TOURISM INDUSTRY NEWS & RESOURCES
This partner communication exists to provide timely information on Sonoma County’s tourism and hospitality industry, along with resources to help partners navigate through the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
April 12, 2022
We’re so thrilled to be back to a sense of normalcy. Below you’ll see that SCT held its first post-pandemic client event in Los Angeles, promoting the region to the trade and media in the burgeoning Los Angeles market. This was just one of the events attended by the SCT team in the past 30-days. I was honored to join Caroline Beteta on the CEO mission to Mexico with opportunities to meet with journalists, influencers and travel professionals in California’s number one international market. The Business Development team is back to a busy travel schedule with the Independent Planners Show, Visit California’s Luxury Forum, the annual conference for the Northern California chapter of Meeting Professional International (MPI), and participation in Global Meetings Day on April 6. We’re thrilled that two of our marketing campaigns were recognized by HSMAI and Frank Filice (SCT's Director of Brand Marketing) was selected as one of the industry’s Emerging Stars and will be honored at the upcoming E-Tourism Summit. 
 
Last week I joined 150 of my colleagues at the US Travel Association’s Board meeting in Washington D.C. During the meeting we heard about US Travel’s legislative priorities including the re-authorization of Brand USA and key national initiatives around Workforce Housing, Travel Facilitation and Security including Visa processing, the Future of Travel Mobility, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Sustainability. US Travel CEO, Roger Dow, reiterated the importance of sustainability throughout the industry and that it would continue to be a critical topic for years to come. I’m proud Sonoma County and SCT has taken such a strong stance on sustainability as a business imperative.  

Finally, we’re delighted to host the Stars of the Industry event as a stand-alone celebration. We are all indebted to our extraordinary hospitality employees. These professionals create and convey the experiences to our visitors. We welcome the opportunity to recognize and celebrate your dedication to our industry. Please see more about this event below. Event registration is now open! 

Thank you all for rolling out the welcome mat to our visitors and for creating memorable, authentic experiences. 
Claudia Vecchio
President and CEO
Sonoma County Tourism
707-522-5804
Hospitality Hub Trainings

Sonoma County Tourism invites hospitality businesses to attend an upcoming in-person training to learn how to easily add photos, video, special offers, and more to business listings on sonomacounty.com. Attendees will also learn how to view and respond to leads.

When: "General Hospitality Hub Training" – Tuesday, April 19 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm & "Hospitality Hub Training for Hotel Partners" – Thursday, April 21 from 10:30am to noon

Where: Sonoma County Tourism, 400 Aviation Blvd., Suite 500, Santa Rosa

Bring your laptop for hands-on training. Space is limited, so please register below to get your seat. Register for the on-site training by emailing eschmitz@sonomacounty.com.
Stars of the Industry Voting and Tickets
Over 6,000 votes have been cast so far for finalists of the 2022 Stars of the Industry Awards. Voting remains open through Friday, April 15 at 5pm, and is limited to one ballot per person, per day. As of this writing, the votes are extremely close in the majority of the categories, so you are encouraged to weigh in with your vote here to help determine this year’s winners.

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, May 3 during the Stars of the Industry Awards dinner and ceremony at the Flamingo Resort & Spa. Tickets for the event are available for $50 each or $350 for a table of eight. A reception will take place from 5pm-6pm with the dinner & awards program immediately following from 6pm-8pm. Individual tickets can be ordered here. Tables of eight can be ordered here.
Earth Day Cleanup

As in years past, Sonoma County Tourism will be carrying out a Tourism Cares volunteer effort in recognition of Earth Day. Join us on Friday, April 22 at 10am for an Earth Day roadside cleanup of Main Street/Petaluma Hill Road in Penngrove. Our goal is to keep this highly visible street as pristine as possible for our visitors and residents. But we can’t do it alone!

We invite you to clean along side us as we get some fresh air and exercise while doing good for the community. Cleanup supplies will be provided by Sonoma County Tourism and Sonoma County Transportation and Public Works. Volunteers will be given a highly fashionable Sonoma County Tourism Cares t-shirt. Register here.
Live Like a Visitor Experience

In recognition of National Travel & Tourism Week (May 1-7), Sonoma County Tourism will be inviting residents to “Live Like a Visitor” and experience Sonoma County as visitors do, by enjoying the sights, sips, bites, and culture of Sonoma County — learning about the value of tourism and getting a prize for their efforts.

Utilizing Sonoma County Tourism’s soon-to-launch VisitWidget app, residents will be asked to visit/patronize a minimum of five businesses, attractions, or activities listed in the application between May 1-7. These residents will ask participating businesses for a special code they will enter into the app to verify their visit. With National Travel and Tourism Week existing to educate the public about travel’s contributions to the economy, every time a participant enters a code into the app, they will be exposed to a fact about the value of tourism and its important role within the Sonoma County economy. Residents that manage to visit at least five spots between May 1-7 will get a special prize. 

There is no cost for businesses to participate, and the only requirement is that businesses be willing to issue a secret code during National Travel & Tourism Week to any who ask for it. If your business is interested in being featured in this “Live Like a Visitor” initiative, please email communityengagement@sonomacounty.com for consideration. The deadline to secure participation is April 27.
Lighting Pinot Purple for NTTW

For the third consecutive year, Sonoma County Tourism is encouraging businesses to cast its properties in purple light (the official color of hospitality) the nights of May 1-7. If your property has outdoor lighting, but you require purple gels, SCT can provide you with those at no cost. Participating businesses will be featured on our website and may be included in our NTTW press outreach. 

To request purple gels, or to let us know of your involvement, please fill out this form. Questions can be directed to Kira Butz at kbutz@sonomacounty.com.
Sonoma County Tourism Recent Activities
Here's a recap of some of the recent happening at Sonoma County Tourism:
Global Meetings Industry Day: Sonoma County Tourism’s Vice President, Business Development, Jonny Westom, chaired the Bay Area’s Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) event on April 6 at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco. Initiated by the United States Travel Association, GMID is an international day of recognition for the importance of the meetings and events industry. 150 meeting planners and suppliers attended the event from across the country. 
Southern California Client Event: Last month, Sonoma County Tourism hosted a client event in West Hollywood with Southern California based clients, including media / journalist, meeting planners, and travel trade professionals. The event brought together 125 clients to the 1 Hotel West Hollywood, where guests experienced the Sonoma County lifestyle and vibe. Additionally, guests were entertained by Cliff Goldmacher, composer of Sonoma Sound and a live painting demonstration by local artist, Alana Tillman.
Adrian Awards: SCT’s VP of Marketing and Communications, Todd O’Leary; and Director of Brand Marketing, Frank Filice, recently accepted two Adrian Awards on behalf of SCT. The Adrian Awards, presented by HSMAI, recognize excellence in hospitality industry marketing and communications. SCT was awarded two silver awards – one for the 2021 recovery campaign; and one for our digital marketing efforts.