THE BEST BUSINESS HOTELS IN THE WORLD
by Rich Rubin
PASSPORT magazine’s writers and editors
are constantly traveling the world and scouting great destinations
to share with our readers. As part of our never-ending quest
to discover the locations and venues that represent the quality
that our readers expect, we asked our team to help choose
the best business hotels in the world. The following 20 hotels
have been carefully selected based on location, essential
tools and amenities that businessmen and women need, and those
extra special touches that GLBT travelers appreciate and recommend
to their colleagues.
Beijing, China
Shangri-La China World Hotel
 China
is all about business these days, evidenced as much by
nouveau rich Chinese decked out in freshly purchased Polo
brand ensembles as by the unfortunate pollution haze that
envelops most of the country. Part of the gay-friendly
Shangri-La family, Beijing’s 716-room China World
Hotel is a mix of old Chinese and European styles.
The hotel features 30 function/conference rooms (ranging
in capacities from 20 to 1,200) and is a short distance
from the Beijing Railway Station. Also nearby is the city’s
biggest and best gay dance club, Destination (www.bjdestination.com),
and the gay popular Bellagio restaurant (www.bellagiocafe.com.cn).
The China World Hotel is located in the largely diplomatic/financial
Chaoyang district, attached to the China World Trade Center
and China World Mall. All rooms feature ample desk space
and Herman Miller chairs. Five suite categories, including
the Executive Suite, feature additional space for meetings
and homework (plus L’Occitane bath amenities). The
hotel’s business center offers secretarial and translation
services, as well as telecom facilities and offices. Business
travelers in the know choose the hotel’s Horizon
Club, which includes expedited check-in (within the Horizon
lounge), meeting room access, comp broadband Internet,
suit pressing, shoeshine, and nonstop refreshments and
cocktails. The fitness center is also impressive, featuring
an indoor pool, steam room, Jacuzzi, and Beijing’s
only Oxygen room—you’ll appreciate it after
that polluted haze. Rooms from US$250. No. 1 Jianguomenwai
Ave. Beijing, China. Tel: +86-10-6505-2266. www.shangri-la.com
—Lawrence Ferber
Beverly Hills, California
Raffles L’Ermitage
 Who
says size doesn’t matter? With standard rooms that rank
as the largest in the city of Los Angeles (675 square feet),
the Raffles L’Ermitage Beverly Hills is the business
traveler’s ultimate home away from home in the 90210.
In meeting the needs of their substantial business clientele,
the hotel leaves little to chance. In addition to such amenities
as complimentary Wi-Fi, state-of-the-art in-room technology
that allows guests to control and personalize temperature,
lighting, and all electronics from a single bedside remote,
and use of a complimentary luxury vehicle (with a driver),
every guest of the L’Ermitage receives personal business
cards and stationery with personal phone and fax numbers during
their stay. This luxe hotel does not nickel and dime guests
with random fees for basic services like some of its competitors.
All local, 800, and credit card calls are free, as is a selection
of items in the hotel’s well-stocked mini-bars. Each
of the hotel’s rooms boasts a business center with copier/printer/fax/scanner
and four multi-line telephones in addition to a large screen
TV, plus CD/DVD player with Bose speakers. Guests can unwind
at the hotel’s rooftop pool or enjoy treatments at its
swanky Amrita Spa. In-room spa treatments are also available
for those who want to unwind in complete privacy. Finally,
because the L’Ermitage is situated at the crossroads
between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, it is minutes away
from a plethora of gay nightlife options as well as some of
the best shopping, fine dining, and celebrity spotting Los
Angeles has to offer. Rates from $419. 9291 Burton Way, Beverly
Hills, CA. Tel: 310-278-3344. www.raffles.com
—Duane Wells
Cape Town, South Africa
Table Bay Hotel
 The
De Waterkant Village neighborhood is gay central in Cape Town,
but the accommodation options there are of the B&B, catered
apartment, or mid-range boutique style, so not exactly top-of-the-line
for business travel. Luckily, the spacious, airy, and luxe
Table Bay Hotel at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
is a great base for professional meetings and unwinding afterward.
Large rooms provide great views across the water to Robben
Island, or overland to iconic Table Mountain. The Waterfront
district has a plethora of restaurants and shopping options,
and in-house dining at this member of “The Leading Hotels
of the World” is an effortless fit for business meetings
and meals. Four casual bars and cafés are great meetup
options (even high tea, if you’d like), and the more
formal Atlantic Restaurant, with elaborate service and presentation,
will wow clients. The Camelot Spa, plus the well-equipped
health club and heated pool, let you work out all the kinks
after sitting in boardrooms. There is free Wi-Fi throughout
the property, and loads of natural sunlight make the large
work space in your room (with private Biz Comm center: personal
fax, multi-line phone, email messaging, and copying/printing)
a go-to for business needs right at your fingertips. The hotel’s
business center has secretarial services and a multi-lingual
staff that regularly handles car rental, travel planning,
currency exchange, and the nuts and bolts of business needs.
Boardroom and ballroom facilities accommodate groups large
or small, and the Pavilion Terrace is ideal for receptions
and celebrations of a recently sealed deal. Rooms from US$570.
Quay 6, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, South
Africa. Tel: +27-21-406-5000. www.suninternational.com
—David Tumbiri
Hong Kong, China
Conrad Hong Kong
 Lauded
as one of the world’s finest business hotels, the Conrad
Hong Kong lives up to the hype. International business
travelers are hard to please, which is why so many are devoted
to the Conrad, with its convenient location and elegant style.
The hotel’s 513 oversized rooms scrape the sky 61 floors
above the Pacific Place retail and entertainment mall in the
city’s Central Business District. The five exclusive
Executive Floors for business travelers have private check-in,
an executive lounge with full complimentary breakfast, afternoon
tea, and cocktails, private meeting space, and butler service.
The views over the harbor from your aerie are astounding,
and each room has high-speed Internet, CD player, dual-line
telephones, and satellite TV. Your room’s marble bath
space with soaking tub and separate shower hint at the spoils
to be found downstairs at the fully equipped Health Club and
state-of-the-art exercise suite. To recharge, you’ll
find the latest cardiovascular equipment with individual LCD
televisions, free weights, sauna, steam room, solarium, spa
pools, and outdoor heated swimming pool, while a massage service
and personal fitness instructors are also available. In-hotel
dining is perfect for meetings with elegant service in each
of the five restaurants and lounges—Nicholini’s,
the hotel’s signature dining spot, was the site of one
of the finest meals I’ve ever enjoyed anywhere in the
world. For even more variety, take the elevator down to the
200-plus restaurants and shops of Pacific Place. There’s
24-hour room service if you need to relax after a tough day’s
work. The business facilities are state-of-the-art with the
city’s largest pillar-free grand ballroom and a dedicated
floor of meeting rooms large and small. The Business Center
also has offices for privacy, laptop and mobile phone rental,
and full translation and secretarial service. The Conrad is
easy to reach via Hong Kong’s brilliant and simple subway,
and the concierge can arrange taxi or limousine service. While
the LGBT community and businesses are peppered throughout
both sides of the city, the undisputed nightlife hub for every
demographic is Lan Kwai Fong, walking distance from your digs
at the Conrad. King Rooms from US$568. Pacific Place, 88 Queensway,
Hong Kong, China. Tel: +852-2521-3838. www.conradhotels.com
—Andrew Mersmann
Lisbon, Portugal
Corinthia Hotel Lisbon
 On
a recent trip to Lisbon, Portugal, my partner and I discovered
the Corinthia Hotel Lisbon. We were looking for
a place where we could work for a few hours each day,
then relax before heading out to explore the sights of
one of Europe’s most fascinating cities. Having previously
stayed at some of the world’s popular deluxe hotels
(Park Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, etc.), our expectations
were high, but the Corinthia Hotel Lisbon managed to exceed
them. Upon arrival, we were brought to a private check-in
desk reserved for guests who book Executive Club rooms.
Our bags were whisked away, glasses of Port were served,
and we were escorted to our room, which featured a spectacular
view of the city and bay. As Executive Club guests, we
had access to the Executive Club Sky Lounge and delicious
made-to-order breakfasts, as well as snacks, hors d’oeuvres,
and cocktails throughout the day. For people who need
to keep in touch with the office, there is a great business
center adjacent to the lounge. For leisure travelers,
the outdoor pool and Corinthia Puro Spa is a sublime way
to get some exercise and pamper jet-lagged bodies in need
of tender loving care. When it comes to dining, the on-site
restaurants serve up an exceptional array of dishes. As
a same-sex couple, the staff at the Corinthia Hotel Lisbon made
us feel totally welcome and provided us with an exquisite
home away from home. Rooms from US$128. Av. Columbano
Bordalo Pinheiro 105, Lisbon, Portugal. Tel: +351-21-7236363.
www.corinthiahotels.com
—Robert Adams
London, England
One Aldwych
 A
boutique favorite in London, the chic and sleek One Aldwych
is also a winner for business travelers. An in-room fax machine
and private, dedicated phone/fax numbers make you feel like
you’re doing business from your home office. Wi-Fi is
complimentary in all the rooms. The six state-of-the-art meeting
rooms and private dining rooms make it the perfect spot to
host your London business meetings. A screening room is used
for movies in the evening but makes a great business facility
as well. The hotel’s location, close to the West End
theatres, makes your post-work leisure time a breeze, as do
a health club, pool with underwater music, spa, and two great
restaurants. One of London’s hippest lobby bars lets
you see and be seen and has been used for more than one powerbroker’s
cocktail session. Doubles from $400. 1 Aldwych, London. Tel:
+44-20-7300-1000 or 800-745-8883. www.onealdwych.com
—Rich Rubin
Continued
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