THE BASICS
Name: Linsey Gallagher
Title: President and CEO
Company, city: Visit Napa Valley; Napa, California
First job: In high school and college I worked as a babysitter and a waitress; post-undergrad, I was a financial analyst at General Electric Capital Services.
Where to next: Given the COVID-19 pandemic, I am actually enjoying “playing” tourist here in Napa Valley and taking advantage of all our beautiful valley has to offer. Visit Napa Valley and Napa Valley Vintners partnered to encourage everyone in the Napa Valley community to rediscover their own backyard and support local businesses, part of our “Napa Valley Spirit” campaign. Napa Valley hospitality-related businesses, including hotels, wineries, restaurants and retailers, created an “Explore Your Backyard” offer targeted to Napa County residents to inspire the community to dine, sip, shop and stay here and support the more than 60,000 people who work in the wine and tourism industries.
A LITTLE BIT MORE
What actor or actress would play you in a movie of your life?
Jennifer Garner — rural upbringing, solid but not too serious, kind, a working mom
What would you be doing professionally if you weren’t in your current industry?
I feel fortunate to work in the tourism and wine industries; however, I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to try my hand as a producer at Today or another show.
What is your favorite book, movie or television show?
I have been a TV series binge watcher all my life (long before Netflix!). My more recent favorites include Downton Abbey, Big Little Lies, Friday Night Lights, Nashville and Call the Midwife.
What historical figure, dead or alive, would you love to have dinner with?
Oprah Winfrey
THE BUSINESS
What is your most recent project, and what was the inspiration behind it?
My most pressing and immediate priority is helping our tourism industry and local government partners in Napa Valley weather the challenge of a global pandemic. Napa Valley is committed to the highest safety standards by going above and beyond mandated requirements in order to protect the health and welfare of employees, guests and our community while providing world-class hospitality. Collaboration, partnership, transparency and authenticity are paramount for future success.
What is your favorite aspect of the job?
I love the intersection of wine and tourism. I am thankful to be entrusted with the responsibility to steward the iconic and aspirational Napa Valley brand and lifestyle on the world stage. As the official destination management organization, our vision is to elevate Napa Valley as the world’s premier wine country experience, and our mission is to promote, protect and enhance the destination.
What’s the biggest business risk you’ve ever taken?
Changing industries, multiple times — from finance to marketing and from wine to tourism
Who is someone you admire professionally in the travel industry?
Caroline Beteta, president and CEO, Visit California
AS A TRAVELER
Tell us about a travel nightmare: A sightseeing daytrip excursion to Angel Falls in Venezuela in a small plane turned into an unexpected multiday adventure in El Pauji, a remote jungle settlement at the edge of Gran Sabana, on the border of Brazil.
Share a comical travel experience: While working at the California Wine Institute I traveled to more than 25 countries promoting California wine worldwide. On one of many memorable trips to China, I traveled with renowned wine writer and educator Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible. We were doing a 10-day California wines tour of at least eight cities, and we were exhausted. We rewarded ourselves with a Chinese foot massage treatment in most cities, and each was hilarious and unique while also usually relaxing.
What is your preferred method of travel — planes, trains, automobiles, cruise ships — and why? All of the above, in normal times. However, these days I am fortunate to live in Napa Valley and ride my bicycle on our Napa Valley Vine Trail through our beautiful vineyards while we wait for the COVID-19 pandemic to subside. The 47-mile, safe and scenic walking and biking trail system connects the entire Napa Valley, physically, artistically and culturally — perfect for social distancing.
What has been the best example of customer service you’ve experienced during your travels? Traveling internationally for 10 years as vice president of international marketing for the California Wine Institute, I experienced many instances of customer service not meeting expectations. We produced wine experiences and events in challenging environments such as China, Russia and Cuba, as well as more mainstream but often challenging venues in Canada, Japan, Mexico and the U.K. I always love coming back to Napa Valley and our world-class hospitality and wines. We offer the best hospitality of any wine region in the world — warm and welcoming, laid-back luxury, casual elegance and iconic lifestyle.
Read This Next

Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Apr 23, 2025Art Meets Mixology in Washington, D.C., at Allegory
There’s a brand-new cocktail menu at Washington, D.C.’s, Allegory, winner of the 2023 Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award and ranked No. 23 on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list. But the new Banned in DC menu isn’t just a collection of cocktails, as explained by Creative & Beverage Director Deke Dunne, who — along with his team — concocted the fictionalized journey of civil rights advocate Ruby Bridges as she falls into a rabbit hole set 100 years in the future.
Sponsored Content
A Summer Sojourn Along Europe’s Rivers with AmaWaterways
This summer, elevate your vacation experience with award-winning AmaWaterways. Offering a seamless blend of unparalleled luxury, authentic cultural experiences and unrivaled service, AmaWaterways cruises are the perfect way to uncover the heart of Europe during the sunniest season with itineraries that glide along the continent’s most iconic rivers, including the Danube, the Rhine, the Seine and the Douro.
April 2025
Apr 23, 2025Hotels Prove They Care About Their Guests and Destinations
Once upon a time, miniature bottles of luxury-branded bath gels, lotions and shampoos were the mark of a high-end hotel, but those single-use souvenirs are becoming a thing of the past as new trends indicate in-room amenities are meant to stay exactly there ... in the room.
April 2025
Apr 23, 2025Choose Tools to Improve Sleep, Meditation and Well-Being
Core Meditation Trainer Interested in learning to meditate but don’t know where to start? The Core Meditation Trainer will help improve your practice, using dynamic vibration guidance to help keep you centered. Simply hold the device in your palms and follow the instructions from the Core App to reduce stress and improve focus. Its sensors monitor your heart and nervous system so you can track how your meditating progresses. Measuring just 3.5 by 3.5 by 3.5 inches, this device is TSA-approved for carry-on, and one charge lasts up to two weeks. $159 plus subscription.
Sponsored Content
Find Your Perfect Escape with Paradisus by Meliá — More Than Just All-Inclusive
Luxury travel today is about more than just beautiful accommodations — it’s about experiencing the destination. Paradisus by Meliá takes traditional all-inclusive resorts to the next level by offering indulgence with immersion, experiences and authenticity. Each resort is shaped by its location, local flavors and curated Destination Inclusive® experiences that bring you closer to the heart of the destination.
Daily
Apr 23, 2025Explora Journeys Launches Explora Club
Explora Journeys recently unveiled its Explora Club, a new loyalty program for its discerning guests. Explora Club’s five-level structure is seamless and intuitive, as each level includes a collection of benefits, like priority access and exclusive savings. Factors contributing to levels include weighted nights at sea, multiplied by suite category; Destination Experiences purchased pre-cruise or onboard; and eligible onboard spending, including Ocean Wellness, culinary experiences and beverages, laundry, and purchases at The Journey boutique.
Hilton Lake Como Review
eFlyer Reviews
Apr 23, 2025LUMA Hotels Launch New Glam Getaway Offer
eFlyer Deals
Apr 23, 2025eFlyer Deals
Apr 23, 2025Snag The Berkeley’s Limited-Time Cartier Deal, Experience
London’s The Berkeley, one of the city’s most upscale hotels, celebrates one of the most anticipated exhibitions of the year with a special offer. Cartier: The Pursuit of Beauty opens at Victoria & Albert Museum, featuring more than 350 objects, from precious jewels to gemstones to watches to clocks.
Sponsored Content
Royal Air Maroc Marks Five Years with oneworld: Strengthening Connectivity Between USA and Africa and Expanding Global Reach
Royal Air Maroc proudly enters its fifth year as a member of the prestigious oneworld alliance. Since joining in April 2020, RAM has demonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging as a dynamic airline that enhanced its digital services and expanded its network. The airline plans to grow its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037, reinforcing its global presence.
eFlyer Lead
Apr 23, 2025Helicopter Tourism: How Safe Is It?
On April 10, a helicopter (more specifically, a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV) plummeted into the Hudson River in New York City, killing everyone onboard the aircraft. The crashed helicopter was on its eighth tour of the day when it fell from the sky.
ShareThis