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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.

May 13, 2022

Santa Rosa Hospitality Mixer  Sonoma County Tourism invites you to attend a business mixer at AC Hotel Santa Rosa Sonoma Wine Country on Tuesday, May 24 from 5pm to 6:30pm. Join us for an afternoon of drinks, bites, and gaiety as we reconnect after a prolonged period of virtual gatherings. Although you are free to forward this invite to your direct colleagues, please do not share this invitation outside of your business/organization.

REGISTER HERE

Cannabis and Hemp Travel Task Force  Sonoma County Tourism is forming a Cannabis and Hemp Travel Task Force to help inform and guide SCT forward in the development of a roadmap to determine what marketing, business development and event opportunities exist within our local travel industry. SCT has contracted with Cultivar Strategies, the leading strategic marketing agency at the intersection of cannabis and travel. We are looking for leaders in Sonoma County’s tourism and cannabis sectors who want to be included on the task force. Your participation will help shape and guide how SCT will approach cannabis and hemp as a travel and hospitality asset. SCT is planning a series of four remote task force meetings in May and June. These 60-minute meetings will tackle the strengths, challenges, opportunities, and concerns at the intersection of cannabis and travel in Sonoma County. If you would like to participate, please contact Brian Applegarth at brian@cultivarbrands.com.

Public Relations Partner Training

Join Sonoma County Tourism on Monday, May 16, from 12pm to 1pm for a free virtual Public Relations partner training exploring current trends in the travel and tourism industry. During this session, SCT will discuss: consumer values, sentiment and trends, the changing media landscape, the evolution in earned media, and the types of stories media members are seeking. Speakers will include Marty McDonald and Kimberly Miles, the Executive Vice President and Director of Tourism Media Relations at Fahlgren Mortine, respectively. Register here.

Stars of the Industry Recap

The best and brightest in Sonoma County's tourism and hospitality industry were celebrated Tuesday night at the 2022 Sonoma County Tourism Stars of the Industry Awards at the Flamingo Resort & Spa. KZST-FM’s Brent Farris and Debbie Abrams served as hosts for the evening, recognizing 24 finalists and presenting 10 awards to businesses and individuals that have excelled in, or have had a positive effect on, the Sonoma County tourism and hospitality industry. The full list of honorees can be viewed here.  A press release about this year's event can be viewed here.  Photos of the event can be viewed and downloaded here. If sharing on social media, please credit Ashlei Kilkenny Photography.  If you would like access to the video presentations celebrating the finalists, please email communityengagement@sonomacounty.com with your request.

NTTW Recap In addition to our Stars of the Industry celebration, Sonoma County Tourism recognized National Travel and Tourism Week (May 1-7) with these special initiatives:

Live Like a Visitor Experience Sonoma County Tourism invited residents to “Live Like a Visitor” and experience Sonoma County as visitors do, by enjoying the sights, sips, bites, and culture of Sonoma County. Utilizing Sonoma County Tourism’s VisitWidget app, residents were instructed to visit a minimum of five businesses, attractions, or activities listed in the application between May 1-7. Residents asked participating businesses for a special code they entered into the app to verify their visit. Residents that completed the experience earned a special Sonoma County beanie, and one of the participants won a Sonoma County staycation package. SCT thanks the following partners for having participated in this initiative:

Ace It Bike Tours Bike Healdsburg Bodega Art Gallery boon hotel + spa Costeaux French Bakery Coursey Graves Cuver Belgian Brewers Equality Vines Tasting Room Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa Fleur Sauvage Chocolates Hampton Inn & Suites Rohnert Park Meadowcroft Wines

Mengler Family Wines Ralph Beyer Art Studio Rodney Strong Wine Estates Sea Ranch Abalone Bay Snoopy’s Home Ice Sugarloaf Ridge State Park The Astro The Wurst Two Dog Night Creamery Whistlestop Antiques Wine Country Life Vacation Homes

Lighting Pinot Purple For the third consecutive year, Sonoma County Tourism encouraged businesses to cast its properties in purple light, the official color of hospitality, the nights of May 1-7 in celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week. We sincerely thank the following for their participation in this wonderful display of industry unity:

Amista Vineyards Artisan's Co-op Gallery Auteur Wines Balletto Vineyards Bar B Que Smokehouse Bistro Bianchini’s Sandwich and Salad market Bike Healdsburg Inc. Cambria Sonoma Wine Country Casa Secoya Coursey Graves Don panchos Mexican Restaurant Doubletree Sonoma Wine Country El Coronel Mexican Restaurant El Pueblo Inn Equality Vines Tasting Room Fairfield Inn Rohnert Park Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa Fleur Sauvage Chocolates Foppiano Vineyards Frozen Art Ice Cream Gracianna Winery Green Music Center Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Hampton Inn Petaluma Isis Oasis Sanctuary Lala's Jam Bar and Urban Farmstand

Meadowcroft Wines Miracle Plum Mutt Lynch Winery Ocean Cove Lodge  Ocean Cove Lodge Bar & Grill Palooza Brewery & Gastropub Papa's Pizza Cafe Paul Matthew Vineyards Petaluma Woman's Club Red Car Sam's Mediterranean Deli & Catering Santa Rosa Plaza & Petaluma Village Outlets Sazon Peruvian Cuisine Sojourn Cellars Sunflower Caffe Surrey Resort Table Culture Provisions The Bodega Country Store The historic town of Bodega art gallery Thomas George Estates Tortilla Real Twomey Cellars Vine and Barrel Woodenhead

Redwood Empire Food Bank Volunteer Event Sonoma County Tourism wrapped up NTTW with a Tourism Cares volunteer event at the Redwood Empire Food Bank warehouse on Friday, May 6. Volunteers gathered for an early morning of weighing and bagging produce for distribution to those in need. To learn how you can help Redwood Empire Food Bank meet the needs of the thousands of vulnerable Sonoma Countians, click here.

Sonoma Ready at the Coast

The County of Sonoma Department of Emergency Management is holding a Sonoma Ready at the Coast safety event on Saturday, May 14, from 10am to 12pm at Bodega Bay Grange Hall, 1370 Bodega Ave, Bodega Bay, CA 94923. Join Supervisor Hopkins, the Sonoma County Fire District, the Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Emergency Management, and the Halter Project as they offer valuable information on emergency preparedness planning, evacuation zones and evacuating, helping neighbors, and caring for animals in times of disaster. A Spanish interpreter will be available for the presentations. Sonoma Coast State Park Rangers will also be on hand to offer safety tips. Additionally, there will be information tables for one-on-one details and questions. A limited quantity of giveaways will be available, including go-bags and NOAA radios. You can learn more about the event here. If you have any questions, you can contact Nancy Brown at nancy.a.brown@sonoma-county.org.