Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Sales & Services Manager, Hannah Avol, and Santa Monica based environmental advocacy non-profit, Heal the Bay, both received awards at California Travel Association’s (CalTravel) 30th Annual California Travel Summit earlier this month!

Heal the Bay received the California Travel Association’s Tourism Stewardship of the Year Award for its significant contributions in preserving our shared natural resources.  The Santa Monica based environmental advocacy non-profit, has been a pioneer in preserving California’s Coastline and instrumental in the improvement of water quality at California beaches for over 20 years.  Their team of passionate scientists and advocates monitors pollution levels at California beaches with its weekly Beach Report Card, leads beach cleanups, and educates coastal and inland communities on the importance of protecting our watersheds.  Heal the Bay also encourages ocean stewardship at its Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, which welcomes more than 70,000 visitors each year.

SMCVB Sales & Services Manager, Hannah Avol, received an “Emerging Leaders Award”

Hannah Avol received an “Emerging Leaders Award”, presented to 30 individuals, 30 years of age or younger, who reflect California’s exciting “new leaders of tourism.”  Avol has served as the Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Manager of Sales and Services for the past four and a half years and stands out amongst her peers as a dedicated professional committed to increasing the awareness of initiatives that SMCVB, local hospitality partners and the City of Santa Monica find important. She has been instrumental in the strategic promotion the Santa Monica destination to international markets including Spain, Australia, England, France and Ireland. Avol is a member of the Site International as well as committee chair of the Emerging Leaders for the Site Southern California Chapter.

Congratulations Hannah and Heal the Bay!