The 2016 Best of Business winners in this category include everything from hotels to transportation.
Best Hotel for Business Clients
(repeat winner)
363 Plantation St., Worcester
www.beechwoodhotel.com
Top Executive: Sayed M. Saleh, asset manager & managing director
Signature Business Product: Full-service hotel, banquet facility and public restaurant.
The Beechwood has won numerous awards to date and is the only hotel between Boston and the Berkshires to be named a Four-Diamond AAA hotel. The facility includes a full-service restaurant and bar, personal concierge service, 24-hour room service, business center, fitness room and gift shop, complimentary executive continental breakfast, 73 rooms and suites, and express checkout.
Best Limousine Service
(repeat winner)
390 Hartford Turnpike, Shrewsbury
www.knightslimo.com
Top Executives: President Michael Hogan & General Manager Thomas Hogan (co-owners)
Signature Business Product: Knights Airport Limousine offers a full line of transportation services, from Airport shuttles to town cars, VIP Vans, executive vans or mini-buses.
Being in the area for more than 30 years means stability and a keen understanding of what customers are looking for. Knight’s length of commitment to the area, fleet size, and flexibility makes customers feel confident they are working with a company dedicated to the highest level professionalism, reliability, safety and customer service.
Notable Runner-up: Joey’s Limousine Service, joeyslimousine.com
Best College for Business Education
123 Center Road, Dudley
www.nichols.edu
Top Executive: President Susan West Engelkemeyer, Ph.D.
Signature Business Product: Higher Education
Nichols College offers a business and professional education that gives students the game-changing leadership skills they need to get ahead — and in the lead. Undergraduate and graduate programs featuring small classes, industry experts as faculty, and unparalleled professional development make Nichols graduates uniquely prepared to create and innovate in today’s economy.
Notable Runners-up: Clark University, clarku.edu; Assumption College, assumption.edu
Best Nonprofit Fundraiser
38 Harlow St., 2nd Floor, Worcester
Cirquedunoir.org
Top Executive: Michelle May, founder
Signature Business Product: Cultural celebration
Cirque du Noir is an exciting evening of inspiration and creativity that promotes local arts, fine art and creativity, music, photography, innovation and food. The proceeds are donated to the Worcester community.
Best Exercise Facility
56 Summer St., Shrewsbury
www.fitness-asylum.com
Top Executive: Bonnie Lefrak, owner
Signature Business Product: Monthly gym memberships
The Fitness Asylum is meant to be an escape from mainstream gyms. Though it is an edgy, boutique fitness studio, the asylum aims to be a sanctuary from the daily grind. The facility offers a variety of personal and small group classes designed to help unlock true potential and achieve goals.
Notable runners-up: Planet Fitness, planetfitness.com; Worcester Fitness, worcesterfitness.com
Best Luxury Automobile Dealership
760 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury
www.wagnermotors.com
Top Executive: Ronald Wagner, chief executive officer
Signature Business Product: Luxury cars
The Wagner Auto Group campus in Shrewsbury houses a row of separate buildings on what some now call the Shrewsbury Auto Mile, all offering a unique and specialized brand of vehicles tied together by the Wagner Motors label of good business practices and friendly, welcoming employees, ready to serve potential clients.
Read about other Best of Business award winners.
- Best Truck Dealership: Harr Motor Group
- Best Commercial Landscaping: Jam Creative Landscaping Inc.
- Best Electrical Contractor: Coghlin Electrical Contractors, Inc.
- Best Plumber/Hvac Contractor: J.J. Bafaro, Inc.
- Best Waste Removal: P. Pellegrino Trucking Co.
- Best Office Cleaning: Enterprise Cleaning Corp.
- Best Awards & Promotional Products: Engraveables
- Best Commercial Printer: Curry Printing
- Best IT Services: Akuity Technologies
- Best Internet Service Provider: Spectrum Business Enterprise Solutions
- Best Web Design Firm: Pagano Media
- Best Video Production: Skyscope
- Best Public Golf Course: Green Hill Municipal Golf Course
- Best Private Golf Course: Worcester Country Club
- Best Golf Club For Corporate Outing: Cyprian Keyes Golf Club
- Best Venue For A Business Meeting: Beechwood Hotel
- Best Venue For An Employee Outing: Ecotarium
- Best Venue For A Corporate Event: Mechanics Hall
- Best Bank For Business: Unibank
- Best Business Insurance Agency: Sullivan Group
- Best Advertising Agency: Davis Advertising
- Best Financial Planning Services: Provo Financial Services, Inc.
- Best Credit Union For Business: Digital Federal Credit Union
- Best Health Insurance Provider: Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts
- Best Employee Benefits Consultant: Marsh & Mclennan Agency
- Best Law Firm For Business: Mirick O’connell
- Best Accounting Firm: Bollus Lynch, Llp Certified Public Accounts & Consultants
- Best Staffing Agency: The Davis Companies
- Best Place To Meet For Coffee: Starbucks
- Best Coffee Service For Business: Good As Gold Coffee Service
- Best Restaurant For Business Lunch: The Sole Proprietor
- Best Restaurant For Business Dinner: 111 Chop House
- Best Caterer For A Corporate Event: Struck Catering
- Best Worcester After Work Bar: Armsby Abbey
- Best Metrowest After Work Bar: Tavern In The Square
- Best North County After Work Bar: Rye & Thyme
- Best Blackstone Valley After Work Bar: Kyoto Bar & Grill
- Best Tri-Area After Work Bar: Cedar Street Grille
