Monterey Bay Stars Awards
How Winners Are Chosen

Celebrating Excellence Across Monterey Bay

The Monterey Bay Stars Awards, presented by WhatsUpMonterey, honor the restaurants, hotels, experiences, events, and local talents that elevate Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Big Sur, and the surrounding coast. These awards celebrate exceptional quality, consistency, hospitality, and community impact across our region.

Not a Contest — An Editorial Selection

The Monterey Bay Stars Awards are not a public voting contest. There are no surveys, ballots, nominations, or daily votes. Winners cannot apply, register, or campaign for an award. Instead, all selections are made through a trusted and fully independent editorial evaluation process.

Our Evaluation Criteria

Each year, our editorial team reviews a wide range of businesses and individuals using:

• 25+ years of local expertise within Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, and the surrounding communities
• First-hand experiences including anonymous visits and detailed reviews
• Authentic guest feedback and long-term reputation
• Consistency in quality and service throughout the year
• Meaningful community impact and contribution to the region’s culture

This approach ensures each award reflects genuine excellence—free from popularity contests, vote manipulation, or pay-to-play influence.

Annual Awards Timeline

• Fall: Editorial review and category evaluation
• Late November: Final winner selections
• Early December: Public announcement of winners
• December–January: In-person visits, photography, interviews, and feature spotlights

Can Businesses Apply or Register?

No. There is no nomination form, no voting process, and no registration. All awards are independently researched, evaluated, and selected by the WhatsUpMonterey editorial team.

Can a Business Influence or Purchase an Award?

Absolutely not. Advertising, sponsorships, or partnerships have zero impact on the editorial process.

Questions?

For inquiries about the Monterey Bay Stars Awards, please contact us at [email protected].

The Monterey Bay Stars Awards are proudly curated and published by WhatsUpMonterey.