Appreciates vacation rentals
Editor: The recent controversy over “vacation rentals” in our area has reached a pitch far overshadowing the real issue: lack of professional management or oversight of a very few properties.
As a result, the irresponsible and clueless actions of a very small minority are having a negative impact upon the responsible, professional, majority – the business owners.
As a destination event planner, it’s my goal to give our clients the best info and referrals. We actively endorse, and direct business to, those management firms (Go Sonoma!, Beautiful Places, Glenelly Properties, and Stay Sonoma) that manage a variety of lovely and APPROPRIATE properties for visiting guests. Many of these properties are rented by locals needing extra space for family guests. Many are rented by repeat visitors to the valley who think of them as “their” homes here. Many users of vacation rentals eventually become residents – buying homes here – after contributing hefty sums to the TOT over the years they’ve visited!
As both a resident and event planner, I make it clear to our clients and their guests that we strongly advise against engaging any “owner-direct” Web sites or properties. This information is printed in all our collateral, and we reinforce it verbally in all our client communications.
“Owner-direct” rentals bypass the local pros, do not contribute to the TOT, and create virtually all the annoying and dangerous problems and complaints, i.e., irresponsible, negligent use by occupants, traffic on quiet residential roads, dangerous drivers, etc.
By creating a simple and enforceable set of qualifications and registration of bona fide “vacation rentals,” requiring management by a professional service, the problems will be eliminated – for neighbors and for those of us who have to deal with the problems generated by unscrupulous owners.
The importance of vacation rental property can’t be overlooked! They contribute significantly to the TOT; employ many, many workers; provide summer and holiday jobs to a lot of our local kids; support all the restaurants, grocery stores, local spas and salons, state parks, museums, etc.; and more – by bringing visitors right into the community. Many of these properties are occupied by one family for at least four days at a time. They provide sorely needed lodging during peak times, when our local hotels are maxed out.
And let’s be real – the vast majority of these properties do not represent “affordable housing” lost to the market. So please – just put that argument to rest!
Agri- and eco-tourism are what keep our beautiful, bucolic, friendly neighborhoods afloat – a model of social/economic/environmental sustainability.
These problems are very easily solved. Let’s not let them get out of proportion!
Neighbors, work with your concerned, business-owner neighbors to support our wonderful valley village ambiance. Remember, a lot of “vacation rental” visitors are now our neighbors and community supporters!
Julie Atwood
Sonoma
Two ways to master wine
Editor: I find that Celia Carey is just as universally uninformed as her luncheon-mate. Master Sommelier is only one of two excessively difficult and intellectual programs. The other is Master of Wine.
While Master Sommelier is the more common pursuit here in the United States (there are more Master Sommeliers in Las Vegas than the rest of the country put together), worldwide you find the focus to be much more on the Master of Wine as it is a much more extensive, esoteric program.
Both paths involve years of study – but while MS focuses almost exclusively on regions, service and blind tasting – the MW program does the regions and blind tasting along with the business of wine – growing grapes, making wine, selling wine, packaging wine, the business of wine and involves several extensive research projects and papers. MS and MW both take grueling tests spread over 3 days. MS’ just don’t have all the extra stuff to do and learn.
Like Master Sommelier, the Master of Wine program is also only offered once a year here in the United States. Although both programs are British in origin you will find many different opinions worldwide as to their own virtues, purposes and level of respect. I find it disheartening that Americans are generally so ill-informed and don’t expend the effort to learn more – especially in “wine country.”
Patty Beck DWS, AIWS
Las Vegas