Votes flow in for top hotels

Business Asia, August 2, 1999

* Scores of responses have been lodged in the first two weeks of voting in the Best Business Hotels in Asia Awards. In the next few editions of Business Asia, the finalists for each country will be profiled. In this edition we examine the finalists from China, Hong Kong and India. Votes can be registered on the coupon on page 14 or via Internet on: www.charlton.com.au

CHINA

China World Hotel, Beijing

With an extensive range of services and the convenience of adjoining the China World Trade Centre, this hotel offers its guests luxury and convenience. Business travellers can use a 24-hour business centre featuring secretarial service, translation and Internet access. Other specialties include four Horizon Club executive floors, which have larger rooms, butler service and two private lounges.

The Palace Hotel, Beijing

Located in the city centre, The Palace is one of Beijing's best-known landmarks and is within walking distance of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. The hotel has 478 rooms and suites, with three floors devoted to the Palace Club, which attends to the needs of business travellers. Palace Club guests have access to a private check-in, an exclusive lounge and a satellite business centre.

Garden Hotel, Shanghai

Surrounded by seven acres of tranquil gardens, the Garden Hotel offers a secluded retreat combining contemporary design with the elegance of the historical 1926 French Club. All rooms have Internet/e-mail access and a fax machine (on request). The hotel's business centre has secretarial services, a courier, computer rental and meeting rooms.

International Club Hotel, Beijing

Personal service is the catchcry of the International. The hotel boasts the highest number of employees per room of all the hotels in China. It also has 24-hour butler service on every floor. The hotel is adjacent to the original Beijing International Club at 21 Jianguomenwai Avenue, once the most renowned place for foreign and local dignitaries to meet.

Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai

Located in the heart of China's fastest-growing city, the Portman has 600 rooms. All of the hotel's rooms have voice mail telephones, individual room temperature controls, in-room safes and satellite television. The hotel has the Ritz-Carlton Club for business people, which offers private check-in and check-out, a personalised butler service as well as five food and beverage presentations daily. The Portman also has one of Shanghai's most extensive health clubs and features an indoor/outdoor pool, separate men and women's saunas and jacuzzis, a solarium, and massage services.

Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing

The Shangri-La Hotel is located in the western part of Beijing and is 30 minutes away from the city's business and commercial centre. All of the 657 guestrooms are well appointed and include safes, satellite television and voice mail. The hotel's recreation services are outstanding and feature an indoor swimming pool, a fully equipped gymnasium, and separate men's and women's saunas.

INDIA

The Oberoi Grand, Calcutta

Located in Chowringhee, The Oberoi Grand has become a historic landmark of Calcutta while still keeping pace with the modern facilities of hotels around the world. The 214-room hotel has in-room safes, fax machines and laser-discs. Business facilities include board and seminar rooms as well as an executive centre.

The Oberoi Towers, Mumbai

This 350-room hotel has been designed with the corporate traveller in mind. With elegantly crafted desks, in-room fax and laptop connections, and one of the lowest rates of international direct dialling, the business person is given an option of working in their room rather than in an impersonal office set-up.

The hotel's executive centre is built to handle formal meetings from three to 14 people and features Internet access, translation and interpretation, and computers.

The Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai

The flagship of The Taj group of hotels, The Taj Mahal is located just minutes away from the city's commercial and shopping hub. Its newly renovated 24-hour business centre spans the entire first floor of the hotel's west wing and features secretarial services, a courier, independent computer workstations and Internet access. The hotel's corporate meeting rooms can cater for meetings of up to 15 people.

The Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi

The Taj Palace has 422 rooms, all of which are decorated in warm colours to provide an old-world feel. For the discerning traveller, there are the deluxe business floors which offer modern work facilities. The hotel also has a round-the-clock business centre with secretarial services, computers, small meeting rooms and audiovisual equipment.

Welcomgroup Park Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Madras

Located in an exclusive residential enclave, the Sheraton Towers has 283 rooms and 38 suites. Corporate travellers are catered for through the Towers Club, which has 24-hour butler service and a library. As well as the Towers Club, the hotel has 30 executive club rooms, with guests having access to the business centre and an executive club lounge and bar.