The Welcome Center will assist visitors and residents with planning activities to enhance their Napa Valley experience.
Napa, CA – Visit Napa Valley announces the re-opening of the Napa Valley Welcome Center on Thursday, November 12, in a brand-new location at 1300 1st Street, Suite 313, located at First Street Napa in the heart of downtown Napa. Serving the entire Napa County region, the new 2,550 square-foot space provides a more immersive experience and amenities that better serve both visitors and locals looking to explore the breadth of Napa Valley offerings.
“The new location within the First Street Napa complex is highly visible allowing the Napa Valley Welcome Center to assist more people,” said Linsey Gallagher, President & CEO of Visit Napa Valley. “We are excited about the new design which incorporates interactive and tech-forward amenities to better accommodate the needs of today’s visitor.”
Historically serving more than 100,000 people annually, the Napa Valley Welcome Center features a wall-sized digital screen installation measuring 16 feet by 9 feet and visible from 1st Street, that showcases a rotating reel of captivating footage from throughout the Napa Valley. A new event and learning center allows for unique experiences, such as future wine tastings that highlight the valley’s 16 American Viticulture Areas (AVAs) or events showcasing the diversity of our five towns within the valley.
“All of the services offered at the Napa Valley Welcome Center are complimentary, making it a fantastic resource whether you’re a first-time visitor or longtime resident,” said Gallagher. “Locals can discover new offerings, get advice on entertaining out of town visitors, take advantage of exclusive special offers or pick up unique Napa Valley gift items.”
Napa Valley’s history, unparalleled beauty and storied wine heritage influenced the interior design and décor of the new Welcome Center. A centrally located concierge desk offers personalized assistance with custom itineraries and insider tips to drive visitors to all areas of Napa Valley. The Mercantile, a retail space within the Welcome Center, features a larger footprint and a curated selection of Napa Valley artisan products. Visitors to the Welcome Center can also take advantage of complimentary WiFi and restrooms, and parking is available throughout the downtown corridor. The initial hours of operation are Thursdays 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., subject to change.
“Working with the First Street Napa development team was a natural partnership as both organizations are dedicated to creating a more enticing Napa Valley experience for visitors and locals alike,” Gallagher added. “We are so appreciative of Todd Zapolski, Andrew Mazotti and the team at First Street Napa for their collaboration and insight throughout the design and relocation process. It has been a true partnership to create this next generation of the Napa Valley Welcome Center.”
“We’re honored that the Napa Valley Welcome Center will open its doors at First Street Napa. Right in the heart of the city, this is the starting place to explore all the region has to offer,” said Todd Zapolski, principal and managing member, First Street Napa. “Visit Napa Valley is a hub of information, offering valuable guidance to tourists and business travelers, and we look forward to working with them to warmly welcome visitors to the Napa Valley.”
“While the move was budgeted for and planned prior to the pandemic, we know that the Napa Valley Welcome Center will be increasingly valuable as tourism continues to rebound from both the coronavirus and recent wildfires,” said Gallagher. “Now more than ever, visitors seek the latest guidance on what is open, where to go and what to expect. The combination of a more accessible location and enhanced offerings will make sourcing this information easy, effortless and fun resulting in maximum enjoyment of time spent in the valley.”
Visit Napa Valley also welcomes Whitney MacDonald to the newly created position of Senior Manager, Guest Experience and Partnership. In this role, MacDonald will supervise the center’s operations and the passionate local concierge staff who delight in sharing insider tips with visitors. She will also serve as the primary liaison for Visit Napa Valley’s tourism partners including hotels, wineries, restaurants, attractions and more.
“We are always striving to enhance the service we provide to both our visitors and our members,” said Gallagher. “This new staff role will be instrumental in bridging the gap between these two groups so that partners are more aware of what visitors seek, and visitors more knowledgeable about what our tourism partners offer for an iconic Napa Valley experience.”
MacDonald joins Visit Napa Valley from Stony Hill Vineyards where she served as Hospitality Manager overseeing immersive events and growing wine club membership. Her background includes a variety of education and fundraising positions in the wine and hospitality industries. MacDonald received her bachelor of arts degree from Pace University and is a resident of Angwin, California.
As Visit Napa Valley continues to prioritize the health and safety of visitors, employees and the community, the new Napa Valley Welcome Center will adhere to social distancing, capacity and safety guidelines including wearing masks, maintaining six-foot distances and regular cleaning of surfaces and high-touch points. Staff also reminds visitors of safety guidelines and expectations to encourage compliance with Visit Napa Valley’s responsible traveler code when exploring the valley.
About Visit Napa Valley
Visit Napa Valley is the official destination management organization for the Napa Valley, with a mission to promote, protect and enhance the region’s position as an attractive travel destination and enhance its public image as a dynamic place to visit, live and work. The Napa Valley, conveniently located just an hour from the San Francisco Bay Area, consists of the following distinctive towns, including, from north to south, Calistoga, St. Helena, Rutherford/Oakville, Yountville, the city of Napa, American Canyon, and the outdoor recreation area of Lake Berryessa. Napa Valley has more than 475 wineries, including 375 open for tasting appointments, 90 urban tasting rooms, 150 restaurants, and 130 hotels and small inns, all ready to welcome you. For additional information on the Napa Valley, or to plan your Napa Valley experience, please explore visitnapavalley.com, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @visitnapavalley #visitnapavalley.
About First Street Napa
First Street Napa is a 325,000-square-foot mixed-use development and artisan collective located in the heart of Downtown Napa. Spanning three city blocks, First Street Napa features space for 45 fashion and specialty retailers, innovative restaurants and wine bars, creative office locations, and Archer Hotel Napa, the tallest building in Napa Valley. First Street Napa’s distinctive retail, agrarian landscaping, approachable dining, and wine country charm make this destination unmistakably Napa. The local community and visitors alike are invited to experience this welcoming reimagination of the historic downtown corridor. For more information, please visit www.firststreetnapa.com and follow along @FirstStreetNapa on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
