Best Offsite Venues for 2017

BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSE

Green Hill Golf Course*

Worcester, www.greenhillgc.com

Top executive: Matthew Moison, director of golf

Founded: 1929

Green Hill is the longest continually operating recreational activity provided by the City of Worcester, which seeks to make golf affordable in the city.

Notable runners-up: Wachusett Country Club, Cyprian Keyes Golf Club

BEST PRIVATE GOLF COURSE

Worcester Country Club*

Worcester, www.worcestercc.org

Top executive: Bill Shaw, general Manager/COO

Founded: 1900

Employees: 125 peak season

A host course to the Ryder Cup, men’s U.S. Open and women’s U.S. Open, the Worcester Country Club relies on its Donald Ross-designed course to stand out from the competition. The club augments this advantage by having distinctive culinary offerings and focusing on family activities.

Notable runners-up: Pleasant Valley Country Club, The Haven Country Club, The International

BEST GOLF CLUB FOR CORPORATE OUTING

Cyprian Keyes Golf Club*

Boylston, www.cypriankeyes.com

Founded: 1997

Top executive: General Manager David Frem

Cyprian Keyes offers a variety of quality courses, ranging from an 18-hole championship course alongside a 9-hole par-3 course. The facility has five function rooms and made-from-scratch menu choices for catered events, along with a full-service restaurant.

Notable runners-up: The Haven Country Club, Wachusett Country Club

BEST VENUE FOR A BUSINESS MEETING

Beechwood Hotel*

Worcester, www.beechwoodhotel.com

Top executive: Sayed M. Saleh, asset manager & managing director

Founded: 1989

Employees: 100

Centrally located near downtown Worcester, UMass Medical School, the DCU Center and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Park, the Beechwood offers 9,000 square feet of meeting space in 13 meeting rooms to offer flexibility for large theater-style presentations to small intimate settings. The in-house restaurant caters plated meals and buffets.

Notable runner-up: Tower Hill Botanic Garden

BEST VENUE FOR AN EMPLOYEE OUTING

Ecotarium*

Worcester, ecotarium.org

Top executive: President Joe Cox

Founded: 1825

Employees: 50

The EcoTarium offers a unique setting for company events by providing access to the museum and the grounds, providing an indoor-outdoor experience that can be used for volunteering, corporate events with families, or team-building exercises.

Notable runner-up: Kimball Farm

BEST VENUE FOR A CORPORATE EVENT

Mechanics Hall*

Worcester, www.mechanicshall.org

Top executive: Executive Director Robert M. Kennedy

Founded: 1857

Employees: 12

Mechanics Hall combines its rich history and world-class acoustics with modern amenities and attentive service for events ranging from galas and conferences to performances and recording sessions.

Notable runner-up: Beechwood Hotel

*denotes repeat winner

Click below to see the other 2017 WBJ Best of Business winners

BEST FOOD

• BEST RESTAURANT FOR BUSINESS LUNCH – The Sole Proprietor*
• BEST RESTAURANT FOR BUSINESS DINNER – 111 Chop House*
• BEST LOCALLY OWNED PLACE TO MEET FOR COFFEE – BirchTree Bread Company
• BEST WORCESTER AFTER-WORK BAR – Armsby Abbey*
• BEST METROWEST AFTER-WORK BAR – Tavern in the Square*
• BEST NORTH COUNTY AFTER-WORK BAR – Rye & Thyme American Tavern*
• BEST BLACKSTONE VALLEY AFTER-WORK BAR – Gray Barn
• BEST TRI-AREA AFTER-WORK BAR – Cedar Street Grille*
• BEST CATERER FOR A CORPORATE EVENT – Peppers Artful Events
• BEST COFFEE SERVICE – Good As Gold Coffee*

BEST MULTIMEDIA SERVICES

• BEST VIDEO PRODUCTION – Pagano Media
• BEST AWARDS & PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS – Engraveables*
• BEST COMMERCIAL PRINTER – Curry Printing*
• BEST IT SERVICES – Machado Consulting
• BEST INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER – Spectrum Enterprise*
• BEST WEB DESIGN FIRM – Pagano Media*

BEST OFFICE SERVICES

• BEST TRUCK DEALERSHIP – Harr Motor Co.*
• BEST COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPER – Leone’s Landscaping & Construction
• BEST ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR – Coghlin Electrical Contractors Inc.*
• BEST PLUMBER/HVAC CONTRACTOR – J.J. Bafaro, Inc.*
• BEST WASTE REMOVAL – E.L. Harvey & Sons, Inc.
• BEST OFFICE CLEANING – Eagle Cleaning Corp.

BEST CLIENT & EMPLOYEE SERVICES

• BEST COLLEGE FOR BUSINESS EDUCATION – Nichols College*
• BEST EXERCISE FACILITY/FITNESS CENTER – The Fitness Asylum*
• BEST LUXURY AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP – Wagner Auto Group*
• BEST LIMOUSINE SERVICE – Knight’s Airport Limousine Inc.*
• BEST HOTEL FOR BUSINESS CLIENTS – Beechwood Hotel*
• BEST NONPROFIT FUNDRAISER EVENT – Notre Dame Health Care Educational Forum

BEST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

• BEST BANK – UniBank*
• BEST BUSINESS INSURANCE AGENCY – Sullivan Insurance Group*
• BEST FINANCIAL PLANNING/INVESTMENT SERVICES – Provo Financial Services, Inc.*
• BEST CREDIT UNION – DCU – Digital Federal Credit Union*
• BEST HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDER – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts*
• BEST EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CONSULTANT – Sullivan Benefits
• BEST LAW FIRM – Mirick O’Connell*
• BEST ACCOUNTING FIRM – Bollus Lynch, LLP Certified Public Accountants & Consultants*
• BEST ADVERTISING AGENCY – PENTA Communications, Inc.*
• BEST STAFFING AGENCY – The Davis Companies*