The Horasis meeting was held at the Radisson Blu at the airport — convenient but not very interesting. I stayed in town at the sleek and modern Hotel Greulich and saved enough money on the room to more than make up for the train trips back and forth. The staff was friendly and helpful. The room was spacious if a bit odd in layout — the TV couldn’t be seen from the bed. Bottled water was included as was free wifi.

Staying in town also gave me the chance to explore the city a bit. I was about 12 minutes from the train station and the main retail district along the Bahnhoffstrasse.

The Bahnhoffstrasse offers all of the shopping one could ever want — including an English language bookshop, chocolate shops, and the usual collection of international fashion houses. A bit more original were the shops near the hotel. I was particularly fond of Weisbrod, a  maker of fine silk accessories for men and women. A new purple and grey pocket square was soon mine!

The most memorable meal of the trip was at Caduff’s Wine Loft just around the corner from the Greulich. The restaurant works with fresh, local ingredients — whatever the market has to offer that day — and offers more than 2,000 wines.  I had a simple winter salad followed by an Irish fillet of beef with long beans and spaetzle. There were two amuse bouche: one a corn chowder of sorts and the other a bite of veal with fresh peas. I accompanied this with a hearty Bordeaux. Everything was delicious, well prepared, and served with a smile. It would be a lovely spot for dinner with a business associate although be warned that the menu is only in German (although the staff speaks English pretty well).

Zurich is a business city but it has retained a good bit of charm. Its streets are pleasant for walking and there is ample public transportation. One can get to meetings and still have time to take in a bit of culture and history. We’ve added a new Zurich page to give you all of the tips you need for a great business trip.

The Shanghai Museum

There is no shortage of diversions in this city located in eastern China on the mouth of the Yangtze River. It is a bustling city built for business but with a vast array of interesting experiences waiting for you. We introduce you to three of the best and quickest to-do things in this happening town. These are activities you can sandwich between business meetings and they are definitely worth the investment of time.

Here are three “must-see” things if you’ve got a few hours to spare in Shanghai. If you don’t have time, make some: Shanghai has too much to offer to limit yourself simply to business.

The Shanghai Museum- This is a museum of ancient Chinese art. What is unique about this museum, is that the building itself is a work of art. From the enormous skylight, to the sweeping staircases. This museum houses collections ranging from beautiful calligraphy, to ceramics, to sculptures, to coins and currency. This museum is a modern building safeguarding the most ancient of relics and treasures. This contrast cannot be missed. Well appointed, with interesting and unusual artifacts, this is a museum that is well worth the hour or so, you may have to spare.

Say you’ve got about two hours or so to spare, it may be a perfect opportunity to fine tune and update your wardrobe! Shanghai fashion is hip and stylish, and the possibilities are endless for what you may be able to obtain. Forget about wasting time going to endless stores, trying to find the best merchandise. Enter the Shanghai Personal Luxury Shopper. This is the fastest and most efficient way to shop in Shanghai when your time (and patience!) is limited. They can take you to couture by appointment, fittings for custom suits, footwear boutiques, and even artisan bedding and household furnishing design houses. Tip: The best personal shoppers live in the city, and have a firm pulse on the latest society happenings and activities. Ask your concierge for a recommendation.

The Bund in Shanghai

Shanghai’s third must-do, is taking a walk on The Bund. The Bund is a one mile long river walk in the Huangpu District on the banks of the Huangpu River. The Bund runs from  Yan’an Road to Waibaidu Bridge. You’ve probably done boardwalks before (think Atlantic City, New Jersey), but this one is different. It is uniquely Shanghainese! From the rich Art Deco buildings that adorn the river walk, to people-watching, to the merchants who want to sell you their wares. If you really love architecture, hire a guide to show you the different buildings and styles that adorn this lively thorough-fare. Otherwise, you can just take a leisurely stroll, and take in the local flavors, sights and sounds. When you’re done, take a seat at M on the Bund, (The super trendy Bund hotspot that is often mentioned as a Shanghai must do as well!) for a pick me up cocktail, or a delectable full course dinner while you marvel at the fabulous views.

Andrea Spooner the founder of Executive Travel by Andrea, a business and first-class travel concierge service for corporate and senior executive business travelers. You can learn more at http://www.executivetravelbyandrea.com

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Your Nomad-in-Chief is a lanky guy and has long been challenged with finding interesting shirts at reasonable prices (Blank Label’s start at $55) in the right size. The aforementioned Brooks Brothers offers a wide range in its basic shirt collection; however its seasonal offerings are available in a much more limited range — even stooping to department store-type split-the-difference sleeve sizing (e.g. 34/35).  Ugh.

The downsize of ordering online is that you don’t get to see and feel the fabric. Nor can you try them on. And with all of the customization comes a wait — it takes a couple of weeks for the shirts to arrive.The upside with Blank Label is that you can get your exact collar size and sleeve length (and preferred collar, placket, and cuff style) – and their helpful website makes it easy to figure out what is your correct size. If you’re not happy, they’ll take it back and try again for no additional charge.

The shirts we ordered, four in all, all fit perfectly and the fabrics had a good hand. One, the light blue pictured above, was heavier than anticipated, but that was a pleasant surprise. The others were all of a typical weight and the construction seemed quite good. We’ll report back after they’ve spent some time in the suitcase and had a few trips to the laundry.

The service at Blank Label exceeded our high expectations. There was a problem with our initial order — something to do with having ordered on an iPad which meant that the customization was lost — and they made good on the error even though it was actually ours. No questions. No hassles. Just help. All of life should be like this. 

Note: As always, Executive Nomad is not compensated in any way for its reviews. We just pass along the good stuff that we find to you.

In a brief visit to the Bay area last week, we found the weather delightfully warm and sunny and the mood upbeat as well. The Prescott Hotel was welcoming, as usual, offering both a convenient location and a well appointed room for under $200.

We also tried the adjacent restaurant, Postrio, which is Wolfgang Puck’s premier northern California outpost. The service was attentive and informative without being fussy. The wine list was impressive (we tried a lyrical Evansham Woods pinot noir) and the menu interesting.

We also had time to visit our old friends at the Hyde Street Bistro. The menu is reliable and authentic French country fare. The Daub du Boeuf was hearty without being heavy; the steak frites satisfied the need for red meat and delicious fries. The staff made us feel right at home. We recommend this, along with 1550 Hyde across the street, if you are looking for a spot for a quiet dinner in the Russian Hill neighborhood.

Finally, we had time for a brief visit to Castro Street inspired by the Academy Award-winning film, Milk. The Castro is as funky as ever. Make sure to stop at the Castro Cheesery for amazing fresh roast coffee. We snuck in at A.G. Ferrari, an old-time Italian specialty store for a snack of lentils with spinach and fava beans with fennel and garlic. The staff was exceptionally friendly – looking up ingredients as well as offering samples of whatever caught our eye. If you need to bring something home for Fifi or Fido, you’ll do no better than Best in Show. Again, the staff was friendly and helpful in explaining their plane-friendly pet carriers.

Look for more about the City by the Bay on our San Francisco page.