North Bay Business Journal

Airport traffic up nearly 3 percent in April

SANTA ROSA — Airline passenger volume at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport in April increased nearly 3 percent from a year before and slightly from the previous month, according to figures released this morning.

Assembly approves Casino in Rohnert Park

ROHNERT PARK — The California State Assembly today approved a pact between the state and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria that will allow for a Las Vegas-style casino on the outskirts of Rohnert Park, a move that all but assures construction will begin on the controversial project.

Share your thoughts on the proposed Rohnert Park casino

ROHNERT PARK — A Las Vegas-style Indian casino has been proposed — and is nearing approval — for the outskirts of Rohnert Park, prompting a high-pitched debate on whether the city and the county are properly suited for the project.

North Bay hotel occupancy, revenues continue to rise

Hotels across Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties showed solid improvement in key measures, including occupancy rates, revenue per available room and average daily room rate, according to new figures from industry research firms.

Report: Employers more confident about hiring

NORTH BAY — Employers in Sonoma County are more confident about the prospect of hiring in the second quarter compared to last year, with 13 percent saying they expected to increase staffing levels, according to a quarterly survey by ManpowerGroup, an international staffing firm with a Santa Rosa location. And overall in the North Bay, employers are generally more confident about the economy than they have been, suggesting that a slow but steady economic recovery is wending its way through region, employment experts said.

Sonoma County airline passenger traffic up 7 percent in March

SANTA ROSA — The number of passengers flying in and out of Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport climbed 7.7 percent in March this year from February but dropped slightly compared with a year before, according airport figures released today.

Simi Winery chef to compete in Food Network show

HEALDSBURG — Simi Winery executive chef Eric Lee is set to compete against 14 other captains of cuisine in season eight of the show Food Network Star, the network announced today.

Napa County CEO proposes consolidation of departments to create ‘one-stop shop’ for permits

NAPA — In an effort to streamline its permitting process while reducing costs, Napa County is proposing to consolidate divisions currently within the Department of Environmental Management into the Department of Conservation, Development and Planning, while all general service functions would be operated out of the Public Works Department, creating a “one-stop shop” for permits.

New project profile: The Meritage Hotel and Spa addition, Napa

NAPA — A 165-room luxury hotel would be a large project for Napa Valley by itself, but that’s just the addition coming this spring to The Meritage Hotel and Spa. And it’s opening on schedule in May, no small feat for such a large project delayed after the October 2010 groundbreaking by the wettest winter in years.

North Bay hotels see increase in occupancy

NORTH BAY — Occupancy rates and revenue per available room at hotels across Marin and Sonoma counties increased significantly in January and over the year, while both measures decreased in Napa County, according to industry figures released today.

Average daily room rates across the three counties remained relatively flat, according to PKF Consulting.

Napa Valley Destination Council said its data showed increases in all these measures.

Horizon tops regional airlines in profit margin

SANTA ROSA — Horizon Air, the Alaska Airlines subsidiary operating all commercial flights in Santa Rosa, had the highest operating profit margin among all regional airlines, according to new federal data. Average fares from the airport increased 7.2 percent.

Avia hotel to become Andaz Napa

NAPA — Hyatt Hotels Corp. (NYSE: H) said that beginning this summer it would be “re-flagging” the Avia hotel as Andaz Napa.

Fairmont acquires Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

SONOMA — Toronto-based Fairmont Hotels & Resorts today announced that it has completed a transaction to acquire The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa from Crescent Real Estate Equities Limited Partnership.

Airline traffic increases 5.4 percent in February to new record

SANTA ROSA — Airline travel in and out of Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport continued to climb upward in February, reaching an all-time high of 14,996 passengers, an increase of 5.4 percent from a year before, according to figures released this morning.

Mike Shapiro: Pacifics ready to play ball

SAN RAFAEL — Mike Shapiro is a veteran of over 25 years in the sports and entertainment industries, having served a variety of positions in sports team management, television production and administration, new media production and rights acquisitions, marketing, athlete representation, consulting and golf course management. Mr. Shapiro has worked in a wide range of professional sports including baseball, golf, basketball and hockey. He has also served as a senior executive, legal counsel, managing principal of his own consulting firm and media producer.

Mark Essman: America’s Cup part of busy agenda

SAN RAFAEL — The Marin Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCVB) was formed in its current organizational structure in 2004. The MCVB is a self-assessed Business Improvement District funded by the Marin County lodging properties. The San Rafael-based MCVB works to promote and market Marin County to potential visitors, with a focus on overnight stays.

Karl Hoagland: Partner with SF, develop Marin event

LARKSPUR — Karl Hoagland founded Larkspur Hospitality Development and Management Company in 1996. With its financial partner, the new company developed 16 extended-stay properties (Larkspur Landing hotels) in suburban California, Oregon and Washington. He previously worked for Montgomery Securities in San Francisco, specializing in the gaming and lodging industry, working for clients such as Doubletree, Red Lion, La Quinta, and Marriott, among others.

Santa Rosa readies for $6.6 million Amgen Tour

Sonoma County hoteliers and other tourism-related businesses, particularly those in Santa Rosa, are gearing up for what has become one of the region’s main tourist attractions: The 2012 Amgen Tour of California, a major cycling race that for the first time will begin and end its first of eight stages in the city. … Santa Rosa has been patiently awaiting the arrival of a San Francisco sandwich maker, Ike’s Place, for about six months. It will only have to wait another few weeks, as the sandwich maker hopes to be fully operational by mid March, according to Chase Ottney, general manager of the flagship San Francisco location.

With vision, the arts can be an even larger part of tourism

It is no secret that tourism is a major revenue generator state and countywide. Locally speaking, the general assumption tends to be that the tourists who visit — and the dollars they spend — come for one thing: the fruit of our vines. Certainly there are other appealing aspects of Sonoma County as a destination, but in terms of our identity as a region, this is Wine Country first and foremost. This is no accident. Our brand is the product of a great deal of vision, effort, and investment on the part of the wine industry, in conjunction with the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau (SCTB).

Q&A: SSU economist Dr. Robert Eyler

NORTH BAY — Dr. Robert Eyler is director and founder of the executive MBA program and the Center for Regional Economic Analysis at Sonoma State University, where he has taught economics and has served as the economics department chair. A Frank Howard Allen research fellow in economics, Dr. Eyler is frequently asked to offer his analysis to business groups in the North Bay. He helped found the Marin Economic Forum and currently serves as its interim CEO and chief economist.