Meetings Are Back Live! | A Local Conversation with Jonny Westom, VP, Business Development, Sonoma County Tourism

Below is our interview with Jonny Westom, VP, Business Development of Sonoma County Tourism.

1.     Are there any special events or promotions that are on the horizon for your area?

Sonoma County Tourism has retooled our approach to the meetings industry and will be rolling out a variety of new promotions to attract and reward meeting planners for booking business in Sonoma County. We are taking a client first approach to how we promote the destination, focusing on meeting the needs of our clients through on-on-one meetings, site tours, immersion tours, etc.

2.      With the recent surge of COVID due to Omicron, has this affected the projected meetings in your destination?  How has your destination been able to overcome these challenges?

Each new variant of COVID-19 has posed new challenges to our destination and all other destinations who rely on inbound travel. The recent surge of Omicron has had an impact on our destination, causing the county to place tighter restrictions on meetings and events. While these restrictions may have negative implications for our industry, Sonoma County Tourism is helping mitigate lost and displaced business to preserve the business that was expected. Our goal is to support each group by finding new dates and sourcing concessions that satisfy their needs and help them meet their goals. 

3.     What responses from your Conference Planners & Attendees are you seeing with safety protocols / COVID requirements (i.e. masks, vaccination proofs, negative COVID tests)? Has it been more positive/negative?

Uniquely, Sonoma County has tightened safety protocols in response to the Omicron variant. The area is enforcing a mask mandate and select businesses are requiring vaccination proofs and/or negative COVID tests. Like most other destinations, we are navigating these unforeseen issues with the resources and science that we have access to, to make good, sound decisions that keep the health and safety of our visitors and locals our top priority. Many groups appreciate the protocols and commitment to keeping their attendees safe, and others have opted to hold off from hosting their meetings. There are still a lot of unknowns, yet we are doing what we can to keep people informed and safe while visiting. 

As a naturally open and airy destination, we are optimistic about meetings, groups, and events for the remainder of 2022 and beyond. Sonoma County venues (hotels, wineries, off-site venues, etc.) have taken steps to keep attendees safe while delivering exceptional experiences. While we have had a bumpy road in the meetings and event space, the optimism with our clients and local stakeholders point to a bright future and we look forward to accommodating groups of all sizes as they return to wine country.

5.     Please feel free to share any other updates or information about your destination to our MPINCC Members.

a. In addition to our new sales team and direction, Sonoma County Tourism is focusing on destination stewardship, responsible travel, and social responsibility. Sonoma County is a beautiful and diverse destination, and we aim to protect these unique elements that make it a sought-after destination, while providing memorable experiences to our visitors. Visit our website, www.sonomacounty.com to learn more about the steps we are taking to preserve the environment and geographic areas within our beautiful county.