The State of Hospitality in Santa Rosa BY CHRIS VOMVOLAKIS
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INCE THE LATE 1990’S SANTA ROSA has continued
to grow as a premier travel destination driven by the allure of award-winning wines, world-class craft beer, unmatched outdoor recreation and athletic competitions, and farm to table cuisine. The common thread that weaves its way through these experiences is Santa Rosa’s stellar reputation for hospitality. Hospitality—the cornerstone of the tourism industry in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County—can be defined as, “The friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers in which the host receives the guests with goodwill.” Hospitality in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County is part of a multibillion–dollar industry that is completely dependent on the availability of leisure time, disposable income, and
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SANTA ROSA METRO CHAMBER
SantaRosaMetroChamber.com
customer satisfaction. The hospitality “supersector” consist of four segments: travel and tourism; food and beverages; lodging and accommodations; and arts, entertainment, and recreation. While many business niches are composed of a handful of different organizations, the hospitality industry applies to nearly any business that provides customer service and is focused on meeting leisurely needs rather than basic ones. The Impact of COVID-19 on the Hospitality Industry As an industry reliant mainly on travel and tourism, the restrictions on travel and ongoing concerns individuals have from COVID-19 variants have placed profound strain on the hospitality sector, centered mainly on the impact on jobs and employment countywide.
