Voting now open.

• Position: 2005 BEST BUSINESS HOTELS IN ASIA AWARDS

Yes, it's 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 it you can give something back by picking the very best hotels across the Asia Pacific region.

For 2005 we will again have online voting so for the fastest way to vote log on to: www.charlton.com.au/default_events.asp 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.

Grand Hyatt Melbourne

123 Collins Street, Melbourne Australia, Ph: +613 9657 1234, Fax: +613 9650 3491, melbourne.grand.hyatt.com

Located in busy Collins St, the art and shopping heart of Melbourne, the Grand Hyatt Melbourne features 521 guest rooms with 18 suites, four deluxe suites, three diplomatic suites and one presidential suite. Each room has three dual fine direct dial telephones.

Park Hyatt Melbourne

1 Parliament Square, Melbourne Australia, Ph: +613 9224 1234, Fax: +613 0224 1200, 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, 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, www.shangri-la.com, Ph: (61-2) 9250 6000, Fax: (61-2) 9250 6250

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.

W Hotel Sydney

6 Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo Sydney, Australia, Ph: +612 9331 9000 Fax: +612 9331 9031, www.whotels.com

W Hotel Sydney is built within a historic wharf building, and combines old industrial charm with the best modern luxury can provide. Situated in Woolloomooloo amidst a luxury marina and entertainment complex, the hotel's 104 rooms come in a variety of sizes.

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.

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 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.

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 Beijing 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 retail, dining and entertainment complex on the famous Nanjing Xi Lu in the heart of the city.

The St Regis Beijing

21 JianGuomenwai Dajie, Beijing China, Ph: +8610 6460 6688, Fax: +8610 6460 3299, www.starwood.com/stregis

Tradition and luxury are the cornerstones of The St Regis, located on the historic site of the Beijing International Club in the city's diplomatic district. Government officials and foreign dignitaries are included in the regular guest list, making the most of the 273 elegant rooms.

The St Regis Shanghai

889 Dong Fang Road, Pudong District, Shanghai China, Ph: +8621 5050 4567, Fax: +8621 6875 6789, www.starwood.com/stregis

The modern and sleek The St Regis Shanghai can be found in the heart of the city's financial district and is close to cultural attractions and convention centres. The 318 guest rooms and suites are serviced by a 24-hour butler service and there's also a 24-hour business centre.

The Westin Shanghai

Bund Center, 88 Henan Central Road, Shanghai, 200002 China, Ph: (86)(21) 6335 1888

Fax: (86)(21) 6335 2888, www.westin.com/ shanghai

Rising 26 stories high, The Westin Shanghai showcases international hotel standards amid an enclave of European architectural landmarks from the 1920's and 1930's. A mere 5-minute walk away is the elegant waterfront of the Bund-sometimes referred to as the birthplace of Shanghai. The hotel has many dining facilities as well as a private spa, fitness center and swimming pool.

Hong Kong

Conrad Hong Kong

Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong, Ph: +852 2521 3838, Fax: +852 2521 3888, www.conrad.com.hk

The Conrad Hong Kong rises 61 floors above the Pacific Place Shopping Centre, in the heart of the city's business district. The 513 rooms, including 46 suites, offer vistas of the city, Victoria Peak or Hong Kong Harbour.

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong

1 Harbour Road, Hong Kong, Ph: +852 2588 1234, Fax: +852 2802 0677, www.hongkong.grand.hyatt.com

Hyatt International's flagship hotel is positioned in the heart of the city, with views of Victoria Harbour. More than 70 per cent of the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong's 556 rooms and suites command this spectacular outlook.

InterContinental Hong Kong

18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon Hong Kong, Ph: +852 2721 1211, Fax: 852 2739 4546, www.hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com

More than two-thirds and all of the 92 suites, boast views over Victoria Harbour and to Hong Kong Island. Furnished in rich silks, the rooms are decorated with Asian art and offer luxury features such as sunken marble bathtubs.

Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong

Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Central Hong Kong, Ph: +852 2877 3838, Fax: +852 2521 8742, www.shangri-la.com

Centrally located in the heart of Hong Kong, the Island Shangri-La towers 56 floors above Victoria Harbour. The hotel has direct access to Pacific Place, which is the island's most prestigious shopping and entertainment complex.

JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong

1 Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong, Ph: +852 2810 8366, Fax...