Voting is now open for Santa Monica’s annual Most Loved Contest right here. The event is an opportunity for locals to select the best of the city and share their love of Santa Monica.
This People’s Choice Awards-style competition, established a decade ago, aims to foster connections among residents, visitors, and businesses while highlighting the city’s vibrant business community. Launched in 2010 through a collaboration involving the Buy Local Santa Monica Committee, the Santa Monica Daily Press, the City of Santa Monica, business improvement districts, and other partners, the contest has expanded over the years to include categories such as Food & Drink, Automotive & Transport, Fitness, Shopping, Neighborhood Favorites, Personal Care, and Service.
Over the years, the competition has grown, with an increase in participants and the introduction of a two-phase voting process.
Voting, conducted in two phases, is free and open to residents, businesses, and visitors.
Cast your nominations now through Thursday February 29. Voters can nominate any business during the first phase of voting (provided they are in Santa Monica and are appropriate to the category). Nominations will be cut to the finalists and voting to determine the winner will run from March 18 through March 31. Winners are announced in June.
Santa Monica’s Economic Development Director Jennifer Taylor said the event grew out of the city’s Buy Local campaign.
"We found that people really did want to share and celebrate their favorite businesses," she said. "And so this was a good way to really memorialize that and honor it."
She said winning is obviously a boon for local businesses who are recognized at the annual awards ceremony but she said even being nominated can be a benefit.
"So it’s a great way to just get some fantastic, free publicity," she said. "And then what I also love about it is the locals love it and the visitors."
She said the Most Loved magazine that accompanies the winner announcement is distributed throughout Santa Monica providing a way for local gems to pick up new customers who may not know about their stores or services.
"And clearly the visitors want to go where the locals go," she said. "I’ve been here for 15 years, and I’m still learning some really cool businesses through the past Most Loved contests and like my husband found his eye doctor from previous Most Loved. So it’s a great way just to learn more about our great, great neighborhoods and community here in Santa Monica."
matt@smdp.com
