The Best of Colorado Business Choice Awards 2020

Making the best of it

Back in mid-January, when all the votes were counted and winners determined for our sixth annual Best of Colorado Business Choice Readers’ Poll, there was little hint of the jarring changes to lives and livelihoods that awaited.

Fast-forward to mid-April. Few businesses on the following articles have been spared from COVID-19 pandemic that, as of this writing, has brought many of the world’s economies to a virtual standstill and threatened the well-being — and perhaps the very existence — of countless businesses.

The disruption in lives and livelihoods is evident throughout this issue, none more so than a category that was once a source of amusement: “Best Place to Play Hooky.” The coronavirus has left thousands of Coloradans wishing they had a place to play hooky FROM, and the winner of that category, the Denver Zoo, is closed until further notice, facing $1 million in monthly maintenance costs with uncertain revenue.

Meanwhile, the Colorado Convention Center, winner of this year’s “Best Meeting and Event Venue,” was, as of this writing, being turned into a venue no one would happily choose — a field hospital for non-critical COVID-19 patients.

The recovery for most businesses in Colorado and elsewhere will depend on the duration of social distancing and sheltering-in-place — terms unknown to voters when they weighed in for their favorite businesses. Even after social distancing restrictions are eased, recovery will depend on the confidence of consumers to venture out to eat, recreate, shop, and resume contracting for services in their professional and personal dealings.

We can only hope, by this time you’re reading this, some semblance of normalcy has resumed for all Coloradans and the businesses they’ve worked so hard to build. The winners and runners-up in the following articles may be uplifted by congratulations, but ultimately they’ll be sustained by our determination to do business with them.

Read on to explore this year’s Best for Colorado’s winners and finalists:

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
TECHNOLOGY & ELECTRONICS
TRANSPORTATION
FINANCE
FOOD& BEVERAGE
LODGING & ACCOMMODATIONS
MAINTENANCE
REAL ESTATE
HEALTH
PERSONAL FULFILLMENT
LIFESTYLE
OFFICE
RECREATION