Program Day: January 20, 2023

Class 35’s Tourism Day was a fantastic opportunity for members to experience Napa through the eyes of a tourist. The class was spoiled by all its hosts, who represented different sectors of the broader local tourism industry. We started our day at Visit Napa Valley’s downtown center, where Linsey and her staff introduced the class to VNV’s work in promoting Napa Valley and the many ways it supports the county and its economy. The class then walked to the River Terrace Inn (with a brief VIP tour of the downtown floodplain along the way), where we toured their rooms and were met by the ALBA restaurant staff with tasty Bloody Mary’s.

The class then was treated to a delicious and scenic lunch on the Wine Train, before disembarking and traveling by Platypus Wine Tour buses to visit V. Sattui Winery for a wonderful spread of charcuterie and wine, along with presentations by local Chamber of Commerce chapters within the county. Finally, Class 35 ended their day with a glass of champagne and tour of The George Hotel in downtown Napa. At each stop our hosts were extremely hospitable and each gave class members generous gifts as part of the visit, including a few lucky class members that received a free future experience through a raffle!

Tourism Day wasn't just packed with fun activities; it also increased class 35 members' understanding of various aspects of Napa's tourism industry that might otherwise go unnoticed. The day was both enjoyable and very informative, from learning about the business structure of VNV and their collaboration with state, regional, and local tourism offices to discovering some of the many tourism-focused businesses serving Napa's visitors and residents every day.

It was invaluable to have the opportunity to compare the Tourism Day experience to what the class learned during Agriculture Day, and better understand how these different industries work together to create the "Napa Valley Experience." Our class was grateful for the generosity and hospitality of our hosts, as well as for the opportunity to explore the places and experiences in Napa that draw visitors from around the world.
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Class 35 Tourism Day Gratitude members:

Kecia Lind - Deputy District Attorney, Napa County District Attorney's Office
Jenny Lockwood - Business Office Manager, Aegis of Napa
Pablo Zatarain - Executive Director, Napa Fair Housing

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About this post:
The purpose of the Attitude of Gratitude program is (1) to thank our extraordinary Day Coordinators who provide the information and experiences that make each of the program days exceptional, and (2) to reflect on what has changed for the class members as a result of their participation in Leadership Napa Valley. For each of the class program days, a gratitude team is assigned to make sure all the individuals responsible for coordinating, facilitating, and presenting the day are thanked.