Tourism builds community
SCT's recent ads for Sonoma County include the headline, "Now Is The Time." 
 
Never has the need for building (and rebuilding) our community been more important. As an organization, Sonoma County Tourism is more committed than ever to our community, which is why we so appreciate the incredible efforts of our generous hospitality industry partners during the critical past several months.
 
Sonoma County's extraordinary hospitality and tourism industry helps build community in numerous ways, some more recognized than others.
 
The outpouring of participation for this year's Sonoma County Tourism Cares events celebrating National Travel & Tourism Week, May 6-12 (see article, video, and photos below), was an organized display of community building, with volunteers donating an estimated 291 hours of work to three local nonprofits.
 
Additionally, our industry partners gave an amazing amount of care, kindness, volunteerism, fundraising, and donations during and after the October 2017 wildfires. At a time of crisis, it was only natural to pitch in to do the things we do best. As they tirelessly fought the devastating fires, the firefighters were served hot, locally sourced meals provided by Sonoma County chefs. We heard time and again how grateful and amazed the firefighters were at the outpouring of Sonoma County-style hospitality.
 
Ongoing donations by our restaurants and wineries, attractions, and other hospitality businesses to the many silent auctions, raffles, and community fundraisers may be less recognized, but are major contributors to the success of our local nonprofits. The support of Little League and soccer teams, gifts of food to shelters and food banks, and a multitude of actions performed quietly but routinely by our tourism and hospitality community are essential to the organizations that depend on these charitable donations.
 
Even less recognized, perhaps, is the impact hospitality and tourism make on our economy. In 2017, tourism in Sonoma County generated an estimated $2.1 billion in destination spending and collected $177.7 million in government taxes, helping to fund programs such as regional parks, affordable housing, road construction and maintenance, arts, education, and economic and workforce development. The hospitality and tourism industry employs over 22,600 people, representing more than one in 10 jobs. 
 
Sonoma County's tourism industry is deeply woven into the fabric of our communities, encouraging us to warmly welcome and share our Sonoma County pride with visitors from around the world. Reaching out to help, giving back, and making meaningful contributions is simply a part of helping our neighbors and our friends. It is at the foundation of building a better community for all of us.
 
- Nicole  
Nicole Bradin
Directory of Community Engagement
Sonoma County Tourism
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Beautify Petaluma Visitors Center, 
win a night out in Petaluma


Join Sonoma County Tourism Cares from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, to help create a welcoming environment for visitors to Petaluma. 
 
Housed in a 1914 yellow train depot next to the new SMART train platform, the Petaluma Visitors Center is on one of the busiest and most visible corners in Petaluma.  
 
To beautify the area, we will be pulling out weeds and dead plants, adding new soil (in bags), planting new plants, and spreading wood chips (also in bags) in contained planting areas. Wear comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes. SCT will mail you a volunteer kit, which includes a Sonoma County Tourism Cares T-shirt, water bottle, drawstring backpack, and work gloves. 
 
And when you sign up for this volunteer opportunity, you'll also be registered to win a night out in Petaluma, which includes:
  • A $50 gift certificate to Della Fattoria Downtown Cafe
  • A gift certificate for two tickets to Cinnabar Theater
You must be present to win.

NATIONAL TRAVEL & TOURISM WEEK
 Helping out in Sonoma County for 
 National Travel and Tourism Week, May 6-12

Watch Sonoma County volunteers in action during
National Travel and Tourism Week.
Nearly 80 Sonoma County hospitality professionals celebrated National Travel and Tourism Week by volunteering an estimated 291 hours with three organizations: Redwood Empire Food Bank, LandPaths, and Habitat for Humanity's ReStore.

"I saw this opportunity in the CTA (Certified Tourism Ambassador) newsletter and, being someone who lost their home in the fires, this really resonated with me," said volunteer Anna Edgerton, a marketing specialist with Sonoma County Regional Parks.

Volunteers celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week by clearing brush with LandPaths at Riddell Preserve.

The total number of hours volunteered was up 16 percent over last year's inaugural Sonoma County Tourism Cares event, with a 32 percent increase in the number of volunteers.

"The fact that Sonoma County Tourism puts this together makes it convenient to just get out there and volunteer, and not have to worry about finding something to do or where you're going to go," said Jill Leone, owner of Leone Wine Tours. "It just was the perfect opportunity to get out and do some volunteer work."

Volunteers organize donations at Habitat for Humanity's ReStore during National Travel and Tourism Week.

Jennifer Good, corporate event sales manager for Benziger Winery and Imagery Estate Winery, volunteered with Sonoma County Tourism Cares because she wanted to contribute to the community and do something good for Sonoma County.

"It's really important for me, personally, and for where I work that we do everything we can to help the community that helps us," Good said. 
A crew bags oranges at Redwood Empire Food Bank.
KUDOS TO ...
American Red Cross names Safari West's Peter Lang '2018 Animal Rescue Hero'


Because of Safari West founder Peter Lang's fight to save nearly a thousand animals during the Tubbs wildfire last October, the American Red Cross has named him their 2018 California Northwest Animal Rescue Hero.
 
When wildfire raced into Sonoma County from the east, Lang sent his wife, guests, and employees to safety. He remained behind, shepherding more than 1,000 animals to safety while the fire raged around them. Using little more than garden hoses and whatever else came to hand, Peter worked past dawn and saved every animal on the preserve.

California Senate honors Art "Pasta King" Ibleto 


Art Ibleto, at left, accepts an official Legislative Resolution from California State Senator Mike McGuire in April of this year. Ibleto was honored by the Senate for feeding thousands of people free of charge during the October 2017 wildfires, and for his ongoing efforts benefiting our community and organizations around the world. 
Arborists plant trees, ride 70 miles

Photo by California Urban Forests Council

Professional arborists from across the western United States gathered at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa for the International Society of Arboriculture's 84th annual Western Chapter Conference, April 23-26. Before the conference began, they planted hundreds of needed trees in areas ravaged by the October 2017 wildfires. Plus, many of them cycled 70 miles in their annual The Britton Fund Ride, raising $25,000 - with 25 percent of that going to the Santa Rosa Park Foundation's reforestation efforts in Coffey Park and other wildfire-damaged areas. (The remainder of the money raised goes to tree research and education.) The bicyclists also stopped to plant a tree with students at a local elementary school.
IN THE NEWS
Money Inc magazine lauds Sonoma County  as 'shining beacon of regrowth, rejuvenation'



Click here to read the article.

Ongoing efforts to get the message out that resilient Sonoma County has rebounded and is welcoming visitors with open arms have resulted in a recent Money Inc. magazine article titled "How Sonoma's Hospitality Scene is Leading the Charge for a Renewed Wine Country."  Writer M att Kirouac visited Sonoma County on a group press trip with Jackson Family Wines, and provides a first-hand account of how our beautiful region is thriving. He writes:

"Sonoma County serves as a shining beacon of regrowth, rejuvenation, and revival, as towns and wineries blossom and thrive. It's evident not only in the fruitful vineyards, but the strength of the local economy, which can be felt, tasted, and experienced in a multitude of ways. From immersive winery visits to hotels and restaurants in communities like Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Windsor, and Sebastopol, there's never been a better time to visit Sonoma."

TOURISM CARES  NATIONALLY

Keeping New Orleans resilient

Members of the hospitality and tourism industries nationwide will come together Sept. 20 and 21 in New Orleans, to help this unique city. Efforts will include:
  • Working with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, bagging oyster shells to be used to build a living shoreline, where the land is receding. (Louisiana is currently losing a a football field of land every 48 minutes - 16  square miles a year - due to climate change, drilling and dredging for oil and gas, and levees on the Mississippi River.)
     
  • Adopting a neighborhood to work on projects focused on arts and culture, neighborhood revitalization, conservation, and sustainability.  
The national nonprofit Tourism Cares organization unites the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries to give back to destinations in need of care, both after disasters and with everyday efforts.  Tourism Cares spans and connects the entire industry around giving back, locally, nationally, and internationally. 

For more details, visit tourismcares.org.
CERTIFIED TOURISM AMBASSADORS
More CTA classes scheduled

Certified Tourism Ambassador training sessions are set for 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Sonoma County Tourism offices in Santa Rosa. Upcoming dates include:
  • Aug.  21, 2018
  • Sept. 18, 2018
  • Oct. 11, 2018
  • Dec. 13, 2018
As a CTA, you will gain knowledge of the region's many assets, have access to exclusive educational tours and events, and be exposed to unique opportunities to connect with your hospitality peers, local community, and residents.