Best of Colorado Business Choice 2016 transportation winners

Here are our Best of Colorado Business Choice winners and finalists in the "Transportation" category:

BEST AUTO DEALERSHIP

Schomp Automotive

The family-owned Schomp Automotive owns Honda, BMW and Mini Cooper auto dealerships. The company has been in business since 1941. Third generation owner Lisa Schomp and her husband Mark Wallace are currently handing over the reins of the business to their adult children. Schomp Automotive supports the Colorado State Patrol's "Alive at 25" safe driving program, The Children's Hospital Burn Unit, and the Schomp BMW Denver Polo Classic benefiting the Active 20-30 Children's Foundation.

www.ralphschomp.com

Runners-up: Kuni Lexus, CarMax, Groove Auto

BEST CAR SERVICE: TRANSPORTATION

Uber/Uber black

Uber has been facilitating rides for Coloradans since arriving in Denver in September 2012. The company has since expanded across the state, and getting a ride with Uber is now possible in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and most major cities in the mountains. “The drivers who partner with Uber and help people get from A to B in Colorado come from all walks of life and they all have their own unique story,” says Uber spokesperson Dave Bauer. “So the next time you ride you may find out that your driver is a military veteran, a school teacher, a retiree or a small business owner, to name a few.”

https://www.uber.com/cities/denver/

Runner-up: SuperShuttle Denver

BEST CAR SERVICE: REPAIR

Keller Bros.

David Rogers, the chief operating officer of Keller Bros., says the 19 people at the auto repair shop have a mission. “We don’t really work in a repair shop on Dry Creek Road, we work in a neighborhood, a community,” he says. “Our job isn’t fixing cars as much as taking care of our neighbors.” The shop stands behind its repairs with a three-year warranty, and has won ethics awards. Every Wednesday and Thursday Keller Bros. donates $5 of every full price oil change to Maxfund, the no-kill animal shelter. The goal is to do the right thing, Rogers explains, not make a quick buck. 

http://kellerbros.com/

Runners-up: Aspen Auto Clinic, Community Auto Repair, Grease Monkey

BEST AIRLINE

Southwest Airlines

In 2006 Southwest Airlines began service in Denver with 13 daily flights to three destinations. Ten years later the Dallas-based carrier has 190 daily flights from Denver to 58 destinations including international. “We would not have been able to do that if not for our Denver customers,” says spokesperson Michelle Agnew. “They trusted us and believed in us.” Denver customers also like the low fares, the checked bags without fees, and the cheerfulness of the Southwest employees, some who appear in the airline’s commercials. Also important to Denver, Agnew says, is that Southwest has been sponsoring the ice rink at Skyline Park. This past season, the sixth, saw 53,000 skaters, the largest attendance ever.

www.southwest.com

Runners-up: United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Delta Airlines

BEST PRIVATE JET SERVICE

XJet

XJet prides itself on being more than a fixed-base operator (FBO) serving the private aircraft industry.

The company, which launched in 2007 as a private club then opened to transient aircraft in 2009, has operations at Denver’s Centennial Airport, London’s Stansted Airport and Dubai’s World Central Executive Terminal.

XJet’s amenities at Centennial include a 47,000-square-foot, climate-controlled hangar; auto storage and spa; conference room; pilot lounge and snooze room; pilot workstations; and WiFi and wireless printing.

Services the company provides include fuel; catering; onsite rental cars; contract maintenance and repair; preferred rates with area hotels; airport transfers to Denver International Airport; and dry cleaning and laundry.

www.xjet.com

Runners-up: FreshJets, Vail Valley Jet Center