Perhaps no other resort in the North Bay blends style, comfort and business savvy so flawlessly as Vintners Inn. The property encompasses a four-diamond luxury hotel, a world-class conference center, one of Wine Country’s best restaurants and an impeccable setting amid the bucolic rolling hills of Sonoma County. Surrounded by 92 acres of gardens, parklands and vineyards, the inn has acquired a reputation as the choice for discerning North Bay business leaders to gather for corporate events, conferences, special anniversaries, trade shows, team-building events, retreats and receptions.
“It’s not only an honor to win the best conference venue for three years consecutively, but it’s also a validation of all we strive for,” says General Manager Percy Brandon. “It’s particularly satisfying to be voted for by our friends and clients in the local business community.”
Brandon’s motto is “celebrate everything,” an axiom that defines the philosophy at Vintners Inn. “There’s always an opportunity to celebrate in every sense of life,” he says. “For us, that means at the inn, the restaurant and at the business center. It carries over into everything we do.”
The majority of the inn’s revenue is generated by food and beverage services for social events. “We have weddings here almost every weekend of the year,” Brandon says. “Our volume doesn’t come from the business events, but we balance it out with the wedding business that we do.”
The 14,000-square-foot Event Center acts as a hub for businesses of all sizes. The meeting rooms are equipped with large conference tables; Wi-Fi access; individual lighting, sound and temperature controls; and the latest audio-visual and phone and video conferencing equipment. Several rooms feature French doors and paned windows overlooking the gardens, vineyards or courtyard.
So far this year, the inn has hosted the largest number of nonprofit fund-raiser events since the Event Center’s 2006 completion. “We’re delighted to have played our part in ensuring the success of these events and contributing to the local community that we’re a proud part of,” Brandon says.
Full catering services are available from John Ash & Co., from simple beverage services to breakfast, lunch, dinner, receptions and banquets. Additional services include photocopying, laser and color printing, PC and cell phone rentals, secretarial services, mail and courier services, and translation services (both written and via an interpreter).
Vintners Inn is also an eco-friendly property. The state Department of General Services recently awarded it the Leadership Level in the California Green Lodging Program, which emphasizes such environmental practices as the diversion of waste from landfills, conservation of energy and water, reuse/recycling and hazardous materials management. The inn is one of only about 100 hotels in California to have received this honor.
In the future, Brandon and his team plan to expand into the offsite catering business and take John Ash & Co. “on the road. There’s huge potential in providing our level of service at offsite events throughout the North Bay. We also have plans for additional rooms and adding a spa to our inn.”
