North Bay Business Journal

Report shows Napa tourism investment paying off

NAPA – Tourism in the Napa Valley has seen a significant uptick recently, the result of an aggressive push to bring visitors to the region during the off season with a series of new events and an increased marketing capacity that now includes being named the official wine region of the upcoming America’s Cup in San Francisco.

Napa to host major wine-tourism conference

NAPA — The Napa Valley will play host to the first North American Wine Tourism Conference, which aims to highlight trends and issues that impact stakeholders within two sectors that are often intimately intertwined.

Business news: Week of Oct. 10, 2011

News submitted by North Bay businesses for publication in the Business Journal

Q&A: Clay Gregory, Napa Valley Destination Council: Napa tourism poised to enter new, vibrant era

NAPA — Clay Gregory, president and chief executive officer of the Napa Valley Destination Council, said tourism and hospitality this year has been steadily increasing, a trend he expects to continue, but not without its challenges.

Q&A: Michael Palmer, Meritage Hotel: $40 million hotel project reflects confidence in Napa

NAPA — Just as the Napa Valley hospitality industry is seeing a positive uptick in occupancy and revenue, The Meritage Resort and Spa in southern Napa is currently undergoing perhaps the biggest expansion and upgrade in the hospitality sector in the region.

Napa Valley Destination Council ramping up marketing

NAPA — The budget has been almost doubled from $2.4 million in 2011 to $4.7 million for 2012 to fuel the creative and aggressive marketing program of the Napa Valley Destination Council, according to President Clay Gregory.

$40 million Meritage expansion under way

NAPA — A $40 million expansion is fully under way at the Meritage Resort and Spa in south Napa.

Napa to host major wine conference

NAPA — The Napa Valley Destination Council will host the first North American Wine Tourism Conference, an event aimed at highlighting trends and issues affecting stakeholders within the wine tourism industry in established and emerging wine destinations.

People: Week of May 9, 2011

People items submitted by North Bay businesses for publication in the Business Journal

Napa sets four-day food and wine festival

NAPA — Tourism, hospitality and restaurant industry representatives gathered Thursday at the Silverado Resort to officially kick off Flavor Napa Valley, a four-day festival that will celebrate the region’s affinity for food and wine while luring visitors during the off season.

Hospitality and Tourism: New Napa tourism center hopes to up traffic

The Napa Valley Destination Council expects to open its new visitor’s center in the Riverfront in late March, leaving its previous location on First Street in Downtown Napa

Art on First aims at luring tourists to downtown Napa

NAPA – Art on First, a project meant to draw visitors with displays of local art work, kicked off last week and will run through the rest of the year.

Napa visitor iPhone app wins industry award

The Napa Valley Destination Council’s iPhone application, Visit Napa Valley, received platinum honors from the Adrian Awards, a prestigious designation in the marketing and public relations industry. … After working together for more than a decade to keep Rohlffs Manor, a senior living facility in Napa affordable, EAH Housing and Lutheran Care for the Aging is celebrating the future of this community. … On Feb. 18th, Queen of the Valley Medical Center will host the world’s only portable, inflatable, walk-through heart exhibit on the hospital’s front lawn. … The developer of Napa Valley’s residences at the Calistoga Ranch, an Auberge Resorts location and home to the signature Vintner Program, announced more sales were closed in 2010 than in the past two years combined.

2011 Trends: Economist: ‘A lot of little green shoots springing up’

NORTH BAY – While some dark clouds remain on the economic horizon, North Bay economists and business climate watchers are increasingly bullish about the 2011 regional forecast.

Destination Council moves to Riverfront

NAPA – The Napa Valley Destination Council announced the relocation of its Visitor Information Center from 1310 Napa Town Center to 600 Main St. in the new Riverfront complex with a projected opening date of Feb. 1, 2011.

Destination council prepares for new era

NAPA — The Napa Valley Destination Council will aggressively target more visitors to get them to the region at more crucial times – during the off-peak season and hopefully for longer stays in Napa Valley.

Impact Napa registration closes this week

NAPA — Registration closes Friday for the Business Journal’s annual Impact Napa Conference on Aug. 18 featuring a regional overview by highly sought-after economist Chris Thornberg as well as presentations from local experts on issues important to Napa businesses, including wine, tourism and the vitality of downtown Napa.

The event will be held Wednesday, Aug. 18 at the Meritage Resort in Napa. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., and the program runs from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $45 per person or $450 for a table of 10 (with company name on sign). To register, contact Linda Perkins at 707-521-5264 or events@busjrnl.com by Aug. 13, or go to www.NorthBayBusinessJournal.com.

Impact Napa conference to feature economist Thornberg

NAPA — The Business Journal will host its annual Impact Napa Conference on Aug. 18 featuring a regional overview by highly sought-after economist Chris Thornberg as well as presentations from local experts on issues important to Napa businesses, including wine, tourism and the vitality of downtown Napa.

The event will be held Wednesday, Aug. 18 at the Meritage Resort in Napa. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., and the program runs from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $45 per person or $450 for a table of 10 (with company name on sign). To register, contact Linda Perkins at 707-521-5264 or events@busjrnl.com by Aug. 13, or go to www.NorthBayBusinessJournal.com.

Napa supervisors give final OK to 2% hotel tax to raise $4 million

NAPA — A county-wide tourism program that will promote all of Napa Valley by way of a 2 percent assessment on visitors’ hotel rooms was given final approval by the Napa County Board of Supervisors earlier last week.

Napa tops website’s list of best food, wine destinations,

NAPA — Napa Valley beat out nine other locations to earn the top spot in the world as the best food and wine destination, according to the recently announced TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards.