BEST VISITORS BUREAU
By Alex Russell S ONOMA COUNTY TOURISM
S onoma County welcomes approximately 10 million visitors per year, according to Claudia Vecchio, president/CEO of Sonoma County Tourism. Of these, about 6 million are day visitors and 4 million are overnight visitors. In Sonoma County, tourism is a strong economic driver. “Sonoma County Tourism offers a full suite of consumer marketing, public relations, destination sales and travel trade marketing services,” says Vecchio. “The goal of all these programs is to drive overnight visitation and raise brand awareness about Sonoma County and its diverse offerings for travelers.” While SCT tracks the number of visitors, the more important metric is the revenue generated by visitors to local businesses. Numbers for 2024 are not yet available, but overall visitor spending in 2023 was $2.3 billion and, in 2022, it was $2.2 billion. Luckily, says Vecchio, “Sonoma County is an extraordinary destination. Our greatest advantage—and greatest challenge—is the diversity of the offerings available to visitors. We lead with wine, but we also convey the stunning natural beauty, the unmatched culinary offerings, our wonderful agricultural offerings including cheese, lavender and the bountiful meats and produce that come from our area. We truly have an embarrassment of riches for us to promote.” Sonoma County Tourism celebrated its 20th anniversary in November 2024. Looking forward, says Vecchio, “In 2023, [we] developed a 10-year Destination Stewardship and Resiliency Master Plan. The imperatives identified in that
Ten million visitors per year, thanks to Sonoma County Tourism.
plan are those that we’ll continue to work on over the next several years.” The entire strategic plan is available at sonomacounty.com/partners. To NorthBay biz readers, Vecchio says, “It’s truly an all-team effort that makes this place so productive and worthy of this wonderful recognition. Thank you.” v sonomacounty.com
BEST WINE COUNTRY RESORT
L ocated in northern Santa Rosa, Vintners Resort is just a stone’s throw away from dozens of renowned wineries and restaurants, making it an ideal starting point for exploring all that the region has to offer. For more than 40 years, the 92-acre estate has offered a peaceful oasis amid the hustle and bustle of the North Bay, with 78 rooms, meeting and event spaces, a spa, bocce courts and more. Its esteemed restaurant, John Ash & Co., offers an elevated farm-to-table dining experience paired with the finest wines from regional winemakers. With all the resort has to offer, it’s not surprising that readers have named it Best Wine Country Resort. “This recognition reinforces our commitment to immersing our guests in a world of casual luxury distinguished by unrivaled hospitality, where guests can enjoy refined elegance, beautiful surroundings and, of course, outstanding wines,” says Kathy Reese, director of sales and marketing. While the resort has much to offer, it continues to expand its amenities. Its stunning new pool area features cabanas and day beds, hot tubs, fire pits and a full-service bar. This summer, guests can look forward to the completion of a $15 million renovation which includes newly appointed guest rooms and suites, a large resort lobby with a By Summer Young V INTNERS RESORT
Vintners Resort recently completed its state-of-the-art new pool area.
wine and coffee bar, and a refreshed meeting and event space. Reese adds that the resort will be uniquely positioned to host an array of gatherings and events. With this exciting expansion, Vintners Resort will continue to provide an unparalleled hospitality experience for years to come. v
vintnersresort.com
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Best of the North Bay 2025
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