msafiri 99

msafiri mostly in Louis XIV or Louis XV style, with four- poster beds, marble bathrooms, antique fireplaces, wall clocks and other touches from Paris's elegant past. Its Restaurant L'Espadon has a Michelin star, while there are several bars including the Bar Hemingway, re-named after the American author for whom it was one of the best places in Paris for a drink. Business facilities: A 24- hour business centre offers PCs, printers, faxes, high- speed internet, a screen giving the latest market prices, and a range of international economic magazines and newspapers. The desk can arrange translation and secretarial services in many languages, and can also rent out mobile phones. IT equipment can be installed in any room, if requested when booking. Double room: Rooms start from about US$ 900, suites from about US$ 1200, including taxes but not breakfast. 15 place Vendôme, tel: + 33 ( 0) 1 43 16 36 68, resa@ ritzparis. com, www. ritzparis. com ALSO CONSIDER: Q MURANO URBAN RESORT If your aim is to impress, the Murano is the address, especially if you can book one of the suites that has its own private pool. Rooms open to your fingerprint, the décor is minimalist and, although the business facilities are nothing special, the cachet of staying here can't be beaten. Tel: + 33 ( 0) 1 42 71 20 00, www. muranoresort. com Q PULLMAN PARIS, LA DÉFENSE If you need to be based at La Défense, then the stylish Pullman has some of the best business facilities in this ultra- modern business district. There's a self- service business centre and a centre with support staff, phone PARIS Lucky is the person who gets to do business in Paris. You combine one of the greatest and most beautiful cities in the world with one of the biggest economies in Europe. If the Paris area were a country it would have one of the top twenty GDPs in the world. Not to mention some of the world's greatest art collections, and the facts that it is still one of the fashion and food capitals of the world and it has fine business facilities. TIME TO SLEEP Q FOUR SEASONS GEORGE V The moment you walk into the flower- filled lobby you know this is a top hotel. Anyone who's anyone has stayed here, and the service is impeccable. It has to be, when you're used to entertaining princes and presidents. Even the least expensive rooms have crystal chandeliers, desks, armchairs and marble bathrooms. Le Cinq is also one of the best hotel restaurants in Paris, with two Michelin stars. Business facilities: Business services at the George V are available 24- hours and include secretarial and translation services, hire of mobile phones and computers, audio-visual equipment, and wired and wireless high- speed internet access in meeting rooms. This is also available in all guest rooms, with multi- line phones and voice- mail, and with fax machines available on request. Double room: Rooms start from about US$ 900, suites from about US$ 1700, including taxes but not breakfast. 31 avenue George V, tel: + 33 ( 0) 1 49 52 70 00, www. fourseasons. com Q HÔTEL LE BRISTOL The Faubourg St- Honoré is one of the grandest streets in Paris, with designer shops like Versace and Hermes, and it's also where the Presidential Palace is. The Bristol opened in 1924, and the rooms are in the classic French style, very indulgent and opulent, and every room is refurbished every three years. The Michelin- starred restaurant switches between its winter location in a classical room with Regency oak wood- panelling and its summer location in a light and spacious conservatory with more tables out on the terrace. Business facilities: The hotel has a Business Centre open Mon- Fri 8am- 10pm, and at other times by arrangement, to help with secretarial and translation services. The centre has photocopying and fax facilities and computers with internet access. All rooms have DSL high- speed computer outlets, and there are several banqueting rooms available for private dining. Double room: Rooms start from about US$ 900, suites from about US$ 1200, including taxes but not breakfast. 112 rue du Faubourg St- Honoré, tel: + 33 ( 0) 1 53 43 43 00, resa@ lebristolparis. com, www. hotel- bristol. com Q HÔTEL RITZ The Ritz has always been the best address in Paris, since it opened as a luxury hotel in 1898. Each room and suite is individually and opulently decorated, THE BASICS CALL: city code ( 01), country code ( 33), international dialling code ( 00). COURIERS: DHL ( tel: 01- 53007505, www. dhl. fr), Fedex ( tel: 01- 40069016, www. fedex. com), UPS ( tel: 0821- 233- 877, www. ups. com) CURRENCY: Euro, US$ 1 = € 0.788 NEWSPAPERS: Weekly: Le Journal du Dimanche. Daily: Le Monde, Libération, Le Figaro, Le Parisien, International Herald Tribune TIME: GMT+ 1 TIPPING: About 10% is the norm for good service. Service is almost always included in restaurant bills, but look for the words Service non compris ( Service not included), in which case leave 10- 15%. TOURIST INFO: Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau, 25 rue des Pyramides, Paris 75001, tel: 08- 92- 68- 3000, www. paris- info- com TRANSFERS: All hotels listed can arrange transfers. Taxis and buses are available. guide business travellers' 100 Four Seasons George V Four Seasons George V Murano Urban Resort Four Seasons George V