TOURISM INDUSTRY NEWS & RESOURCES |
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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. |
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When Sonoma County Tourism evolved its moniker from a destination marketing organization to a destination stewardship organization it became the first organization of its kind in the country to do so. Destination stewardship doesn’t take us out of developing and executing a robust results-driven sales and marketing program, but it does mean we take a broader approach to helping Sonoma County manage its tourism impacts, both positive and negative. Given this, it’s important that we take a thoughtful approach to the timing around how we promote travel. This summer it is imperative that we strongly encourage responsible travel. Our partnership with the Regional Parks and Leave No Trace is an important one in helping to message responsible, sustainable travel. This is just the beginning of a broader program with Leave No Trace that will include listening sessions with and trainings for our industry. We’re excited about what this partnership can become for Sonoma County.
Thank you for all you’re doing to support responsible travel!
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Claudia Vecchio
President and CEO
Sonoma County Tourism
707-522-5804
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Leave No Trace Seven Principles
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To help elevate its efforts toward protecting neighborhoods and natural resources, SCT recently formed a partnership with Sonoma County Regional Parks and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to help mitigate environmental impacts in area parks, preserves, and other outdoor recreation locations.
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is known across the country for its Seven Principles of Leave No Trace — an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices for visiting the outdoors. Part of SCT and Regional Park’s partnership with Leave No Trace involved the development of a Sonoma County-tailored version of the Seven Principles. The Sonoma County Leave No Trace Seven Principles are now live, and can be viewed on sonomacounty.com here, and on the Sonoma County Regional Park’s website here.
The development of these guidelines represents just the first step of SCT and Regional Parks’ extensive partnership with LNT. Future steps include the creation of a framework for this initiative’s overall programming that will serve to guide our stewardship efforts for years. We look forward to sharing more information regarding this project in the coming months.
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Post-Blueprint Signage for Businesses
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With capacity and distancing restrictions withdrawn for most businesses, along with mandatory mask use for vaccinated individuals, Sonoma County Tourism has developed new signs businesses can print out to communicate its specific policies to patrons. There are signs for businesses maintaining mask requirements for all customers regardless of vaccination status, and signs communicating masks are optional for vaccinated individuals.
Additionally, with many businesses understaffed, and others working out the kinks of fully reopening, SCT created signs thanking customers for their patronage and patience.
You can access the new signs here.
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United Way of the Wine Country, the City of Santa Rosa, and the Economic Development Board invite all business owners in Sonoma County of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to participate in the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative (SLEI) survey. The SLEI survey collects data from business owners of all backgrounds in order to draw comparisons and highlight unique experiences and impacts of BIPOC-owned businesses. The intention of the survey is to help inform decision makers and continue to move equity forward in Sonoma County. All survey responses will be anonymized and remain completely confidential.
The 12-15 minute survey is open through July 9, and can be accessed here.
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Harmful Algal Blooms in Sonoma County Rivers
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The State Water Board and Sonoma County Department of Environmental Health Services advise caution for anyone who boats, fishes, or swims after harmful algal blooms (HABs) were discovered in the Russian River, Salmon Creek, and Gualala River. Because children and dogs are most susceptible to serious health impacts, it is recommended they avoid touching algal material found in water or along riverbanks.
To learn more about harmful algal blooms, and recommendations for healthy water habits along the rivers, visit the County of Sonoma website here.
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The U.S. Travel Association encourages travel and hospitality businesses nationwide to join "Travel’s Week of Action," to inspire Americans to get vaccinated. Now through Friday, June 25, join U.S. Travel in activating around this new social guide to spread the word, encourage and incentivize vaccinations, and promote healthy and safe travel.
Together, we can showcase the critical role our industry plays in our local communities and across the country! #TravelConfidently #LifeOpensUp
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As the travel industry adapts to the future, the need to come together is more prevalent than ever -- enter The SIGMUND Project. SIGMUND is a free, open-source hub for the sharing of ideas and innovation with the goal of fostering interconnectivity and finding new solutions to the challenges facing the travel industry today.
The SIGMUND Project is an online platform open to anyone who has a great idea to advance the tourism industry; from small entrepreneurs to large multinational companies, from accommodation providers to the transportation sector, from universities to startups. Essentially, its purpose is to connect innovators with collaborators who can offer advice, tools, partnerships, and paths ahead.
You can learn more about how SIGMUND works here.
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