Sonoma Chamber launches new hospitality jobs website 

The tourists are coming… but where are the workers? To help staff up for the predicted heavy summer season, the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce has launched a website to help match job seekers with open positions in the hospitality industry.

The site is www.WorkInWineCountry.com.

“With the big wave of tourist season just around the corner, we really want to help expedite the workforce recovery so that our friends in the hospitality business make the most of the opportunity,” said Mark Bodenhamer, CEO of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of  Commerce.

“It has been an intensely challenging year and we hope that this website gives local businesses new resources to bounce back from 2020.” 

The site provides information on job opportunities in broad categories that cover a large percentage of roles at local food, wine, hotel, brewing & distilling, catering, and visitor-attraction businesses. 

The hospitality industry was hit extremely hard by COVID shutdowns, Bodenhamer said. And as businesses have reopened, finding staff has become a challenge. “Now, they can finally reopen but the lack of workers is hindering their ability to recover,” Mark Bodenhamer said. “We are hopeful that this website will help to showcase the fun, good-paying jobs that are available right now.” 

The website will be marketed throughout the North Bay region so that people who may not be familiar with  Sonoma Valley businesses are aware of opportunities. The marketing budget has been generously supported by grants and contributions from the County of Sonoma, City of Sonoma, Sonoma Valley Rotary Club and Sonoma  Valley Catalyst Fund.

The site is free for Sonoma Valley hospitality businesses to participate in, however, businesses that are not members of the Chamber are asked to contribute $100 towards the marketing fund.  

“We can’t thank the County, City, Rotary Club and Catalyst Fund enough,” said John Bast, Board Chairman for the  Sonoma Chamber. “Their contributions will dramatically increase the number of people this site is able to reach.  Their partnership and support mean a lot to the local businesses that the Chamber and this site aim to serve.” 

Use of the platform is available to any hospitality industry business located in Sonoma Valley. Businesses that are interested in participating can call the Chamber  (707.996.1033) or email [email protected] to get the sign-up link.