Participants take a spin class lead by Nick Hounslow of Cycle House during BluePrint’s inaugural BluePrintFit! fitness event at Santa Monica Beach on Friday, May 10, 2013. The fitness event featured three hours of outdoor exercise classes, mini spa treatments and samples of cold-pressed BluePrintJuice. Hoopnotica, exhale yoga, LA DanceFit Zumba and Cycle House Cycling led classes throughout the afternoon.

President and CEO of  Visit California and Board Chair of Brand USA Caroline Beteta speaks during the 4th annual Santa Monica Travel & Tourism Summit at Shutters on the Beach hotel on May 9, 2013.  The conference kicked off National Tourism Week and unveiled recent economic impact results and presented the five-year strategic plan for SMCVB and the newly formed Tourism Marketing District.  Speakers included Santa Monica Mayor Pam O’Connor, Visit California President/CEO Caroline Beteta, Brand USA Chief Communications Officer Anne Madison and Universal Consensus CEO/Founder Denise Pirrotti Hummel, J.D.

“Today we heard valuable insight from travel industry leaders whose Sales & Marketing plans were built to lengthen the stay of overnight hotel visitors who provide the highest spending levels with minimal impact to a destination. It seems that those strategies are working in Santa Monica!” said SMCVB CEO/President Misti Kerns. “In 2012, 57% of our visitors were from outside the U.S.  This is great news for our city as international visitors tend to stay in the destination longer, use public transportation and spend more money while they are here.”

During the summit, the results of the 2012 Santa Monica Tourism Economic Impact Study, conducted on a regular basis since 1983, were presented.  Notable figures showed that 12,200 Santa Monica jobs are supported by tourism, a 7.4% increase from 2011.  Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) by Santa Monica hotels increased by 12.3%%, generating $39.3 million into the City of Santa Monica’s general fund in 2012 and retail taxes generated by visitor spending increased by 10.6%. These tax revenues fund street improvements, police and fire departments, parks and schools.

SMCVB and the Santa Monica Pier also announced the opening of a brand new Pier Shop and Visitor Center, located in the historic Looff Hippodrome.  This new concept store was designed with both locals and visitors in mind, celebrating the unique history of Santa Monica and the local beach culture.

At the conclusion of the summit, SMCVB in partnership with the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce honored Elizabeth Wilsonhoyles, Director of Guest Services at Huntley Santa Monica Beach and Mickey Barnes, Server at The Lobster Restaurant, with $1,000 Thelma Parks Tourism Scholarships for their exceptional service in the hospitality and tourism industry.  To learn more about the Thelma Parks Tourism Spirit Awards and submit nominations, visit www.santamonica.com/spiritaward.  

Santa Monica amid the sunset on Wednesday, May 9, 2013.

Order a Print signed by the artist:

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Santa Monica Recreation & Parks Commissioner Phil Brock test-drives an A2B by Hero Eco e-bike at the Santa Monica Pier during a press conference on Tuesday, May 7, 2013. A2B is the premium range of e-bikes from Hero Eco which features a full suspension, thick-durable tires, and a plush seat that makes for an extremely comfortable ride, even on rougher roads. Front and rear disc brakes allow for safe riding in all kinds of weather. With a 500W motor and 20-inch wheels, you can expect a lot of torque for hill-climbing. Combine that with 7-speeds and you have all of the range you'll need for the inclines and the flats. The lithium battery is located inside of the frame tubing and completely hidden from view. Simply turn a key to activate the system and go. The same key switch can alternate your power source to an optional second battery that locks into place just under the rear rack. The bike comes standard with one battery that will get you up to 20 miles per charge. In order to increase your range to up to 40 miles per charge, the second battery is available for purchase as an add-on. Your battery life can be easily read from a battery gauge right on the throttle.

Santa Monica Fire Department firefighters after extinguishinga small fire at the end of the Santa Monica Pier on Sunday, May 5, 2013. The fire may have been ignited from a cigarette butt.

Camarillo Laughter Yoga Club members crack up at Santa Monica beach during World Laughter Day on Sunday, May 5, 2013.

Laughter Yoga combines unconditional laughter with yogic breathing (PRANAYAMA).Anyone can laugh for no reason, without relying on humor, jokes or comedy. Laughter is simulated as a body exercise in a group but with eye contact and childlike playfulness, it soon turns into real and contagious laughter. 

The concept of Laughter Yoga is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter. One gets the same physiological and psychological benefits. 

This innovative concept has been widely accepted all over the world and has been written about in prestigious publications like TIME Magazine, National Geographic, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Daily Telegraph (UK) and many others. Laughter clubs were also featured on Oprah Winfrey Show, BBC, CNN, ZDF (Germany) NHK (Japan), ABC news (USA) and many other TV networks around the world. Several documentaries have also been shown in different languages worldwide. This strong media coverage has helped to spread Laughter Yoga to almost every part of the world with more and more people joining the laughter family.

Santa Monica Spring Jubilee at the Thirds Street Promenade on Saturday, May 4, 2013.

Prescindia McIntosh plays the Bagpipes during Santa Monica Spring Jubilee at Santa Monica Place on Saturday, May 4, 2013. Prescindia is the official piper for the British Consul General.