Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau (SMCVB) named best destination marketing organization in Southern California in 2011.

Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau (SMCVB) stood out from among its peers - convention and visitors bureaus from throughout Southern California - during an award ceremony held by California Meetings + Events Magazine, whose readers named Santa Monica CVB the best destination marketing organization in Southern California, for areas with less than 100,000 in population.

"We're thrilled to receive this recognition from the meetings and events industry, which is comprised of our valued clients, colleagues and partners. We look forward to celebrating this award with our local community because it is only through collaboration with our Board of Directors, hospitality industry, city and many other local partners that we are able to serve our clients and promote Santa Monica as the premiere beach destination that it is," said Misti Kerns, President and CEO of Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau.

This year's winners were announced during the California Meetings & Events Magazine's 2011 Readers Choice Best Of event held at FLUXX in San Diego, celebrating the cream of the crop in California's meetings and events industry honoring the best caterers, hotels, historic venues, convention centers, spas, restaurants with private dining and more.

The recognition comes on the heels of a number of accolades received in Santa Monica by the destination and its businesses recently, including "Top Ten Beach Cities in the World" by National Geographic, one of "America's Best Downtowns" by Forbes and "Best Farmers Market in America" by Travel + Leisure, giving Santa Monica CVB the opportunity to promote Santa Monica as "California's Most Celebrated Beach City".

Information for tourists: Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)  call (800) 544-5319; santamonica.com