Our choice of some of the top destinations in which to do business, how to get there, and where to stay.
Flights
Virgin Atlantic (virginatlantic.com) flies daily to Shanghai from Heathrow. Return economy fares start from ยฃ685; from ยฃ1,109 for Premium Economy.
Hotels
Housed in the legendary 1920s Shanghai Club on the historic Bund, the newly opened Waldorf Astoria (www.waldorfastoria.com) is a taste of colonial luxury for any business traveller. Hi-tech necessities like Wi-Fi sit alongside perfect G&Ts at the restored 110-foot Long Bar.
Not to be outdone, the 235-room Peninsula Shanghai (peninsula.com), with views of the Huangpa River, has five restaurants and bars, a great spa, a 25-metre swimming pool and can arrange to collect you from the airport in a 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom.
Meetings and conferences
The new 368-room Sofitel Shanghai Sheshan Haunghe (sofitel.com) is already earning a reputation for its meeting and conference facilities. Surrounded by gardens and lagoons, it has a 2,100 square metre custom-built centre with 12 function rooms, including the 1,200 square metre pillar-less Grand Ballroom that can be divided into three smaller spaces.
Shopping and eating
Take a stroll through the new South Bund Fabric Market on Lujiabang Road, an explosion of Chinese and Thai silk, linen and wool, where the artisan tailors can make you a cashmere winter coat in 24 hours for as little as ยฃ48.
The Pier One complex on Yi Chang Road contains the award-winning Monsoon Lounge Bar, perfect for a sunset cocktail meeting overlooking Suzhou Creek, followed by a tempting tasting menu, created by Michelin-starred culinary director Stefan Stiller, at the Mimosa Supper Club.
Vancouver
Flights
Air Canada (aircanada.com) flies from Heathrow to Vancouver direct. Return economy flights start from ยฃ680.40; from ยฃ2,729.40 for business class.
Hotels
In the centre of downtown on the first 15 floors of the cityโs tallest building, the Shangri-La Vancouver (shangri-la.com) is a study in luxurious minimalist chic. It has a hi-tech business centre, free Wi-Fi, and a signature restaurant, Market, with triple Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Rates for a Superior room start at ยฃ204.
For those who prefer non-hotel business trips, Residences on Georgia (apartmentservice.com) offers stylish, fully-serviced, self-contained luxury apartments within walking distance of the business district. A gym, free parking and high-speed internet access are part of the package. Rates for a one-bedroom apartment start from ยฃ88.59 per day.
Meetings and conferences
Since its inception in 1987, the Vancouver Convention Centre (tourismvancouver.com) has been British Columbiaโs flagship convention facility. An extraordinary expansion project has more than tripled the size of the existing centre. Now thereโs close to 43,340 square metres of meeting, exhibition and function space in the heart of Vancouver.
Shopping and eating
Arty and laid-back, Granville Island (granvilleisland.com) is a hive of boutiques and craft shops, and a fantastic indoor food market, selling locally produced sauces, oils, preserves and maple syrups โ perfect for gifts.
Upmarket C Restaurant (crestaurant.com) on Howe Street is the place to go for seafood with local ingredients sustainably produced.
Mumbai
Flights
British Airways (ba.com) flies direct to Mumbai. Return World Traveller fares from ยฃ506.10; return World Traveller Plus fares from ยฃ836.10; and Club from ยฃ2,006.10. New super fuel-efficient 777-300ER aircraft featuring BAโs new World Traveller and World Traveller Plus cabins and a new in-flight entertainment system operate on this route (though not all the time).
Hotels
Grand Hyatt Mumbai (mumbai.grand.hyatt.com) in Santacruz, just 20 minutes from Mumbai International Airport, is a luxury complex of rooms and apartments set in 12 acres of landscaped water gardens, with highly rated Indian, Chinese and Italian restaurants, a business centre and top-class business rooms. The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai (tajhotels.com) and Oberoi Mumbai (oberoihotels.com) are other big players in the business hotel scene here.
Meetings and conferences
The Taj Mahal Mumbai (tajhotels.com) is the most prestigious place in the city to do business. It has 20,000 square feet of conference space spread throughout eight rooms, with seating capacities for 30 to 550 auditorium-style and 30 to 750 for cocktails and receptions, plus boardroom seating for 12 people.
Shopping and eating
Take a stroll around the handcrafted leather and jewellery stalls of Colaba Market and try out your haggling skills, even at some of the swankier establishments. Sip a world-famous From the Harbour cocktail at the Harbour Bar at the Taj, then take a seat at 19th century colonial eaterie Leopold Cafรฉ (leopoldcafe.com), and tuck into local speciality mutter paneer (peas and cheese in a tomato sauce) and butter chicken.
