Jonny Westom joins Sonoma County Tourism as Vice President, Business Development
SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Jonny Westom has joined Sonoma County Tourism (SCT) as Vice President, Business Development. Westom will oversee a dynamic business development team dedicated to advancing opportunities in the meetings, leisure, and event business sectors.
“The group business industry has, and continues to be, impacted by the pandemic,” states Claudia Vecchio, president and CEO, Sonoma County Tourism. “As Sonoma County continues its road to recovery, Jonny’s background provides leadership qualities and industry knowledge that will help bolster the community’s move toward recovery.”
Westom will manage a team of six sales and marketing professionals who will position Sonoma County as a business, incentive, meetings, and leisure (domestic and international) destination. SCT will reenergize its travel trade outreach efforts in early 2022, adding additional staff for the program of work.
Prior to his arrival at Sonoma County Tourism, Westom served as President of Visit Dana Point where he oversaw a rebranding of the organization, implemented a group and meetings strategy that had a $6 million impact, and expanded the tourism improvement district to equally promote all hotels in the destination. Westom also served as Executive Director of Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau. In his three years at Sonoma Valley, Westom spearheaded a brand refresh of the destination and cultivated alliances with regional and national corporate meeting planners to accelerate lead generation. Additionally, his background in destination marketing includes a decade with the Visit Greater Palm Springs, and an MBA from the University of Redlands.
“I’m incredibly excited to return to Sonoma County” said Westom. “The region boasts unique experiences, world class wine and food, breathtaking landscapes, and luxury accommodations making it an unmatched competitor in the group, leisure and event space. I look forward to working with the Sonoma County Tourism team to drive growth to our destination.”
For a complete directory of Sonoma County Tourism staff, visit www.sonomacounty.com/meet-sonoma-county-tourism-staff.
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Sonoma County Tourism is the region’s official Destination Stewardship Organization. Through a multi-channel sales and marketing program, the organization promotes Sonoma County as a global visitor and meetings destination, where diversity thrives, and everyone is welcome. Leveraging the region’s unmatched assets, wine, culinary, wellness and sustainability continue to define its character. Pre-pandemic, tourism generated $2.3 Billion in visitor spending, $194 Million in tax revenue and employed more than 23,000 Sonoma Countians. Post-pandemic, SCT will work with partner businesses to rebuild the tourism economy, regain critical revenue and reestablish a vibrant workforce. For more information, visit www.sonomacounty.com