Hospitality and Tourism Careers
The hospitality and tourism industry is one of Sonoma County’s top economic drivers, meaning that when people travel here and spend their money, our local economy flourishes! Our home is known around the world for its delicious food, best-in-class wine, fun events, and beautiful scenery. But this doesn’t come by accident. There are tens of thousands of local careers that play critical roles in the success of this local industry.
- Restaurant Service
- Tour Guide
- Museum Worker
- Destination Marketing
- Event Coordinator
- Chef
- Hotel Worker
- Entrepreneur
- Winemaker
- Retail Customer Service
- Park Ranger
- And More!
VIRTUAL ACTIVITIES
EXPLORE THE INDUSTRY THROUGH VIRTUAL TOURS, PANELS, AND DEMONSTRATIONS.
SONOMA COUNTY’S UNIQUE TOURISM INDUSTRY
Sonoma County is known around the world as a vacation destination. But what makes this area so unique? Is it the beautiful parks and coastlines? The hundreds of wineries? The incredible food? It’s all this and more! Learn what drives our hospitality and tourism industry and what kinds of careers are critical to its success.
A CONVERSATION WITH CHEF JOHN ASH
Chef John Ash opened John Ash & Company in 1980 in Santa Rosa, CA. He is also a radio and television host, instructor, and award-winning author. Now, he will face his biggest challenge yet… answering questions from a high school culinary class!
GROWING A RESTAURANT IN SONOMA COUNTY
With Chef Dustin Valette
Interested in learning about what it takes to be a successful chef and entrepreneur? We interview Dustin Valette, chef and co-owner of Valette Restaurant in Healdsburg, as he tells his story, and answers questions from a high school Advanced Culinary class.
EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES IN WINE AND TOURISM
In wine country, there are thousands of career opportunities within the wine and hospitality industry. Even for someone as young as 15 or 16 years old, this industry offers jobs that help build skills and opportunities to work your way up. Alexandra and Monse of Korbel Winery take us on a virtual tour of Korbel’s unique property and provide insight into the career opportunities within this industry.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND SONOMA COUNTY’S WORLD-FAMOUS EVENTS
Ironman Triathlon, California Artisan Cheese Festival, and Wine Road are just a few of the events hosted around Sonoma County every year that bring tens of thousands of visitors to our region. We sit down with the event hosts to learn what it’s like to coordinate and market these events locally and to the rest of the world.
EAST MEETS WEST PASTA COOKING DEMONSTRATION
With Chef Mei Ibach & Chef John Ash
Chef John Ash joins Chef Mei Ibach for an East Meets West Pasta Cooking Demonstration. Learn simple, yet very different, pasta cooking techniques from Italy and China.
