Voting continues.

• Position: Voting on 2006 best business hotel awards

Voting has been open for some time now and we have already received a record number of votes so if you haven't already voted, now is the time to get your vote in for the Best Business Hotels in Asia Awards.

Every year we receive around 17,000 votes and we expect that this year will see a rise in the number yet again, but we can't do anything without your help! So, have a look at the nominated hotels on the following pages and see which ones you think are the best hotels, taking into account facilities, service, position and that great deciding factor--character.

Most of our readers are regular business and pleasure travellers so it is only fitting that we leave the voting to you. We don't play any part in the voting process aside from gathering them.

For the hotels these awards are the pinnacle of their year. All hotel staff and managers work exceptionally hard throughout the year to make your lives as comfortable as possible, so it's good if you can give something back by picking the very best hotels across the Asia Pacific region.

For 2006 we will again have online voting so for the fastest way to vote log on to: www.charlton.com.au and VOTE NOW!

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

First Charlton Communications, Level 8, 122 Arthur Street, North Sydney NSW 2060 Australia

Ph: 61 2 9957 6555, Fax: 61 2 9957 1512

Email: events@charlton.com.au, Website: www.charlton.com.au

Australia

Crown Towers 8 Whiteman St Southbank, Melbourne Australia, Ph: +613 9292 6666, Fax: +61 9282 6600, www.crowntowers.com.au

The Crown Towers is ideally situated on Melbourne's Yarra River at Southbank, making the city's CBD and entertainment areas only minutes away. The hotel features 484 oversized guest rooms, including 84 suites and villas.

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney 199 George St, Sydney Australia, Ph: +612 9238 0000, Fax: +612 9251 2851, www.fourseasons.com/sydney

Situated minutes away from Sydney's historic Rocks district and just down the road from the CBD, the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney is in an ideal location for both business and leisure travellers. The hotel has 531 rooms and suites.

Hilton Hotel, Sydney 488 George Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia, Ph: + 612 9266 2000, Email: sydney@hilton.com, www.hiltonsydney.com.au

The new Hilton Sydney, refurbished and re-opened in 2005 has reclaimed its title as the place to 'eat, meet, sleep and play' in the heart of Sydney. It features a dramatic, sun filled 20 metre lobby in the heart of the site, 577 exquisitely furnished suites and rooms, and boasts the largest hotel conference space in Australia and the first to be purposely designed and built for the conference, events and exhibition industry. The hotel offers four dedicated levels of space with a combined capacity for 3000 delegates. All of the Hotel's features and facilities can be found on it's website.

Observatory Hotel, Sydney 89-113 Kent Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia, Ph: +61 2 9256 2222, Email: email@observatoryhotel.com.au, www.observatoryhotel.com.au

The Observatory Hotel is the ideal base from which to work and explore Australia's most vibrant city. Superbly located near Sydney's historic Rocks and central business district, nestled near the vibrant harbour and the world famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, this is an enviable location close to the bustling heart of the city.

Langham Hotel, Melbourne One Southgate Avenue, Southbank, Victoria 3006, Australia. Ph: +61 (0)3 8696 8888, www.langhamhotelmelbourne.com.au

The Hotel brings 5 star quality and service to a 5 star location on the banks of the Yarra River. The hotel is within easy reach of the city's business district, fashion, shopping, parks and gardens, and some of Melbourne's best restaurants, bars and cafes. All 387 guest rooms and suites are elegantly appointed and add to the luxurious experience of staying at the Langham Hotel. All rooms offer broadband internet access, an armchair and ottoman for relaxing and the new Langham 'Blissful' bed for a wonderful night's sleep.

Park Hyatt Melbourne 1 Parliament Square, Melbourne Australia, Ph: +613 9224 1234, Fax: +613 0224 1200, www.melbourne.park.hyatt.com

The Park Hyatt wears its sophistication on its sleeve, with specially commissioned contemporary artworks displayed throughout the hotel. Located at the top of Collins St (opposite St Patrick's Cathedral), it has 260 rooms, including 26 Regency Club rooms and 14 Recency Club studios.

Park Hyatt Sydney 7 Hickson Road, Sydney Australia, Ph: +612 9241 1234, Fax: +612 9256 1555, www.sydney.park.hyatt.com

Those wanting great views of Sydney won't find much better than those offered at the Park Hyatt Sydney. Placed at the water's edge of the harbour, the hotel's 158 rooms and suites have views of the city skyline, the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

Shangri-la Hotel, Sydney 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney Australia, Ph: (61-2) 9250 6000, Fax: (61-2) 9250 6250, www.shangri-la.com

The hotel is perfectly positioned between the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge where guests can enjoy the Sydney experience in comfort and style that is unmistakably five star, in an area that offers shopping and a wide variety of restaurants, pubs and bars.

The Westin Melbourne 205 Collins Street, Melbourne Australia, Ph: +613 9635 2222, Fax: +613 9635 2333, http://www.westin.com.au/m_index.html

All of the Westin Melbourne's 262 rooms have been designed with simplicity and elegance. With a choice of king, queen or twin-sized beds, the Westin rooms feature an extra large bath with separate shower. Superior rooms have bay windows overlooking St Paul's Cathedral.

The Westin Sydney No 1 Martin Place, Sydney Australia, Ph: +612 8223 1111, Fax: +612 8223 1222, www. westin.com.au/sf_index.html

The Westin Sydney, located between George and Pitt St, is in the heart of Sydney's CBD and shopping areas. The hotel has two wings--the Tower Building and the Heritage Wing--which offer guests a distinctive style of accommodation.

China

China World Hotel, Beijing 1 Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue, Beijing 100004 China, Ph: +8610 6505 2266, Fax: +8610 65050828, www.shangri-la.com

Part of the World Trade Centre, the China World Hotel is in the heart of the diplomatic and financial district, near the Forbidden City. Its unique location means the hotel can offer access to extensive conference and exhibition facilities.

Crowne Plaza, Shenzhen 9026 Shennan Rd, Oct, Shenzhen, 518053 China, Ph: Bookings 1 800 007 697, Front Desk: 86755-26936888, Fax: 86-755-26936999, www. crowneplaza.com

Crowne Plaza Shenzhen is the first 5-star business-leisure theme hotel of Venice cultural style in China. It is a global business hotel that truly understands and fulfills the needs of the business travellers. Eight meeting rooms and the Venice Ballroom, designed to seat 12-700 people come equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual systems and Broadband Internet access.

Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai 500 Weihai Road, Shanghai China, Ph +8621 6256 8888, Fax: +8621 6256 5678, www.fourseasons.com

Located in bustling downtown Shanghai, the Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai is only a short distance from the shopping, entertainment and business areas of Nanjing and Huaihai Road. The 37-storey hotel includes 439 rooms and suites.

Grand Hyatt Beijing 1 East Chang An Avenue, Beijing, People's Republic of China 100738, Ph: 86 10 8518 1234, Fax: +86 10 8518 0000, Email: reservation.beigh@hyattintl. com, www.beijing.grand.hyatt.com

The Grand Hyatt Beijing is one of the finest hotels in Beijing and indeed China. In the prestigious Oriental Plaza in the centre of Beijing, the hotel is just moments from Tian An Men Square, the Forbidden City, the city centre and the Wang Fu Jing shopping street. The Grand Hyatt Beijing is a modern, elegant hotel, offering the best of both worlds--a subtle blend of Western and Oriental traditions encompassing contemporary hotel design and convenience with classic standards of service and excellence.

Grand Hyatt Shanghai Jin Mao Tower, 88 Century Boulevard. Pudong, Shanghai China, Ph: +8621 5049 1234, Fax: +8621 5049 1111, www.shanghai.grand.hyatt.com

Laying claim to the title of "the highest hotel in the world", the Grand Hyatt Shanghai takes up the 53rd to 87th floors of the Jin Mao Tower in the financial and business district, Pudong. As a result, the 555 guest rooms and suites offer spectacular views.

Hyatt Regency, Hangzhou 28 Hu Bin Road, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China 310006, Ph: +86 571 8779 1234, Fax: +86 571 8779 1818, Email: hangz.reservation@ hyattintl.com, www.hangzhou.regency.hyatt.com

The hotel in Hangzhou China is part of a prestigious development comprising of an exclusive residential complex and trendy department store. The Hyatt Regency Hangzhou Hotel is within walking distance to the business shopping and entertainment areas and 40 minutes from Xiaoshan International Airport.

The Kerry Centre Hotel, Beijing 1 Guang Hua Road, Beijing China, Ph: +8610 6561 8833, Fax: +8610 6561 2626, www.shangri-la.com

The Kerry Centre Hotel is situated in the Chaoyang district of Beijing, placing it in the heart of the city's diplomatic, commercial and financial centre. Boasting modern, stylish ambience, the hotel's 487 rooms are all of a contemporary design.

The Peninsula Palace Hotel Beijing 8 Goldfish Lane, Wangfujing, Beijing China, Ph: +8610 6559 2888, Fax: +8610 6512 9050, Toll free: 10 800 852 0492, www.fasttrack.beijing.peninsula.com

In the centre of the city, The Palace Hotel has 530 guest rooms and suites. The hotel is well set-up to cater for the business traveller and business events. There are seven function rooms, including the Crystal Ballroom, which accommodates up to 600 guests.

The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, Shanghai China, Ph: +8621 6279 8888, Fax: +8621 6279 8800, www.ritzcarlton.com

Reigning holder of the Overall Best Business Hotel in Asia, The Portman Ritz-Carlton, is the focal point of the Shanghai Centre, and is part of a...