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2024 Best of the Bay - Santa Cruz, CA
The board of directors of WAJ is pleased to invite you to enter your vehicles in the 2024 Best of the Bay Awards. The Bay Area’s premier auto writer’s event will take place in beautiful Santa Cruz, CA, a 30-minute drive south of the San Jose International Airport, October 14-16, 2024.
Where and When
Our host hotel will be the Dream Inn located on the beach in Santa Cruz, CA. It’s 60-minute drive south of San Jose Mineta Airport or a 90-minute drive south of San Francisco International Airport.
Dream Inn Santa Cruz - 175 W Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 740-8069 https://www.dreaminnsantacruz.com/
The event will take place from the evening of Monday, October 14, through the morning of Wednesday, October 16th. Please plan to arrive by 5:30pm on October 14th to participate in the opening reception, dinner, and OEM introduction of entries.
The bulk of the driving and evaluations will take place on Tuesday, October 15th, with additional time for driving, interviews, and photography on the morning of October 16th before checkout. WAJ will provide meals, refreshments, and logistical support.
Monday, October 14, 2024
- By 5:30 PM: arrival and check-in at Dream Inn in Santa Cruz
- Early vehicle availability for on-site photography, stand-ups, video, and feature evaluation
- WAJ executive council meeting
- Welcome cocktail reception
- Welcome dinner, brief remarks by WAJ President
- Brief introductions of entered vehicles by OEM reps
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
- Breakfast and drivers’ meeting
- Morning vehicle testing and evaluation
- Lunch at the Dream Inn
- Afternoon vehicle testing and evaluation
- Cocktails and dinner
- Nominations for Best Technology Award
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
- Breakfast and drivers’ meeting
- Morning vehicle testing and evaluation
- Electronic voting to be completed prior to departure
- 12:00 PM: event concludes
This event is designed to give WAJ member journalists the opportunity to review competitive vehicles in real-world driving conditions, with OEM representatives available to answer questions and review vehicle features in real-time. Best of the Bay is a competition. Following testing, journalists vote to determine the best vehicle in each category, and select an overall 2024 Best of the Bay winner. We expect every journalist participating in this event to stay for both testing days and drive every vehicle present before voting.
The event is open to everything from performance vehicles to PHEVs and battery-electrics. Vehicles will be evaluated based on how well they serve their target market. As is the tradition with WAJ Best of the Bay, all journalists will be required to drive every vehicle, and then vote for selections in all categories. There will be Winners and Runners Up in each category.
OEM reps will have the opportunity to briefly introduce their entrants at the welcome dinner and should plan to be on hand during vehicle testing and evaluation to answer questions or accompany journalists when requested.
Best of the Bay Award winners will be announced on November 1st via a press release by WAJ, amplified by members. Winners and Runners Up will receive artwork to be shared via their own internal, PR, and social media channels. Physical awards will be shipped out shortly thereafter.
Sign Me Up!
To register and secure accommodations, follow one of the links below:
We look forward to seeing you in October!