Meetings Are Back Live! | A Local Conversation with Linsey Gallagher, President & CEO, Visit Napa Valley

Below is our interview with Linsey Gallagher, President & CEO of Visit Napa Valley.

1.     What is your outlook for 2022 and beyond?

2022 is looking bright for Napa Valley and meeting travel. In the short-term, Napa Valley faces many of the same challenges that many other regions are facing, but we are moving forward stronger than before. Today, Napa Valley is 100% open-for-business welcoming leisure and business travelers. During this recovery, Napa Valley has already won back more than our fair share of visitors because, as an industry, we have leaned into our outdoor spaces and have one of the highest community vaccination rates in the state. Our hotels have prioritized health and wellness while continuing to deliver best-in-class hospitality. The valley is buzzing with epicurean enthusiasts enjoying our gorgeous vistas, al fresco experiences, world-renown wines, and restaurants. 

Recovery and COVID 19 aside, the outlook for Napa Valley is bright because the valley delivers on today’s new meaning of luxury - downtime is what is decadent, time with those who matter is our lives is a luxury. A visit to Napa Valley allows travelers, whether they are traveling for business or pleasure (or a mix of both!), to escape the everyday and reconnect with what’s important. With a few rare exceptions, an experience here in the Napa Valley is better when shared, and one can’t help but savor those exclusive moments during a stay here in the valley.

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?

From the beginning, Napa County and our hospitality industry has prioritized health and safety over all else. By fostering collaboration among County officials and local hospitality businesses, our hospitality industry has gone through the unimaginable and is now coming out stronger on the other side. In fact, Napa Valley is recovering much faster than the state and neighboring regions because of the wealth of opportunities for safe, outdoor experiences, perfectly paired with our world-class wines, culinary delights, and hospitality. 

The more clear-cut good news is that Omicron’s spread does not appear to have dampened consumer enthusiasm for travel in 2022. According to Destination Analysts’ Jan. 4 COVID-19 U.S. Travel Sentiment Index, enthusiasm for travel in the next six months remains high. Those in a ready-to-travel state of mind rose to 77.9% last week — among the highest level since the start of the pandemic. By looking forward with safety precautions firmly in place, Napa Valley continues to weather the ups-and-downs of this new normal. 

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?

Because Napa Valley is a rural four-season destination that lends itself naturally to socially distancing and al fresco experiences, combined with the fact that Napa County has one of the highest vaccination rates in California, we are in a more fortunate position than other more urban destinations. Our travel trade audience has overwhelmingly welcomed the measures we’ve taken to provide a safe, open-for-business, world-class destination to their customers. 

Another key trend we are seeing from planners is a desire for smaller group, more high-touch travel especially for executives who are gathering for the first time in two years. Napa Valley answers this need in spades with unique accommodations, fine dining, and compelling activities ideal for those executive retreats. We have great resources for meeting planners on our website to help you  “Crush that Meeting”. 

While Napa Valley has always had outdoor spaces, hotels, restaurants, bars, and wineries have all really leaned into beautifying and highlighting those al fresco locales on their properties. For example, where you might have once experienced having a drink on a small patio, visitors will now find comfortable lounges brightened with chandeliers, framed by drapery, and warmed by firepits and outdoor heaters for cooler months. The positive response from visitors and locals alike means these spaces are here to stay.

Another fresh-air trend you’ll see carrying over into our new normal is increased outdoor physical activities that get the body moving – a nice balance to our valley’s more famous indulgent delights. Check out the Napa Valley Vine Trail, which has completed 12.5 miles of biking and walking trails between Napa and Yountville with more to come in coming years. Ask hotels about their outdoor yoga offered by hotels throughout the valley; or experience the Napa River up close in a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard. Getting outside has been a priority for locals and visitors alike and today we have a number of businesses answering the call. 

Finally, tasting rooms and wineries have thoroughly adopted reservation systems and ‘by appointment’ models that allow wineries to staff appropriately and provide best-in-class service. We anticipate continuing through our recovery phase and beyond. For meeting planners, when you book a group experience at a winery, your clients will receive that famous Napa Valley hospitality without competition from drop-ins; a win-win for all.

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

Napa Valley is a four-season destination with a full calendar of must-attend events throughout the year.  In the coming year, our valley will play host to live music festivals, sporting events, food and wine tastings, an annual film festival, restaurant and hotel openings, and a host of ‘always on’ attractions and activities that make building a full and engaging group itinerary a breeze. I always like to direct members of the travel trade to our events page on our website (www.visitnapavalley.com/events) which houses a wealth of information about what’s happening, when, and where.