Summit County residents have been voting for their favorite local businesses, organizations and attractions in Summit Daily News’ annual readers choice awards contest for over a decade. It’s the biggest contest of its kind in Summit County, with hundreds of thousands of votes cast annually across nearly 200 categories.
What’s new for 2024?
Each year, we review all the categories, take some away and add new ones. New this year are Attorney, Camp/Summer Program, Computer Retail & Repair, DJ, Financial Planning Company, Handyman Company, Homemade Sauce/Dressing, Mocktail, Nonalcoholic Beer/Wine/Liquor Selection, Property Management Company (HOA), Property Management Company (Vacation Rental), Roofing Company, Shop Pet, Sober Event and Window Coverings.
In addition, we’re adding a new group dedicated to wedding services, including Cakes & Desserts, Caterer & Bar Services, Decor Rentals, Florist, Guest Accommodations, Hair & Makeup, Photographer, Planning & Design and Rehearsal & Shower Venue.
Make a category suggestion by emailing nmiller@summitdaily.com. After the contest has launched, suggestions will be reviewed for the following year.
How does Best of Summit work?
The contest takes place in two phases: a nomination period followed by one round of voting.
Nomination period: The contest starts with a nomination round, where readers can propose businesses, organizations and people for all of the categories. It takes only one qualified nomination for a nominee to move to the voting round. Last year’s eligible business and organization nominees will automatically be nominated in their respective categories. (Individuals will not automatically be nominated.)
Last year’s nominees will not automatically be added in the following instances:
- Categories that require an individual’s name, such as Artist, Band/Musician, Bartender, Chef, Dentist, Doctor, Insurance Agent, Mortgage Broker, Mr. Summit County, Ms. Summit County, Professional Photographer, Real Estate Agent, Server and Teacher.
- Categories where nominees are likely to change from year to year, such as Community Event, Concert Series/Music Festival, New Business, Pet-Friendly Business, Pet-Friendly Lodging, Place to Work, Restaurant Service and Shopping Customer Service.
- Categories that are new, including Attorney, Camp/Summer Program, Computer Retail & Repair, DJ, Financial Planning Company, Handyman Company, Homemade Sauce/Dressing, Mocktail, Nonalcoholic Beer/Wine/Liquor Selection, Property Management Company (HOA), Property Management Company (Vacation Rental), Roofing Company, Shop Pet, Sober Event and Window Coverings. In addition, new Wedding group categories will not be preseeded, including Cakes & Desserts, Caterer & Bar Services, Decor Rentals, Guest Accommodations, Hair & Makeup, Planning & Design and Rehearsal & Shower Venue.
Readers can make as many nominations as they like throughout the nomination period.
Voting round: This is the only voting round, and the businesses, organizations and people with the most votes in each category will be crowned Best of Summit. Readers can vote once in each category.
What are the key dates for 2024?
- Nomination period: July 5-12
- Voting round: July 26 to Aug. 9 (voters guide advertising deadline July 19)
- Winners announced at Best of Summit party: Oct. 16 at Silverthorne Pavilion
- Best of Summit winners publication on newsstands: Oct. 18 (winners guide advertising deadline Aug. 30)
Fair voting:
- Nominees/entrants are prohibited from soliciting votes by offering payments or exchange of value of any kind.
- Voting is limited to one vote in each category per person.
- Even though we require signups, we recognize that some people, in their enthusiasm, may be tempted to vote several times using different email accounts. Please note that voting under multiple email accounts violates the rules.
- We do have systems in place to detect fraudulent voting. When we see evidence of fraudulent voting, we may eliminate all suspect votes at our discretion. In extreme cases, we will remove entrants, as well.
I nominated my business, but I don’t see it showing up on the website. Why is that?
If you’re looking at the site during the nomination period and don’t see a business you nominated, fear not! All valid entries are considered and reviewed. But in order for a nomination to show up on the site, we have to approve it manually. Because we receive thousands of nominations, we may get backlogged.
The good news is your business has to be nominated only once to make it to the voting round.
How are nominations moderated?
- Each nomination will be vetted for accuracy, including whether the business, organization or person is based in Summit County and whether the nominee is an appropriate fit for the category. Incomplete nominations will be removed.
- Categories with fewer than five nominees will be removed from the contest before voting begins.
- The contest is intended for locally owned or operated businesses. National chains will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
How are the winners selected?
Winners are those who receive the most votes in their category. Finalists are those who receive the second- and third-most votes in their category. If there is a tie, we will announce both as winners or finalists.
How often can I vote?
The Best of Summit contest allows unlimited nominations but only one vote per person per category during the voting round.
Can I vote from multiple email accounts?
Voting is limited to one vote per person per category. Even though we require signups, we recognize that some people may be tempted to vote several times using different email accounts. We do have systems in place to detect fraudulent voting. When we see evidence of fraudulent voting, we may eliminate all of the votes cast by those voters. In extreme cases, we will remove entrants, as well.
Why should I participate in Best of Summit?
This contest is fundamentally about celebrating and supporting great Summit County institutions by raising their profile and helping them gain new fans.
Have additional questions? Feel free to email Summit Daily News Publisher Nicole Miller at nmiller@summitdaily.com.