Orlando Harmon
In October 2017, the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, California burned to the ground in the Tubbs Fire. The wildfire, which started on October 8, destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings in the Fountaingrove area, including the historic Fountaingrove Inn, a Hilton resort. 130 employees lost their jobs as a result of the fire, and some also lost their homes. While there were no casualties reported at the Hilton, many guests and employees only barely escaped with their lives. It is unclear whether Santa Rosa Hilton increased their insurance before the fire, but one source mentions that insurance would likely pay for most of the costs to rebuild.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Santa Rosa, California |
| Hotel Name | Hilton Sonoma Wine Country |
| Fire Name | Tubbs Fire |
| Date | October 2017 |
| Impact | Hotel burned down, 130 employees lost their jobs, some also lost their homes |
| Insurance | Unclear if insurance was increased before the fire, but insurance would likely pay for most of the cost to rebuild |
| Criticism | Lack of alarms, emergency power, communication, and proper evacuation procedures |
| Owner | Atrium Hospitality |
| Owner Decision | Owner decided not to rebuild the hotel |
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What You'll Learn
Hilton Sonoma Wine Country burned down in the Tubbs Fire
The Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, California, burned down in the Tubbs Fire in October 2017. The Tubbs Fire was a wildfire that broke out in Northern California during the same month, burning parts of Napa, Sonoma, and Lake counties. It was one of more than a dozen large fires that simultaneously burned in eight Northern California counties, in what was called the "Northern California firestorm."
The Tubbs Fire started near Tubbs Lane in the rural northern part of Calistoga, in Napa County. By the time it was contained on October 31, it had burned 36,810 acres, with an earlier estimate on October 7 placing the figure at 34,270 acres. The fire destroyed more than 5,643 structures, half of which were homes in Santa Rosa. An estimated 1,300 structures in the Coffey Park neighborhood were also leveled, and at least 22 people were believed to have been killed in Sonoma County.
The Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel was among the structures destroyed by the fire, burning to the ground and leaving a hundred and thirty employees without jobs. Some of these employees also lost their homes in the wildfires. The hotel's Human Resources Director, Lenora Olson, took to Facebook to seek help for the displaced workers, and her efforts resulted in more than 8,000 views and 1,000 emails offering support and job opportunities.
The cause of the fire was reported to be faulty electrical wiring in a backyard hot tub, which overheated and sparked a dry patch of ground. The fire was propelled by winds of up to 60 miles per hour, making the combination of wind and fire unstoppable.
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130 employees lost their jobs
In October 2017, the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, California, was affected by a rapidly spreading wildfire that started on the evening of October 8. Guests and staff had to be evacuated with little to no notice. The fire resulted in the hotel's closure, and unfortunately, 130 employees lost their jobs.
A Facebook post from a Hilton employee mentioned a meeting where the hotel owner, as the property was franchised, decided not to rebuild. This decision left 130 employees without jobs, as they would only be paid through the end of the month following the fire. The owner's decision was reportedly based on the time and resources required for rebuilding. It was speculated that insurance would cover most of the reconstruction costs, but the owner may have wanted to sell the property for a higher value as housing or an office complex.
The Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel faced challenges in terms of occupancy rates and business concerns. Santa Rosa is primarily a leisure travel destination, and building a large property might have been the only way to make a full-service hotel a worthwhile investment. The hotel aggressively pursued events to boost business, but it is unclear if this resulted in higher occupancy rates.
The fire evacuation at the hotel was chaotic, with guests reporting a lack of alarms, lighting, and emergency power or communication. Despite these challenges, staff played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of guests. One guest recounted how an employee banged on doors around 2:35 am, allowing those who answered to escape with whatever they were wearing. This personal risk-taking by staff likely contributed to the fact that there were no reported casualties at the hotel during the fire.
The impact of the fire extended beyond the hotel, devastating lives, families, communities, and neighbourhoods in Santa Rosa and other parts of California. Many individuals lost their homes and belongings, and the region's businesses and infrastructure suffered significant damage.
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Human Resources Director Lenora Olson helped employees find new jobs
In 2017, wildfires raged through Santa Rosa, California, burning the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel to the ground. As a result, 130 employees lost their jobs, including the hotel's Human Resources Director, Lenora Olson. Despite this, Olson immediately went back to work, helping her displaced colleagues find new jobs.
Olson organised a meeting at a competing hotel, inviting their HR director to help find employment for her colleagues. She also posted all the skilled jobs her colleagues once held on her Facebook page, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts. These included roles such as room attendants, cooks, and front desk attendants.
Olson's efforts were met with a positive response, as 1,000 people, including many recruiters, reached out with possible job opportunities. She also assisted her former colleagues with their resumes, acknowledging that many had not had to search for jobs in a long time.
The local tourism bureau recognised Olson's initiative and invited her to a meeting to discuss the 9,000 people in Sonoma County who were out of jobs. Olson offered to share her employment leads by creating a dedicated page for job postings.
Through her dedication and resourcefulness, Lenora Olson exemplified the power of resilience and community support in the face of adversity. Her actions not only helped her displaced colleagues but also contributed to the broader recovery of Sonoma County in the aftermath of the wildfires.
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The hotel's owner decided not to rebuild
The Santa Rosa Hilton Hotel was burned to the ground in a wildfire that swept through Sonoma County in October 2017. The fire, which began on the evening of October 8, spread rapidly from 200 acres to 20,000 in a short period due to strong winds and other unfavourable conditions. The hotel's guests had to be evacuated with little to no notice, and multiple survivor reports on the hotel's Facebook page mentioned the absence of alarms, lighting, and emergency power or communication during the evacuation.
In the aftermath of the fire, the owner of the hotel, which was a franchise, decided not to rebuild. This decision was communicated to hotel employees at a meeting. While insurance would likely cover a significant portion of the rebuilding costs, it is speculated that the owner chose not to rebuild due to the time it would take and a desire to allocate resources elsewhere. There are also suggestions that the owner may have been looking to sell the property for alternative uses, such as housing or an office complex, as the area is not densely populated and there could be concerns about building a large property.
The decision not to rebuild had significant implications for the hotel's employees. According to a Facebook post by someone claiming to be the head of HR at the hotel, the 130 employees would be paid only through the end of the month, after which they would need to find new jobs. This development caused uncertainty and concern among the staff, who were now facing unemployment.
The Hilton Sonoma Wine Country, as the hotel was known, had been a prominent fixture in the region, and its loss had an impact on the local community and tourism in Santa Rosa. Despite the owner's decision not to rebuild, there were initial plans to redevelop the hotel on the same site. A spokesman for the hotel stated that they expected to redevelop the site, but it would take time due to the extent of the destruction. However, there is a lack of recent information confirming whether these redevelopment plans came to fruition or if the site was ultimately sold for other purposes.
The fire at the Santa Rosa Hilton Hotel highlights the challenges and complexities that arise in the aftermath of such disasters. The owner's decision not to rebuild, while practical from a business perspective, had real consequences for the employees and the local community. It also raises questions about the role of insurance in rebuilding efforts and the potential for property owners to capitalise on the opportunity to repurpose the land for other uses.
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The hotel's insurance policy may not have been sufficient to cover the cost of rebuilding
In 2017, the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, California, burned to the ground in the Tubbs Fire. The hotel's owner, Atrium Hospitality, decided not to rebuild. This decision may have been influenced by insufficient insurance coverage. While insurance likely contributed to the rebuilding costs, it may not have been enough to cover the entire process.
The hotel's insurance policy may have been inadequate due to several factors. Firstly, the hotel was located in an area prone to wildfires, which could have resulted in higher insurance premiums or challenges in obtaining comprehensive coverage. Secondly, the hotel might not have purchased additional coverage, known as riders, to address the extensive damage and bring the rebuilt structures up to current building codes. The fire caused significant damage to the complex, and without adequate insurance, the financial burden of reconstruction may have been too high.
Furthermore, the hotel's franchised nature could have played a role in insurance coverage. The owner of the hotel, Atrium Hospitality, may have had different priorities and risk assessments than an independent operator. The decision not to rebuild suggests that insurance proceeds were insufficient or that other factors, such as the time and resources required for reconstruction, were deemed more critical.
The impact of the fire on the hotel's operations and employees is also noteworthy. The hotel evacuated its guests with no reported casualties, but the fire resulted in job losses for the 130 employees, some of whom also lost their homes. The human resources director, Lenora Olson, played a crucial role in helping these employees find new jobs and providing them with the necessary support.
In conclusion, while insurance coverage undoubtedly contributed to the rebuilding process, it is likely that the hotel's insurance policy was not sufficient to cover the entirety of the costs associated with reconstructing the hotel to meet current building codes and standards. The decision not to rebuild may have been influenced by this financial challenge, among other factors. The Tubbs Fire highlighted the potential risks and consequences of operating in fire-prone areas and the importance of comprehensive insurance coverage to mitigate such risks effectively.
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