Top Ten 10 Business Hotels in India

With some help from Forbes, The India Street has compiled its list of the Top Ten 10 business hotels in India. The criteria we used consist of the following: Luxury accommodations rating Business friendly atmosphere Customer service "It wasn't until five or six years ago that India started offering really upscale hotels," says Pallavi Shah, owner of Our Personal Guest, a New York City luxury-travel consultancy that has been planning trips to the country since 1989. "Many of the supposedly five-star hotels were in converted palaces that were aesthetically beautiful, but they just didn't meet international standards of luxury." What surprises foreign business travelers the most when visiting India is the price of the rooms. The average price is around $450 for the hotels listed below. The second most often heard quote from foreign business travelers to India is that the service is exceptional and much better than they receive in their home countries.

1. Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai This 565-room hotel brings together Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles with vaulted alabaster ceilings, onyx columns, archways, hand-woven silk carpets, crystal chandeliers and a cantilever stairway. It offers panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India. The 46 suites come with personal butlers and are decked out in British Raj

furniture. Also found here: the city's hottest restaurants, such as the Middle Eastern spot Souk and Japanese eatery Wasabi by Morimoto. Visit www.tajhotels.com.

2. Leela Palace Bangalore

The Leela Palace Hotel is a popular Five Star Hotel in Bangalore with all the world-class comforts under one roof. The Leela Palace Hotel in Bangalore has an array of 254 wellequipped rooms. All of these room are furnished with the latest amenities. Its most unique feature is a three level shopping mall with high-end stores. Tip: If you are a business traveler staying through the weekend, their Sunday Brunch is incredible! Visit: http://www.theleela.com/hotel-bangalore.html

3. Trident Hilton Gurgaon

The hotel is more like an outdoor art exhibit than traditional hotel. Completely gated, this hotel could be located anywhere in the world where one will find it difficult to ascertain the sites outside of the gates. The hotel is actually owned and run by Oberoi but the Hilton name remains on the hotel. Trident Hilton Gurgaon is a business hotel with a difference. Set in an expanse of 7 beautifully landscaped acres, the building has an imposing yet serene presence, a resort like ambience. It is characterized by domes, long corridors and walkways, inner courtyards, reflection pools and fountains. The hotel has 136 rooms, which include a Presidential suite and 6 Executive suites, overlooking the garden, courtyards and reflection pools, the rooms are elegantly furnished and appointed with modern conveniences. Tip: Try to eat at all of the restaurants. Each is excellent and offers completely different food selections. Visit Trident Hilton Gurgaon

4. Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur

Situated on the banks of Lake Pichola, the 87 rooms of this property boast private walled courtyards, silken parasols, marble baths, inlaid furniture and Rajput decorations. The hotel overlooks the historic City Palace, and the spa building has lake views and a range of Ayurvedic treatments like a Shirodhara, or "third eye," massage. Visit www.oberoihotels.com.

5. Leela Kempinski Mumbai

The Leela Kempinski Mumbai is much more than just a business hotel and has a lot to offer to the leisure traveller too. Reflecting the citys status as the cultural capital of the country, this premier business hotel gracefully serves up an array of living, dining and

lifestyle choices for guests. So do drop in at one of the finest 5 star deluxe hotels in India and discover the essence of modern-day India.
Visit: http://www.theleela.com/hotel-mumbai.html

6. Rambagh Palace Hotel, Jaipur

Built in 1835 and the former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur, this majestic property has extensive gardens filled with roses, orchids and marigolds, and trees which monkeys regularly hang from. The 85 rooms are decked out with rich silk curtains and four-poster beds. The 14 suites have Rajisthani artwork and an on-call butler. Visit www.tajhotels.com

7. The Four Seasons, Mumbai

Set to open later this year, this hotel is the newest entrant to India's luxury-hotel market. It's located in Worli, the city's financial center, and is targeted to the increasing number of business travelers frequenting Mumbai. It occupies a 33-story glass tower and has 202 rooms, which overlook the Arabian Sea and have high-speed Internet. Visit www.fourseasons.com

8. Imperial Hotel, New Delhi

Located in a 1930s Victorian-style building, this hotel is famous for its priceless collection of British art, which includes works by artists such as William Hodges and Emily Eden. The 231 rooms have Bang and Olufsen televisions, DVD players and views of the property's three acres of manicured gardens and trees. Visit www.theimperialindia.com

9. Taj Coromandel Chennai

This well located fusion of rich South Indian design cues and classic European elegance, the Taj Coromandel gives guests the best of both worlds - business and leisure in the heart of the city. A preferred venue of Heads of state, royalty, and the who's who of the corporate world, this hotel is the only member of the exclusive "Leading Hotels of the World". Tip: Custom shops for $150 fitted suits and $20 shirts surround the hotel. Ask the concierge for the best shops. Tip #2: Find the Southern Spice restaurant in the hotel and ask for a coffee. Watch how its prepared in front of you! Visit Taj Coromandel

#10 Sheraton Maurya, New Delhi

The Maurya, New Delhi has been the preferred residence of visiting heads of state and global business leaders for over 25 years. This extraordinary hotel combines an historic aura with contemporary facilities to create an unrivalled luxury hotel experience. Situated in the heart of the exclusive Diplomatic Enclave and surrounded by views of Delhis green belt the forested ridge, our business hotel is a convenient 14 kilometers (25 minutes) from the International Airport. An imposing structure of timeless luxury boasts inspiring architecture and a majestic ambiance a tribute to the age of the great Mauryan Dynasty, which created the golden era of Indian history. Visit the Sheraton Maurya New Delhi Suggested Reading Top Lists

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