“It’s not a coincidence that many of the world’s greatest travel writers have chosen to live right here in California,” said Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta. “The Golden State offers such abundance, diversity and endless inspiration that it’s hard not to share the good news – and there’s no shortage of new stories to uncover!”
Chin Leong’s winning feature takes readers on a Bay Area coastal jaunt, exploring the seaside oases of Pacifica, Pescadero and Capitola. Winning entries in other categories included California-focused travel stories published in national and international media including Dallas Morning News, Lonely Planet, South Bay Accent, Sunset, and “The Travel Mom” on The Steve Harvey Show, along with lifestyle blog A Side of Sweet and associated digital channels.
The panel of judges – including this year’s guest judge Karna Hughes, director of communications at Visit Santa Barbara – selected winning entries that best portray the state’s tourism offerings. Key to the judging process is a submission’s ability to inspire visitors to dream big in the Golden State: from experiencing contemporary culture and entertainment in California’s bustling cities, to discovering diverse landscapes and laid-back lifestyles found in its quaint towns and unique regions.
This year’s Grand Prize winner receives a two-night getaway to Santa Barbara at the newly-opened and highly anticipated Hotel Californian, which features Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and is located along the waterfront adjacent to Santa Barbara’s vibrant Funk Zone. The winner will also enjoy fine dining at Loquita, Smithy Bar + Kitchen, and Barbareño; wine tasting at Margerum Wine Company; and touring with the “Eat This, Shoot That!” Funk Zone Food & Photo Tour, Santa Barbara Trolley Co. Tour, and a bike or surrey rental from Wheel Fun Rentals. The prize was donated by Visit Santa Barbara.
Winners by category are:
Magazine Feature
Winner: Dashka Slater, Sunset, “Got $5 Million? You Could Own This Sustainable ‘Ghost Town’ in the Mojave Desert”
Based in Oakland
Newspaper Feature
Winner: Kathy Chin Leong, Dallas Morning News, “Meet the wine-loving millennials who are taking over Napa Valley”
Based in Sunnyvale
Digital Feature
Winner: Alison Bing, Lonely Planet, “Seeking serenity: forest bathing among California’s redwoods,” marking the publication’s second consecutive win in this category
Based in San Francisco
Digital Influencer of the Year
Winner: Kelly Huibregtse, A Side of Sweet
Based in San Francisco
Broadcast
Winner: Emily Kaufman, “The Travel Mom” on The Steve Harvey Show featuring Huntington Beach, California
Based in West Hills
In-State Placement
Winner: Kathy Chin Leong, South Bay Accent, “Going Coastal”
Based in Sunnyvale
*Grand Prize Winner
Award Methodology:
California-based writers, editors and content producers were encouraged to enter the competition with a qualifying submission across six available categories, for content published between Jan. 1, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2017. Entries were evaluated and scored by industry experts in three equally weighted categories: creativity, quality and content. The highest score for each entry is a total 30 points, 10 points for each scoring category. To define category winners, each judge's scores were added together for a cumulative score. The Grand Prize winner had the highest total score of any entry in any category.
About Visit California
Visit California is a nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the state’s travel industry – that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. According to Visit California, spending by travelers totaled $126.3 billion in 2016 in California, generating 1.1 million jobs in the state and $10.3 billion in state and local tax revenues. For more information about Visit California and for a free California Official State Visitor's Guide, go to www.visitcalifornia.com. For story ideas, media information, downloadable images, video and more, go to media.visitcalifornia.com.
Media Contacts:
Kristen Bonilla, Visit California
(916) 319-5421, kbonilla@visitcalifornia.com