CNBC Business | Top 25 Business Hotels 2009

Top 25 Business Hotels 2009

Our annual guide to Europe's top offerings for the business traveller

This year, CNBC Business has refined its criteria for ranking Europe's best hotels for business travellers. While we still insist upon outstanding service and facilities, in these straitened times, value for money must be considered, too. We're not necessarily prescribing austerity — an ionised pool and snappy room service would make most business travellers more productive — and luxury and value are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, there is a case that those four-figure thread counts or lobby harpists are good calls for the chronically insomnolent or the highly strung go-getter.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that the best "business package" currently offered by our top-rated hotel in 2008, The Four Seasons George V Paris – one of the world's greatest addresses – weighs in at €780 a night. Sure, it includes breakfast and internet access, and is only €50 more than the room-only rack rate but it would take more than a croissant basket and some sweet dreams of Carla Bruni to persuade your financial director that this was your smartest booking in the prevailing climate.

Another absentee from our list this year is the Hotel Adlon Kempinski, possibly the best hotel in Europe's most happening city, Berlin. Staff in the hotel's fluffy new spa and 24-hour business centre may bend over backwards to please but to charge €27 for 24-hour in-room Wi-Fi – in a city where free connectivity is as omnipresent as performance artists – is as much bad manners as it is bad business. Other illustrious hotels have been struck from our list for this reason – plus the even bigger outrage of charging for that bedside bottle of mineral water– unless they have really made amends in their pricing policy, rather than simply adorning the crime scene with a pillow menu.

So this year we are honouring the best hotels for business in terms of location, service, amenities, style, ambience, and value for money. Oh, and we've also considered the ease of website booking – after all, time is money too.

25. The Bloomsbury Hotel, London Far more restrained than The Doyle Collection's usual fussy makovers (apart from the treacly-prosed website) this is actually a jewel. For rooms starting at around £115 (€135) a night (and negotiable for businesses) this is The Haymarket-lite, with a much better bar and restaurant than you'd expect, proper business facilites and handy for the Eurostar at St Pancras. doylecollection.com

24. The Dominican, Brussels This design-oriented central hotel, behind a 19th-century façade, is a welcome, well-priced addition to the city. A bar, restaurant, and lobby surround a central atrium. Rooms are well designed (Nespresso machine, free internet, flat-screen TV); bathrooms striking. Sauna and gym. thedominican.be

23. Bairro Alto Hotel, Lisbon Yes the new Lisbon Sheraton is great but this groundbreaking (for Lisbon) boutique perfectly blends the in-room comforts (plasma TV, Wi-Fi) with old-world architectural details. Its central location, busy bar, restaurant, gym, and 24-hour room service make this 55-roomer a delight. Special offers are particularly enticing. bairroaltohotel.com

22. Sofitel Brussels Le Louise Fully refurbished in 2008, the very comfortable Sofitel Brussels Le Louise is in the city's pricey boutique hub, five minutes from the Eurostar station. Rooms and suites are modern, airy and well appointed (with free Wi-Fi) and the hotel has four meeting and conference rooms and a health club. sofitel.com

21. Radisson SAS 1919 Hotel, Reykjavik The collapse of the Icelandic economy means it is now possible to stay at a nice hotel in Reykjavik without having to catch your own fish but there is no need to spring for the ultra cool Hotel 101. Better value is the slick 1919, in the centre and within walking distance of the commercial and shopping area. This is a fine hotel well geared up for business travellers, with three-hour Express Laundry and Grab & Run breakfasts. radissonblu.com

20. The Andaz, London Andaz may mean "personal style" in Hindi but we noted last year this more-hip-than-hippy Hyatt adjacent to Liverpool Street Station means business. Check-in is with handheld PCs; rooms have Eames chairs and ergonomic desks Rates are inclusive of Wi-Fi, local landline calls and mini-bar juices, water and snacks. Food has consistently proved far better than it needs to be in the five restaurants (there are also five bars) within the hotel, including a traditional Japanese, a marbled seafood bar and the new 1901 restaurant. For business, there are 14 private dining and event rooms (including the slightly creepy Masonic Temple and loft-style Studio space). london.liverpoolstreet.andaz.com

19. ME Barcelona, Barcelona At the centre of the city's architectural and cultural must-sees — and also close to the Barcelona International Convention Centre — this is a supremely stylish and well-priced hotel, with an impressive roof terrace, spa, well-equipped bedrooms (with free Wi-Fi) and lavish bathrooms. Despite the slightly groovy Austin Powers vibe, this hotel is serious about business; there are two large-capacity, all-purpose meeting rooms and a whole slew of smaller rooms. me-barcelona.com

18. Cocoon, Munich ‘Check in and chill out' is the mantra here, with every room equipped with a divan-like space for work or napping, bang-up-to-the-minute iPod docks and free Wi-Fi. Dubbed a ‘lifestyle budget boutique', singles start at €69 per night. The concept may become a fully-fledged chain if founder Johannes Eckelmann has his way. hotel-cocoon.de

17. The George, Hamburg With its public areas more of the Shoreditch or Lower East Side lived-in look than the usual design hotels, and guestrooms sleek, modern and well appointed, this is a reasonably-priced gem. Complimentary croissant breakfast is served in the bar or there is the all-you-can-carry buffet for €15. The spa is a real bonus. thegeorge-hotel.de

16. Park Hyatt Istanbul Located in the fashionable Nisantasi residential and shopping district, and a five-minute walk from Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Centre, this recently opened property this a superb hotel, if not the best in the Park Hyatt's collection. Modern, well-designed rooms with work areas and high-spec tech kit; spa and outside pool; and full-service business centre. istanbul.park.hyatt.com

15. Hôtel Scribe, Paris Reopened by Sofitel in 2007, this is exactly as you'd imagine a Parisian hotel — elegant and luxurious, nestled between the Opéra Garnier and the Place Vendôme. The fact that it has such a high-quality, modernising refit and an even bigger spa without losing any charm is a bonus. Definitely one to consider as a alternative to the city's pricey palaces. sofitel.com

14. Four Seasons Gresham Palace, Budapest This art nouveau landmark, transformed into a hotel offering every modern comfort is one of the jewels in this peerless company's crown. It is also one of the best priced, proving that luxury and good value can go white-gloved-hand-in-hand. It makes you wonder why free lobby coffee and mineral water isn't available in every hotel. The only blot is the charge for Wi-Fi and the outmoded 3pm check-in time. fourseasons.com

13. Grand Hôtel, Stockholm A genuine grand hotel geared for business, with five-star service and slick, modern facilities to back the promises. Award-winning chef Mathias Dahlgren and designer Ilsa Crawford have recently enhanced the experience. Book 30 days in advance and save 40% off the best available room rate. grandhotel.se

12. The Lowry Hotel, Manchester This stylish Rocco Forte venue continues to impress this business-oriented city. Rooms are large, well appointed and well-kitted out. Service is slick and the business and leisure facilities impressive. A corporate package offers breakfast, internet access and spa access for £140 (€165) per night. However the hotel has a less palatable Forte trademark: guests are charged £15 (€17.50) for 24 hours Wi-Fi usage. Non-residents are shown even more disdain: 90-minutes' lobby surfing costs £10 (11.75) or £3 (€3.50) for 15 minutes. thelowryhotel.com

11. Sofitel Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin Highly regarded boutique with great location, well-equipped rooms, cool gym and rooftop spa. The Aigner Restaurant, open until midnight, gives neighbouring favourite Borchardt a run for its money, while the room tariffs make business sense for those who don't require the theatricality of, say, the nearby De Rome or The Regent. accorhotels.com

10. Golden Apple, Moscow A five-star boutique is rare for Moscow but the Golden Apple offers a high level of service, design and amenities that the most jaded of business traveller will find refreshing. If you do begin to crave black marble and mink-thick carpets, remember that the cheapest rooms here are a third of the price of those at the Ritz-Carlton. goldenapple.ru

9. Das Triest, Vienna Maybe not as glam or as central as the equally impressive DO & CO but this stylish and comfortable Conran boutique is extremely well-priced for Vienna, handsomely equipped for business and designed for indulgence. The superb Silver Bar and courtyard garden deserve special mention. Inquire about the business specials. dastriest.at

8. Room Mate, Madrid We're cheating slightly, as there are four Room Mates in Madrid, part of a sunny chain that covers Spain, has New York and Miami offerings, and is opening soon in Mexico City and Buenos Aires. The Madrid Mario — minimalist with colourful splashes, buffet breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs — is best situated for the business district. The Business Friend scheme reduces further the already attention-grabbing prices. room-matehotels.com

7. Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Hamburg This is a truly grand hotel, with impressive spa and large state-of-the-art business facilities and very comfortable restaurants and bars. If the service were any more polished you'd see your reflection in the receptionist's teeth. Rooms have just been refurbished to a high standard in a particularly demanding city. Wi-Fi is free and week-in-advance rates start at €150 a night. fairmont.com

6. Roomers, Frankfurt This 21st-century take on the gentleman's club — dark, discreet and with a hint of decadence — has neatly designed and elegant rooms, Wi-Fi, and a superb business centre. But once you've seen the rooftop spa, you'll never want to leave; in this after-work haven you can watch Frankfurt's lights from the comfort of a jet pool. There is an elegant restaurant, a large patio area, and a smoky after hours bar, too. roomers.eu

5. The Virtus, Milan Self-billed as Europe's First Urban Luxury Resort, The Virtus (formerly the Chedi) is exactly what Milan needs and pretty much what every business traveller needs in Italy: Asian service. It also has large, particularly well-equipped rooms, a superb spa and a slick range of conference and delegate facilities. Prices are reasonable too. thevirtusmilan.com

4. CitizenM, Amsterdam Amsterdam's poddish CitizenM has shown that you can provide innovative design, king-size beds, rain power showers, free on-demand movies, free Wi-Fi, VoiP telephone rates and Frette bed linens plus Eames and Panton seating in the lobby and a 24/7 food and beverage outlet for pocket money. In a city where so many hotels are overpriced and underdesigned this is some feat. We cannot wait for the Europe-wide rollout to begin. citizenm.com

3. First Hotel Skt Petri, Copenhagen In the city centre, a five-minute walk from Stroget, the main shopping street, this sleek, design-focused hotel — wooden floors, white linen, handleless furniture, and white walls adorned with bright blotches — suits business or pleasure. The restaurant is informal but efficient and the cocktail bar is still buzzy six years after it opened. There is a bewildering choice of rooms, from small to the slightly offensive-sounding XX-Large Suites. An event room can seat up to 240, and there are six conference rooms. firsthotels.com

2. The Hoxton Hotel, London The highest praise we can pay The Hoxton is that it hasn't introduced any major initiatives this year and it still bounds onto the list. Maybe that's because its slogan "Luxury where it matters, Budget where it counts" chimes now more than ever. With Frette sheets and duck down duvets, flat-screen TV, Aveda in the bathroom and free Wi-Fi, an exposed-brick lobby has never seemed so welcoming. The meeting area, including self-service Larder" seems good value too. hoxtonhotels.com

1. Mama Shelter, Paris Vive le credit crunch! With 172 compact rooms set over seven breeze-block baring floors, Mama's all about witty Philippe Starck style on a budget: tongue-in-cheek, down-home Americana for iPhone-toting creatives. Rooms range from the basic Mama (17m2 from €79) to Big Mama (35m2 with living room and terrace, from €139). By day, communal areas are perfect for working and meeting, with free Wi-Fi throughout. All rooms offer iMacs, TV, radio, Skype, or playing CDs and DVDs. At night, though, the buzzy lounge-bar becomes a great place to unwind. mamashelter.com

Notable 2010 openings

Moscow – Radisson Royal, Grand Hyatt, InterContinental
You wait ages for a new luxury hotel in Moscow, then three come along. First up is the Radisson Royal, due to open in December in the Stalinist splendours of the Ukraina building, one of the city's Seven Sisters group of skyscrapers – and with 507 rooms and 38 serviced apartments, it will be one of the largest in Moscow. It'll be joined in next year by the 368-room Grand Hyatt, billed as Europe's tallest hotel — the lobby will be on Level 91 — and the centrepiece of the new Moscow City development to the west of the capital. Finally, next autumn InterContinental returns to Moscow with a 203-room ultra-luxe property in a new-build on Tverskaya, part of a huge retail-commercial development. In all, that's around 1,000 new rooms — hopefully enough to ease the strain on pricing and also spur some of the city's older properties into undergoing much-needed refurbs.

Jumeirah, Frankfurt
From Dubai to downtown Frankfurt, Jumeirah's come a long way. Will the Gulf group's gilt and glitz pass muster in Germany's banking capital? Well, judging by the futuristic, new MyZeil mall, the locals are already hankering for a bit of Burj bling. This 219-room property in the Palais Quartier development, close by in the heart of downtown, looks set to be a hit.

Shangri-La, Paris
Belle Epoque meets Bangkok, as the Asian luxury group makes its first foray into Europe. And what a foray: 16th arrondissement overlooking the Eiffel Tower, 19th-century building that belonged to a Bonaparte, and 109 lavish rooms — half of them suites — rounded off with a spectacular top-floor presidential villa. Shangri-La is often optimistic about its opening dates, but this one should be open in time for a romantic Parisian spring break.

W Leicester Square, London
If there's one place Londoners loathe, it's Leicester Square — so Starwood's decision to locate its luxury lifestyle brand on the space left by Swiss Centre is on the daring side. On the other hand, with 194 rooms, 10 luxury apartments, a signature spa and high-end restaurant — all housed in a sleek glass cubist design — it could turn the area around. The jury's out until next June.

Rocco Forte, Abu Dhabi
Not another new hotel in Abu Dhabi? Won't that make five this week? Well, yes, but this one will be a bit special. It marks the start of Rocco Forte's expansion outside Europe (if you don't count St Petersburg), with Jeddah and Marrakech next on the list. The 282-room Abu Dhabi property will feature a pair of lavish presidential suites, a fifth-floor bar suspended over the atrium and, as you'd expect from Sir Rocco, every last facility for the fitness fanatic.

Peninsula, Shanghai
An opening from the ultra-luxury Hong Kong hoteliers is always an event, and this homage to Shanghai's art deco era won't disappoint when it opens in October. Its 235 rooms, including 55 outsize suites, promise state-of-the-art technology and gorgeous views from the Bund-side location, while the spa is said to be inspired by The Great Gatsby — a strange concept, but it'll almost certainly look better than it sounds.