Deadlines and Opportunities
Cookin' Up Some Blog 
Sonoma County chefs: We want people to know how great you are, so we tell them that on inside-sonoma.com, in the "Cook" blog. We need more of you to tout what you do. Please provide us with your bio, a photo and a recipe. E-mail the information to Keri Hanson, khanson@sonomacounty.com.
Tell Me Your Secrets; I'll Tell the World
We've been in sort of a gossipy mood lately and realize we don't have much news to talk about. That's where you come in: Give us your latest "local secret" that we can blast out to Sonoma County fans on www.sonomacounty.com, inside-sonoma.com, Twitter (@insidesonoma), and on Facebook. So, what's your favorite brew pub, hiking trail, pizza place or relaxing spot? Submit your local secret at http://inside-sonoma.com/local-secret-submission.
What's New with You? Deadline: March 23
Have you remodeled, gotten a new chef (or chefs, a new restaurant), a hospitality award, or maybe even a new application for the iPhone? If so, let us know. A "What's New" press alert will go out the first week of April. What’s New is a quarterly update on new accommodations, venues, attractions, tours and events happening in Sonoma County. Submitted items must include a public relations contact and be relevant to visitors.
Submit your info at http://www.sonomacounty.com/partners/whats-new by 4:43 p.m. March 23.
Submit Your Events
Did you know you can list your event to sonomacounty.com's online calendar - for free? Tap into the amazing marketing opportunity by submitting your information at http://www.sonomacounty.com/ncal/index.php?com=submit.
Sonoma Blogger Looking for Easter, Mother's Day Deals
Sonoma on the Cheap (http://sonomaonthecheap.com) is looking for free or cheap Easter and Mother's Day events to mention in upcoming articles. Editor Lisa Mann would also like to hear of any free of cheap events, or special deals (20 percent or more off) that you may have. Contact her at lisa@sonomaonthecheap.com.
How-To Videos for SCTB
Ever wondered how to work with SCTB? Well, know's your chance to watch how the magic happens. SCTB now has a new video channel on Vimeo. There, you'll find short, how-to videos from SCTB staff. Check us out at http://vimeo.com/sctb.
LGBT Travel Planners Visit Sonoma County
 To demonstrate that Sonoma County is a wonderful place to visit year round, SCTB hosted a familiarization tour for the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association in February.
Twelve domestic and international travel planners were treated to three-and-a-half days and nights, to learn all about what makes the county a perfect place for their leisure and group business. With live blog and Facebook updates going out instantaneously throughout the tour to the more than 1,600 IGLTA members, in addition to personal networks, the places we visited throughout the tour benefited from coverage around the globe.
Thank you to businesses in Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Guerneville, Monte Rio and Kenwood for helping SCTB welcome and WOW our guests.
IGLTA is the leading global organization in the LGBT tourism industry. They have members that represent every area of the tourism industry and span more than 55 countries globally.
Hilton, SCTB Host Hospitality Heads
SCTB and the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hosted the CIC-CMP board of directors meeting last week.
This is a group of hospitality industry professionals is composed of more than 34 hospitality organizations, including International Association of Exhibition and Events, American Hotel and Lodging Association, American Society of Association Executives, Meeting Professionals International, National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners, Professional Convention Management Association, Society of Government Meeting Professionals and more.
This group oversees the certified meeting professional (CMP) program, Accepted Practices Exchange, and the Green Meetings Task Force.
Travel Promotion Act Lifts Off
It's a great day for America and the travel community with the United States solidly on the path to welcome millions of new visitors and in the process create thousands of American jobs.
While travel promotion isn't a panacea for our international inbound travel issues, this is the biggest commitment our government has made to support international travel to our country and the clearest indication to date that Congress is taking travel seriously. Read more about it at http://www.ustravel.org/news/press-releases/senate-passes-bipartisan-travel-promotion-act.
California Travel Posts Gains
We are finally seeing some year over year increases in the form of California airport traffic, overseas point-of-entry arrivals, and hotel occupancy rates.
Consumer confidence continues to rise as well, and was at a 12-month high in December.
Also, gas prices on the West coast have remained fairly steady over the last eight months. Still, California Welcome Center traffic was off by about 10 percent in January, though it was an improvement over the 15-20 percent declines between July and December.
Travelocity reports brighter horizons as a recent poll shows 49 percent of respondents plan to increase their travel in the year ahead. This finding is especially impressive when compared to the 21 percent of respondents who reported the same in a survey six months ago. Read more about it at http://tourism.visitcalifornia.com/media/uploads/files/editor/Research/2010_FebruaryBulletin_Final.pdf.
Starwood Recognizes a great Sonoma County Sales Team
Congratulations to the Sheraton Petaluma-Sonoma County's sales team. Anthony Chavarria, director of sales, and his team were nominated by Starwood at the Annual Sales Meeting as "Hotel Sales Team of the Year" for Starwood Franchise Hotels under 200 rooms.
The SCTB team is proud of you, and appreciates all your hard work and diligence in responding to clients quickly and offering the best service possible!
Please extend congratulations to Anthony at anthony.chavarria@sheratonpetaluma.com.
HGTV's The Outdoor Room Inspired by Sonoma County
The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie visited Sonoma County's own Vintners Inn and Matanzas Creek Vineyards for inspiration on an upcoming episode, where he transforms a back yard mess into a wine country oasis. See more at http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/outdoor-room-sonoman-style/pictures/index.html.
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