Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse
Elegance meets pragmatism in this top business hotel on Surawong Road, just one street over from bustling Silom Road, which anchors Bangkok’s financial district. One floor is dedicated to function rooms of various sizes, and executive rooms and suites have access to the 24-hour M Club lounge, which includes meal services, happy hour and two hours of meeting room use each day. MahaNakhon skyscraper, where the nearest BTS Skytrain station is located, is nearby, while the MRT is a few minutes away by taxi. Read more >
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
Blending 140 years of history and modern business amenities, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok stands apart on the banks of the Chao Phraya river. Guests are just 15 minutes from downtown via the nearby Surasak BTS station, and the hotel’s proximity to the airport expressway is also a time saver. Suites all feature separate living rooms with desks, providing plenty of space for meetings, while the business centre has four workstations and two boardrooms. For larger events, a conference planner is on staff to organise all the details. Read more >
Park Hyatt Bangkok
A superb downtown location and thoughtful services provide convenience for business travellers, but the Park Hyatt Bangkok also takes care of your downtime, with an infinity pool, on-site spa and plentiful shopping in the mall below. Twelve meeting venues span more than 21,500 square feet, while restaurants and a rooftop bar offer additional space for casual talks. Rooms, which occupy the 12th to 33rd floors of Central Embassy, have large desks for getting work done, and a fast-track pick-up service from the airport arrival gate speeds guests through immigration straight to the hotel. Read more >
Waldorf Astoria Bangkok
Waldorf Astoria made its South East Asia debut in Bangkok with dramatic touches like a sweeping spiral staircase, golden textiles in the rooms and an outdoor pool. Its location at the bustling Ratchaprasong intersection in the heart of Bangkok is handy for business travellers, with nearby MRT stations providing access to the two main airports and beyond. Especially handy for the busy executive in a rush is the brand’s signature 24-hour butler service, which can take care of urgent shirt pressings and late-night food cravings. Read more >
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur
The Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur is what hoteliers call an urban resort – a species of hotel combining city centre convenience with a retreat-like sense of escape. With just 55 rooms and suites, there’s a secluded, boutique feel that’s conducive to getting work done and the resort has a dedicated team of event planners and three large boardrooms stocked with state-of-the-art presentation equipment. Throw in the open-air swimming pool, gym, spa and rooftop bar and you’ve got the total bleisure experience. Read more >
Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Situated in the city’s Golden Triangle shopping and nightlife district, the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur has all the amenities for business travellers also looking to enjoy their downtime. The hotel is part of the KLCC office and mall complex, which has its own LRT station, and is close to the city’s prestigious office towers – including the Petronas Twin Towers. For meetings and events there are six function rooms; a more intimate option is the private dining room at Chinese restaurant Yun House. Rooms come with floor-to-ceiling windows and large desks – or book a club room or a suite for executive club lounge access. Read more >
The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur
For two decades, The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur has been a landmark of the city, catering to business and leisure guests alike. Its relaunch in 2016 unveiled a bright and modern new aesthetic to the 364 rooms, suites and facilities. For business travellers, the Club Lounge is the social place to work and unwind, with five food and drink presentations a day and all the business services you need. There are private meeting rooms for up to 10 people, while large functions can be held in the Carlton Conference Centre’s 15 meeting rooms and a 5,000-square-foot banquet hall. Read more >
Singapore
Andaz Singapore
The Andre Fu-designed hotel in Bugis epitomises the ‘bleisure’ trend in hospitality, offering the best of both worlds: it’s outside the CBD while just a few minutes from Marina Bay Sands, Suntec City and Raffles City. After your meetings are finished, the Andaz is close to plenty of post-work dinner and drink spots, including those lining Haji Lane. Instead of an executive lounge, the entire 25th-floor reception has been designed with work in mind. Inspired by Bugis shophouses, there are bars, lounges, cafes and restaurants, all ideal for meetings, drinks or a few emails. Events can be held in the rooms on The Alley on 3 or in the Glasshouse, a light-filled box that can accommodate larger functions. Read more >
The Fullerton Singapore
Sometimes you just can’t beat a grand old dame. On the south bank of the Singapore river, The Fullerton features the classic elegance you’d expect from a heritage hotel, but modern business travellers are well catered for with broad desks, excellent Wi-Fi and a complimentary smartphone with unlimited data during your stay. The light-filled lobby is suited to informal meetings; the Straits Club lounge provides something more intimate; while the 600-capacity ballroom is one of the city’s most sought-after function spaces. You’re also right in the CBD, with Raffles Place MRT nearby and the airport is just 20 minutes by car. Read more >
JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach
Left:Rendy Aryanto/Visual Verve Studios; Right:Rory Daniel
It’s hardly surprising that JW Marriott won for Top Hotel Brand – Business in the 2018 Marco Polo Club Members’ Choice Awards. The hotel sits at the hip, lifestyle end of the business hotel spectrum, with interiors by Philippe Starck and architecture by Foster + Partners. The wave-inspired roof is #Instagrammable, while several of the hotel’s heritage buildings have been converted into event spaces for intimate or medium-size gatherings. The sprawling executive lounge, on the other hand, is the coolest place in the complex to get through some emails (there’s Wi-Fi throughout). Read more >
Sofitel Singapore City Centre
Located on the edge of the city’s Downtown Core, Sofitel Singapore City Centre is a trendy hotel choice that’s also well placed for those who want to mix business with leisure. Getting around the city is easy with Tanjong Pagar MRT station close by, while next door Tanjong Pagar Plaza and the bars and restaurants of hip Telok Ayer are just a stroll away. Meeting spaces are plentiful, from the 6,500-square-foot ballroom to smaller boardrooms and the airy lobby, and each of the 223 rooms and suites features ample natural light and simple, functional work spaces with phones equipped to call 10 countries free of charge. Read more >
Yangon, Myanmar
Sedona Hotel Yangon
As Myanmar has welcomed increasing numbers of international visitors and businesses in the past few years, hotels have upped their game to meet travellers’ needs. The Sedona Hotel Yangon, originally opened in the 1990s, recently updated the Garden Wing rooms and added the sophisticated Inya Wing, where a subtle parasol design theme brings a Burmese feel to the otherwise modern accommodation. Most of the suites feature separate living areas for informal meetings. An Executive Club Lounge on the 25th floor that makes it easy to stay productive in Myanmar’s urban centre, and the hotel’s location halfway between the airport and downtown can be a significant timesaver. Read more >
