A business class of their own: the votes are in and business travellers across the region have had their say on Asia's best hotels.

• Position: BEST BUSINESS HOTELS IN ASIA AWARDS

For the third time, The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai has been named Overall Best Business Hotel in Asia. The hotel also won the award for the Best Business Hotel in China beating rivals such as last year's winner--Grand Hyatt Shanghai as well as China World Hotel Beijing, Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai, and The Palace Hotel Beijing.

The Best Business Hotels in Asia Awards, now in their seventh year, have become one of the most sought after prizes in the highly competitive Asia Pacific hotel industry. The awards were established in 1998 to recognise the hotels that provide the business traveller with excellence in service and facilities, and to encourage quality throughout the business hotel industry. The prestigious Awards honour the top business hotels from 14 countries across Asia Pacific in 17 different categories.

This year more than 100 hotels were nominated and more than 15,000 votes were received--both online and using the coupons found in Business Asia Magazine. Business travellers were asked to nominate their favourite hotels across the 16 different categories and then to name their choice for Best Business Hotel in Asia.

Ritz-Carlton dominates

As well as taking out the top prize for its Shanghai hotel, the Ritz-Carlton group dominated the awards in other categories. They not only dominated but they are continuing a run of wins that shows little sign of stopping.

The Best Business Hotel in Malaysia went to the Ritz-Carlton in Kuala Lumpur (making it five in a row for this particular hotel); the Ritz-Carlton Millennia in Singapore won the award for the Best Business Hotel in Singapore the sixth time it has won this category, and the Ritz-Carlton in South Korea won the Best Business Hotel in South Korea--a five times winner. The Carlton Hotel Auckland took the award for Best Business Hotel in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, it appears the Pan Pacific Hotel International Airport, Kuala Lumpur has a secret that many airport hotels would love to know. Its award for Best Airport Hotel brings to four the number of times it has received this honour.

First time winners

There were a number of first time winners including the Sheraton Saigon in He Chi Minh City which took the honours for Best Business Hotel in Vietnam. Crown Towers & Entertainment Complex in Melbourne won the Best Business Hotel in Australia category ending the Grand Hyatt Melbourne's run of the past two years, while the InterContinental MidPlaza Jakarta was another first time winner in the Best Business Hotel in Indonesia category. First time winners were also found in the Japan category--Hotel Okura and Thailand with the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok, while another Bangkok hotel The Metropolitan, Bangkok--received the award for Best New Hotel.

OVERALL BEST BUSINESS HOTEL IN ASIA BEST BUSINESS HOTEL IN CHINA

WINNER: THE PORTMAN RITZ-CARLTON, SHANGHAI

For the third time, the Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai has been named Overall Best Business Hotel in Asia. It previously won the title in 2002 and 2001. It is also the fifth time it has taken out the title for Best Business Hotel in China.

Over the past year, the hotel has made many improvements to its facilities and services to ensure business travellers' needs are well catered for.

The Portman Ritz-Carlton pioneered the "In-Room Check-In" experience in Shanghai in which more than 80 per cent of the guests are personally escorted to their rooms upon arrival. The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. Vice President and Area General Manager Mark DeCocinis says: "For visitors, especially business travellers, any timesaving and seamless service is crucial to the success of their visit. From the moment they check in to when they leave our hotel, it is the personalised service of our ladies and gentlemen which will ensure each visit is an exceptional experience for our guests."

This year, in recognition of his contribution to China's economic and social development, DeCocinis was awarded the state-level "Friendship Award" by the People's Republic of China Vice Premier Wu Yi. The award honours foreign businessmen for their dedication to the training of Chinese citizens as well as their contribution to China's social, economic, scientific, technological, educational and cultural development.

Since opening The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai as general manager in January 1998, DeCocinis has been bestowed with Shanghai's prestigious "Magnolia Award (Silver)" in 2001 and the "Magnolia Award (Gold)" in 2003. Under his leadership, DeCocinis has led the hotel to win multiple awards.

The hotel also achieved 100 per cent satisfaction during the 2003 Employee Satisfaction Survey conducted by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, and is ranked number one in the company.

The News

Over the past year, the Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai has taken the hassle out of checking out for business or leisure visitors with the debut of the "In-Room Check-Out."

The farewell extended to each guest begins on the eve of departure for guests who have confirmed their departure details and booked the hotel limousine in advance. A copy of the bill is prepared together with the Health Declaration Form and the Immigration Departure Card. On the day of departure, the bill is brought up to the guestroom; thus eliminating the need to check out at the front desk. Upon arrival at the airport, airport representatives receive the guest.

The Hotel

Located 20 minutes from the Hong Qiao International Airport and 40 minutes from Pudong International Airport, the 578-room Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai is a landmark building located in a retail, dining and entertainment complex on the famous Nanjing Road.

The facilities include six restaurants and lounges serving Chinese, Italian, Japanese and Western favourites. An extensive health club with swimming pool, gym, indoor tennis court, squash and racquetball courts is featured alongside a 24-hour business centre. Functions can be held in one of several rooms, including the Grand Ballroom and business travellers are well catered for with The Ritz-Carlton Club, which has private meeting rooms, an exclusive lounge for private 24-hour check in/out and a dedicated concierge services and catering team.

THE PORTMAN RITZ-CARLTON, SHANGHAI

Shanghai Centre

1376 Nanjing Xi Lu

Shanghai 200040, China

Ph: 86 21 6279 8888

Fax: 86 21 6279 8800

www.ritzcarlton.com

Other Finalists: China World Hotel, Beijing; Four Seasons Hotel, Shanghai; grand Hyatt Shanghai; The Kerry Centre Hotel, Beijing; The Palace Hotel Beijing; The St Regis Beijing; The St Regis Shanghai.

BEST BUSINESS HOTEL IN AUSTRALIA

WINNER: Crown Towers & Entertainment Complex, Melbourne

The News

For the first time Crown Towers has won the award for Best Business Hotel in Australia. A number of features led to it being chosen including the fact its hotel boasts the largest and most versatile convention and meeting facilities in Australia. Palladium at Crown, Australia's largest hotel multi-purpose pillar-less venue can play host to 2500 people. All of Crown Towers' 482 luxuriously appointed oversized guest rooms have and feature a truly unique level of comfort and finish.

The Hotel

The Crown Towers is ideally situated on Melbourne's Yarra River at Southbank with spectacular views to the city or...