This special partner communication is dedicated to providing information regarding the fluid situation surrounding the coronavirus and its continued impact on domestic and international travel. 
June 12, 2020
We are delighted that tasting rooms, wineries and craft beverage locations are allowed to welcome enthusiasts without a food element and that restaurants and retail are opening their doors. In Sonoma County life is definitely opening up! We recognize we have a long way to go to bring the county out of a deep economic chasm, but SCT is committed to working with our partner businesses, local residents and interested travelers to reenergize the economy and welcome people seeking the extraordinary experiences found in our beautiful region. I, for one, will be at a tasting room (or two!), this weekend enjoying Sonoma County’s amazing wines. We look forward to additional openings soon! 
Claudia Vecchio
President and CEO
Sonoma County Tourism
707-522-5804
Safe Travels Promise Seal & Collateral
Sonoma County Tourism is delighted to unveil the Keep Safe seal and support collateral for the Safe Travels Promise . The seal was designed by Bob Pullum in collaboration with a number of Sonoma County chambers, visitor centers, and other stakeholders.

As we prepare to welcome visitors back to Sonoma County, we understand the importance of communicating our health and safety protocols. It’s going to be up to all of us to respectfully but effectively make clear the expectations of safety and responsibility in our destination. 

You can help by adopting the Keep Safe seal and displaying it on your website, newsletters, flyers — anywhere you think might spread the message. We appreciate your support in getting this in front of as many eyes as possible.

We will soon have this collateral, including the seal and Safe Travels Promise, available to download for your unrestricted use.

The Safe Travels Promise and Keep Safe seal are available to order (free of cost) as posters, window clings, bookmarks, and postcards.

These materials can be ordered through the partner extranet here . If you do not have a partner account with us, please contact Katja West at [email protected]

Contact-less drop off or pick up of orders will be available on select dates next week. Details can be found on the partner extranet. 
Tasting Rooms reopening 

As many of you know, the current Shelter-in-Place Health Order has been modified to allow tasting rooms for wineries and breweries to operate without being required to serve food at the same time. Bars and pubs are not included. The change went into effect today, June 12, the same date the Governor eased this requirement. 

The State has issued guidance specific to tasting rooms which can be found  here . The modified order requires adherence to this guidance.

You can read the County of Sonoma’s press release regarding this announcement here . 
Destination Nominations

We’re pleased to share that Sonoma County has been included in the first ever Hemispheres Readers’ Choice Awards in the Best American Wine Region category. Just as your support pushed us over the edge to be named Frommer's Readers' Choice Best Place to Go in 2020 , we hope you’ll cast a vote for another Sonoma County win.

Voting goes until July 1 and is limited to one vote per person. To vote, simply click here and select Sonoma County from the Best America Wine Region category. Since awareness of the competition is key to winning, we hope you’ll share this nomination with your audiences and encourage them to vote as well. #HemispheresAwards

Additionally, Occidental and Healdsburg are up for awards by USA Today’s 10Best . Occidental is nominated for Best Small Town Cultural Scene , and Healdsburg is nominated for Best Small Town Food Scene .

Voting goes until June 29, and you’re allowed one vote per day. Click here to vote for Occidental and here for Healdsburg. 
Stars  of the Industry

Sonoma County’s hospitality and tourism industries have always stepped up in a crisis. In this section we share stories of those going above and beyond to lend support, act kindly and/or bring some joy to our lives. Please let us know of an individual or business creatively responding to this crisis. Send your stories to   [email protected] . 
Today we recognize the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County for making the best out of a bad situation. With the museum’s doors closed for the remainder of 2020, and its annual Circle of Innovation and Legacy Circle celebration canceled, the Children’s Museum partnered with the Wild Oak Saddle Club (and an anonymous Children’s Museum investor) to feed families affected by COVID-19.

Over the span of three weeks, the Saddle Club provided 370 meals for families in the Roseland School District. “We opted to use the generous sponsorship of the event to do something important for our community during this time,” said Collette Michaud, Founder and CEO of the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County.

In another response to the Children’s Museum being closed due to COVID-19, the team created Kit & Caboodle bags that included supplies for families to recreate programs at home. 10% of these were given to families in need at no cost. The response to the bags was overwhelming positive and CMOSC saw a need for more. The museum created an additional 400 Kit & Caboodle bags using generous funding from the Farley Family Charitable Foundation allotted for scholarships to the 2020 Summer Wonder Camps, which were also cancelled due to COVID-19.

We applaud the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County for its great work within the community, and encourage anyone interested in donating to its programs do to so here . 
Resources

Sonoma County Tourism has a Coronavirus Partner Toolkit regularly updated   here .

The Sonoma County Economic Development Board has compiled a comprehensive list of local, state, and government resources (including financing options) for businesses here . 
Health Organizations

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)  is carefully monitoring the coronavirus and offers information and  FAQs  via its   COVID-19 microsite.

The World Health Organization’s   Coronavirus web page   provides a wealth of insights about the disease, ways to protect oneself, travel advisories, etc.