.com/deals.
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Promoting Sonoma County to HelmsBriscoe associates
The HelmsBriscoe Annual Business Conference 2018 — a sold-out event — was attended by 800 HB associates in Orlando, Florida, the first week of May.
Sonoma County Tourism's national sales managers Barbara Quigley (at left in photo) and Erika Costa were on hand to present Sonoma County as a group business venue.
With more than 1,400 associates in 55 countries, HelmsBriscoe is a global leader in meetings procurement and site selection, booking $1.275 billion in room revenue in 2017 (up $75 million over 2016). Erika and Barbara were able to meet one-on-one with HB associates from all over the world.
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Guiding international visitors
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SCT's international sales manager Susan Takano, CTA, led two familiarization tours of Sonoma County the week of April 9. Top photo: Anngret Rossol of CANUSA, left, meets with Susan in Armstrong Redwoods. CANUSA is a German tour operator with over 120 employees in seven German offices. Then, in cooperation with Visit California, six French product managers, two Visit California France reps, and a Norwegian Airlines rep explored the coast and redwoods, with a few site tours along the way. Bottom photo: Susan and the group relax at the Astro Motel. Susan had three other fam tours scheduled in April, with more coming in May.
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Sonoma County and the media
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Getting the word out in Scottsdale
Six months after the North Bay wildfires, SCT Public Relations Manager Biggi Vaughan partnered with Visit Napa Valley to bring our "Open for Business" message to a media breakfast in Scotssdale, Arizona. From left: Angela jackson, Visit Napa Valley; Jennifer Stein, editor-in-chief, Destination I Do; Biggi Vaughan, SCT; Colleen Lanin, editor-in-chief, Travel Mamas; and Maryal Carter, Blog Love and Specs.
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Sonoma County in the news...
With the help of our partners, Sonoma County Tourism continues to reach out to the media. Here's a brief sampling of the results
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recent articles and blogs promoting Sonoma County.
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USA Today
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UMV: 36,842,180
)
Due to dedicated pitching, includes Charles M Schulz Museum. Story picked up by:
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By Verna Wolff
Westdeutsche Zeitung
(circ. 124,579)
SCT hosted Wolff when she visited Sonoma County last spring.
Wolff's article was published by
DPA, the German Press Agency.
So far the article has appeared in nearly
20 regional daily newspapers, plus online outlets.
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By Heather Lowrie
The Scottish Sun (circ.: 248,419)
SCT hosted Lowrie on a post-wildfire tour to see the area's resurgence first-hand.
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Marie Claire
(
UMV: 3,516,426)
SCT worked with editor Sara Holzman to include Sonoma County in this story recommending ideal places for mother-daughter getaways.
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Advertising opportunities
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Sonoma County Tourism is anchoring a two-page co-op ad in the 2019 California Visitor's Guide, a 200-page all-inclusive travel planner designed to inspire consumers traveling to and within California.
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Occupancy and average daily rates continue to be higher than normal due to the effect of the October wildfires, but a return to more “normal” conditions in March show that variances from traditional performance are declining.
Note that STR tracks 94 lodging business in Sonoma County, with a focus on hotels and motels.
Please see the statistics page for regularly updated information:
www.sonomacounty.com/statistics
.
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Wellness tourism defines terms
The Wellness Tourism Association introduced its Glossary of Industry Terms, defining eight terms associated with wellness tourism. The term "wellness resorts" replaces what the WTA previously referred to as the "destination spa" category.
International visitors data inaccurate
Many U.S. destinations and travel companies expect accurate international arrivals data from the
U.S. National Travel & Tourism Office
, but documents show flaws have existed in the data collection process for years.
Caribbean Tourism sets $20 million marketing fund after hurricanes
Following a devastating 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, the
Caribbean Tourism Organization
is establishing an annual $20 million regional destination marketing fund to help rebuild the region’s reputation.
Airbnb opens Office of Healthy Tourism
In an effort to spur economic growth through local and sustainable tourism, Airbnb has opened the Office of Healthy Tourism, designed to drive visitors to lesser-trafficked destinations — a sort of antidote to the overtourism problem in larger markets.
Sun Country Airlines to reimburse stranded Mexico passengers
Sun Country Airlines, which offers seasonal flights out of Sonoma County Airport, now plans to reimburse passengers left stranded in Mexico. When Sun Country canceled its last flights of the season after a late-season blizzard in Minnesota, the airline refunded fares and told the passengers to find a new way home on their own.
Selling sports in Nebraska
The Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau, along with 10 other organizations, partnered recently to form Sports Nebraska. The aim of the organization is to sell the state to regional and national sporting event planners.
Asking for hotel reviews reaps positive results
A new TrustYou report shows that actively asking for reviews from hotel guests pays off. Overall, 80 percent of travelers who received a request left a review, while only 22 percent wrote a review without being asked; 95 percent of the reviews were positive.
Airline passengers stealing high-end bedding
After United Airlines introduced fluffy business class Saks Fifth Avenue bedding two years ago, staff noticed pillows and blankets started disappearing at a surprisingly high rate, depleting the airline’s stocks faster than before.
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