Email/Share
Facebook
Twitter
MySpace
Digg

Single Page
Larger Font
Smaller Font

Madrid, Spain
Me by Meliá
Amenities at the Me by Meliá hotel in Madrid not only raise the bar for business travel in Spain, they do it with a degree of sexiness that brings new meaning to the notion of mixing business with pleasure. Accommodations in the ME offer the latest in technology, including 32-inch interactive plasma television, desk with modem-fax connection, complimentary Wi-Fi, Tango X2 audio system for iPod, and direct-dial telephone in the bathroom, at the desk, and on the bedside tables. They also offer soul-satisfying perks like Aveda bathroom products, floor-to-ceiling sweeping views of the city’s skyline, soundproofing, and ambient music courtesy of live DJs. The hotel also sports a gym that is open 24 hours a day seven days a week as well as a business center. For those planning conferences or large corporate gatherings, ME meeting spaces, which include studios, Sky Ballrooms, and an Evolution room with three additional breakout rooms, can accommodate 14 to 500 guests. Just as you might expect, all rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and technology. ME is just steps away from the city’s gay epicenter, Chueca. Located on the hip Plaza Santa Ana, which many of the rooms overlook, the ME Madrid has the special distinction of being home to one of the Spanish capital’s hottest rooftop bars, where the spectacular city views and sublime signature Mojitos attract a beautiful local crowd that includes many of the city’s most famous faces. Beyond the glitz the most notable attribute of the hotel is the staff’s genuine commitment to their motto “Everything is possible.” Whether guests need something as over-the-top as a helicopter or as simple as a breath mint before a meeting, the ME by Meliá team will go the extra mile to make it happen. To the business traveler for whom “yes” is the only correct response, that little perk alone places ME at the top of the heap when it comes to accommodations in Madrid. Rooms form US$350. Plaza de Santa Ana 14, Madrid, Spain. Tel: 877-9-5483-63. www.memadrid.com
—Duane Wells

Melbourne, Australia
Crown Towers
If you are traveling to Australia for business why not do it in style and luxury at the Crown Towers in Melbourne? Offering spectacular views of the Yarra River, this hotel is just a short stroll away from the city’s Central Business District. The hotel’s 24-hour Business Center is fully equipped with secretarial services, as well as photocopying, laptop rental, and more. Boasting the largest convention and meeting facilities in Australia, Crown Towers has 26 business rooms that can seat ten to 2,500 people and can be divided into a variety of configurations. The crown jewel is Palladium, Australia’s largest pillarless ballroom. The hotel will help you make any event seamless, offering assistance with flower arrangements, table set-ups, catering, staging, audiovisuals, video conferencing, and more. The rooms at Crown Towers are equipped with high-speed Internet, spacious desks, dual telephone lines, and a built-in wall panel for laptops. If you get hungry in the middle of the night, 24-hour room service is available. A variety of dining options are located nearby so it’s easy to find a restaurant that is suitable for your colleagues or future clients. Dine on sumptuous sushi at Nobu, chow down on steak-frites at the award-winning Bistro Guillaume, or take in the view while dining al fresco at Breezes. After dinner, sip a delicious cocktail at Le Bar or, for a more casual atmosphere, head to Lagerfield Bar and Beer Garden. When you need to get away from it all, spend some time at Crown Spa, which features a large, indoor pool, numerous sun decks, and a split-level fitness center. The hotel’s salon will help you look your best for that important meeting. Get your hair, nails, and eyebrows done in this luxurious environment. After hours, go across the bridge to gay-friendly Collins and Flinders streets and check out the swanky bars. If you have more time, head to Collingwood and Abbotsford, which boast a fabulous gay and lesbian scene. Rooms from US$370. 8 Whiteman St. Southbank, 3006. Melbourne, Australia. Tel: 800-811-653. www.crowntowers.com.au
—Nikki Dowling

If St. Regis sets the standard for luxury in Mexico City, then business travelers are in for a treat. At the newly opened St. Regis Mexico City, getting work done has never been so effortless. The hotel’s trademark butler service is like having your intern join you on the trip. Not only is your own designated butler available 24/7, he’s more than happy to send off your faxes, bring you coffee/tea, make copies, arrange business meetings and transfers, and essentially anything else you need while you’re working or tending to appointments. Getting to the hotel is easy (less than thirty minutes from the airport), and a car can be arranged through online booking. The dapper and well-appointed staff will ensure a breezy check-in, which comes accompanied with a complimentary glass of champagne. Wireless access is available throughout the 189 rooms and public spaces. If you need to hold a conference in-house, the dedicated business floor has 12,000 square feet of function space with a 7,670-square-foot modular ballroom that can be broken up into three smaller rooms. There are also separate breakout rooms for more intimate conferences. Need to chopper in? The exclusive rooftop helipad is the only one in Mexico City. Head straight to the Remede Spa (which spans two entire floors and harbors commanding views of the sprawling city) for an Aztecan Facial, which features an oxygen blast (remember: Mexico City is at an altitude of 7,000 feet), or a customized massage that will quickly relieve you of jet lag. Then polish off a post-meeting cocktail at the signature King Cole lounge, known for Bloody Marys (the drink originated in 1922 at the St. Regis New York). After all this, you can check into your room, which features ample desk space, a comfortable chair, myriad lighting options, and complimentary bottled water. Top off the night with a hot bath, prepared by your butler, of course. Rooms from US$270. Paseo de la Reforma 439, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, Mexico City, Mexico. Tel: +52-55-5228-1818. www.starwood.com
—Jimmy Im

The next time you’re in Miami on business, consider the Mandarin Oriental, Miami, which is located on Brickell Key, a private island enclave just across the bridge from the financial district, with its own private beach for before and after your meetings. The opulent Asian elements of the décor lend a peacefulness that is a nice addition to any stressful work situation. The rooms are some of the largest in Miami and most offer expansive views. The 24-hour dedicated business center provides you with a specialized service staff as well as all the high-speed technology you’ll need. One of the hotel industry’s only video conferencing centers is also located here. Meanwhile, attached to the hotel is the Mandarin’s own convention center with flexible meetings spaces, grand ballroom, breakout rooms, and, of course, (this is Miami) a grand outdoor terrace. The hotel will also book “delegate transfer” services to get all your colleagues to the hotel from the Miami airport or beyond. The 17-room spa overlooking the bay is one of the most elegant in the United States. For travelers who appreciate options, M-Bar offers a menu of 250 martinis to please even the pickiest client over a drink meeting, and Café Sambal caters to your casual lunch gatherings while award-winning Azul is a more formal and elegant business dinner alternative. Rooms start at $459. 500 Brickell Key Drive, Miami, Florida. Tel: 305-913-8383. www.mandarinoriental.com
—J. Michael Nemeth

There is no reason to sacrifice style for the kind of professionalism and attentive service you need for being on the top of your business game. Hôtel Gault in a quiet corner of central Montréal banishes the cookie cutter corporate vibe in favor of boutique flair with a self-assured meet-all-your-needs mantra. There are only 30 rooms, each with oversized loft aesthetics and contemporary European élan. Each floor of the hotel has a different color scheme, so if you need to pump up your power presentation with vibrant red or put all your focus on green for the money you’ll make in the deal, book accordingly. Some rooms also feature kitchenettes and expanded work centers if you need more than just a soft place to land after meetings. Other in-room amenities include flat-screen TV, DVD/CD player, and free local calls. Meanwhile, the onsite Gault Restaurant has an elegant minimal style and contemporary cuisine for client meals or your own nourishment, and the bar express menu is available 24/7. The catering team will also make your event a smash hit. Meeting rooms range from event space for product launches or cocktail receptions to more traditional meeting and conference rooms with modernist interiors and state-of-the-art communication technology. Ask the 24-hour concierge for whatever you need, from a facial at the on-site Valmont Beauty Lounge to taxi or car service to the airport or Montréal’s gay Village. The business services team will handle your printing, fax, copying, and other office needs, and the 24-hour gym will take the edge off when you can finally call it a day. Loft rooms from US$190. 449 Sainte-Hélène St, Montréal, Canada. Tel: 514-904-1616. www.hotelgault.com
—David Tumbiri

New York, New York
Four Seasons New York
Business travelers who like to do a little shopping between appointments will love the location of Four Seasons New York, on Park and 57th street. The 368-room hotel is just steps from designer retail outlets and mega department stores like Barney’s and Bloomingdale’s. Stylish and classic, Four Seasons’ convenient location to shops, popular restaurants, Central Park, and convention centers makes it a top notch business hotel. Meetings are often held in TY, the comfortable lounge equipped with a fireplace and a terrific cocktail menu. For larger groups, Four Seasons offers a total of nine function rooms, most of which are multi-purpose and offer state-of-the-art sound and A/V equipment. Two meeting suites have private boardroom facilities, featuring workstations, plasma TVs, and marble bathrooms. The capacity ranges from ten to 200 persons. The guestrooms average 600 square feet and all have great views (the fiftieth floor offers floor-to-ceiling windows). Generously sized walk-in closets are as large as the spacious bathrooms (all equipped with TVs). Wireless Internet is available at a fee ($15 per day), but it’s free at the business center computer terminals. Faxes and copies are at a charge. Rooms start at $655. 57 East 57th St, New York, NY. Tel: 212-758-5700. www.fourseasons.com/newyork
—Jimmy Im

Continued