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.

I was also a guest of a client at Bourbon Steak at the Westin St. Francis hotel. I am generally not a fan of steak houses as the portions are ginormous with prices to match. The same was true here though I was being treated (that took care of the price) and I was able to get a reasonably sized filet mignon that was tender, tasty, and well prepared. The meat is all from sustainable, organic farms. The side of frites was delicious. We washed it all down with a delightful 2007 Elizabeth Spencer Cabernet from Napa.

I don’t have hotel news to report as I was able to stay at the elegant Olympic Club courtesy of a friend. I had business meetings at The Clift which was, in the Morgans Hotel Group tradition, as self-consciously hip and dimly lit as ever. The Redwood Room remains an lovely spot for a cocktail.

Not as thorough as my usual report, I know. What treats have you found while on business in San Francisco lately? For me, it’s off to Atlanta next week…

Cary Grant once phoned hotel mogul Conrad Hilton in Istanbul, Turkey, to find out why his breakfast order at the Plaza Hotel, which called for muffins, came with only one and a half English muffins instead of two. When Grant insisted that the explanation (a hotel efficiency report had found that most people ate only three of the four halves brought to them) still resulted in being cheated out of a half, the Plaza Hotel changed its policy and began serving two complete muffins with breakfast. From then on, Grant often spoke of forming an English Muffin-Lovers Society, members of which would be required to report any hotel or restaurant that listed muffins on the menu and then served fewer than two.

I think that this is a society in which all Nomads should be active. There’s a restaurant in Boston’s Kenmore Square called Eastern Standard. Lovely place and most active in the evenings where it has a lively bar scene. However it is open for breakfast as it is attached to the Hotel Commonwealth. It is a quiet, refined place to start the day — but they only serve one slice of toast. Drives me mad.

It’s good to know that Cary and I have something important in common.

I can choose room service and get a few extra minutes of e-mail, descend to the restaurant, or head off-property. Here’s how I make my choices; I’d love to hear about you make the call.

Room service is rarely an option I choose. Something inevitably arrives cold or incorrect and fixing it becomes a major time sink. Too much thought has to go into when to call (or when to schedule the arrival) and then waiting for the tray to show up. In the end, I wind up paying $25+ for tepid toast, a few berries, and coffee.

I can enjoy some time in the dining room as it gives me a chance to scan the newspaper before I start the day. Call me old-fashioned but I feel a bit odd propping the iPad on the table a restaurant so I’m happy to have the original app: ink on paper. I wish, however, that there was an easy way to control the flow of the meal. I find that hotels tend to pace breakfast as if it were dinner: decidedly slow. And the posher the hotel, the more gently paced the service. This is morning, folks! Up and at ‘em! Unless it is a breakfast meeting when you might want to linger. I wish that there were little disks or some device through which one could easily signal whether service should be fast, medium, or slow.  Speaking with the waiter has only met with limited success for me; the kitchen seems to dictate food flow.

Cost can still be an issue. I applaud Henrietta’s Table at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, MA for providing a healthy, reasonably priced breakfast. I can get out of there for less than $20. That isn’t as cheap as heading to the diner but compared to other hotels, it is downright thrifty.

I often head off property. I scout the neighborhood as I arrive and frequently take a late evening walk before I head to bed. One of my tasks is to size up the services in the immediate area. I scout out independents where I can and The Corner Bakery is a chain that offers great oatmeal for a price that will make your finance folks smile plus free wifi. I particularly like London where there are many options for fresh, low-cost, high health value food such as Pret a Manger and its competitors. When last I stayed at Brown’s, there were four choices within a short walk. Pret also has locations in New York. New York, of course, still has a wide array of greasy spoons with food that can warm the heart (if also boosting your cholesterol).

I know that our hotelier readers will be wondering how to get more of this business. After all, every overnight guest starts the morning on property. Think like restauranteurs (Kimpton restaurants operate separately from the hotel, for example — though I recently had extraordinarily bad service at one of their DC properties). There is no one in the food biz I’ve met who has ever said, “Let’s open a breakfast joint with premium prices and leisurely service.” Only your supposedly captive audience makes you think that it works. If you think about what will bring the most guests into your restaurant as the sun rises, your prices will come down, service will speed up, and you’ll be more in sync with the business traveler. If I can get out with a decent breakfast in about 20 minutes for under $20 you have a reasonable shot at getting my business.

I have a friend who is an accomplished painter. He tries never to spend more than 20 minutes on a canvas because more than that ruins it (sounds crazy, but it is true). When I travel, it’s a philosophy I share when it comes to a plate of eggs.

How do you handle breakfast on the road?

Heaven?

Apparently not if you live in Meadowview in southwestern Virginia. That’s where Steven Hopp is trying to run such a restaurant: Harvest Table. Yet the locals — the very people he is working to benefit — would rather eat at Pizza Hut. Even the farmers are not enthusiastic because they’d apparently rather grow tobacco or monoculture crops for large buyers.

I find the model inspiring. There is a commitment to the local economy and celebrating what the nearby land can produce. They even source all of their wine from Virginia. Hopp told the New York Times that he wants the business to benefit as many local people as possible. And this is no charity — though the restaurant has not yet turned a profit yet the plan is to do so. The service is apparently wonderful. I want a restaurant like this in my neighborhood and am lucky that Boston offers several (though all at higher price points).

What is so depressing is that the local community chooses mass produced, mediocre fare — food that offers fewer nutritional benefits (I’ll leave taste to the palette of the beholder though I know I’d be happier at Hopp’s Harvest Table – Pizza Hut doesn’t even make vey good pizza) served by establishments that will contribute a lower percentage of their profits to the local economy: chains typically do as most profits go back to headquarters. Perhaps the local population are in a sugar-MSG induced coma. Perhaps they are relatives of the folks in West Virginia who fought so hard against Jamie Oliver when he tried to introduce healthier food to their schools. Perhaps they need to wake up and smell the kale.

Let me simply say that I am profoundly grateful to have multiple farmers’ markets that I can visit and many restaurants that support local food producers. And to Mr. Hopp, keep the faith.

Manhattan hotel prices swing wildly week to week. An affordable find on one trip can soar out of reach for another making it one of the most challenging markets for finding a consistent home-away-from-home. Ink 48 is a bit out of the way (8th and 48th) in what used to be a printing plant. That location made it affordable — around $250 per night before taxes, etc. – and as most of my business was on the West side, I jumped right in.

Ink 48 has typical Kimpton style and services: free Wifi for frequent guest program members, robes, a decent restaurant (I had

My room at Ink 48

a lovely locavore solo dinner at Print restaurant), and free wine for an hour in the evening. There is a rather spectacular rooftop bar — one advantage of an 8th Avenue location is the view — though it rained both nights I was there so I didn’t get more than a glimpse. The room was comfortable and spacious (I did splurge with an upgrade as the cost was resonable). The staff was friendly and helpful throughout my stay. Best of all, for future stays, Ink 48 is pooch friendly and observes Kimpton’s earth-friendly policies.

There is not much immediately around for food or shopping — plan to walk at least 3-4 blocks — and the subway is a good 10 minute walk away. Aside from that, Ink 48 is a good choice when budget is a consideration.

6 Columbus was the choice of a client and the location was hard to beat — right at Columbus Circle: the Park, subway, restaurants, and shops were all steps away. There is a 24-hour drug store on the corner and a Starbucks just next door.

My room at 6 Columbus

The hotel bills itself as hip and retro — two adjectives that often disappoint as they are code quick-and-cheap renovation of an old property. Thompson has done a decent job though location would be the primary reason to select this hotel again. The room was adequate, featured lovely brand name amenities, and perfectly comfortable but never was I inlcined to shout “wow” and text all my friends. The WiFi was $15 per day and moderately fast. The elevators were small and slow.

6 Columbus also sports a rooftop bar — seemingly all the rage these days. It was a fun oasis as the main bar, part of the Blue Ribbon Sushi restaurant, was small and constantly jammed. I didn’t get the chance to eat dinner at Blue Ribbon though it seemed quite popular with locals as well as guests. Breakfast was a treat as one can get either a Continental or full American breakfast served in a  beautifully presented bento box (as well as a traditional Japanese breakfast).

The staff was quite pleasant though I did have an issue with shoes: a freshly shined pair not belonging to me were placed in my room (and, unfortunately, not my size). I returned them to the front desk. When I later that night I came back to my room I found a letter explaining that the hotel was having a hard time returning my shoes to me. This required another trip to the front desk to explain that they had none of my shoes.  The front desk personnnel were agreeable but didn’t seem at all surprised by the confusion.

The Gem Hotel is a boutique property at 8th and 22nd in Chelsea. I chose it because I was heading to the city for less than 24 hours and it was within walking distance of my main destination in Greenwich Village – and it was a couple of hundred dollars less expensive than the hostelries in Soho. Still, at $329 per night it wasn’t what I would call inexpensive.

The Gem is a minimal service hotel: no bar, restaurant, concierge, or doorman. However, with plenty of places to eat and drink within a block, it is something I could live with. The hard-working front desk personnel (one person seems to have to do everything from check-in to bag storage and switchboard) were pleasant and helpful.

The room was about the smallest I’ve encountered. It was well laid out though so it was functional. I wouldn’t want to spend more than a night here nor would I plan on doing much work in the room. WiFi is free at the Gem and performed reasonably.  The wardrobe didn’t accommodate anything longer than a shirt because a safe was placed on the bottom shelf. A couple of wall or door hooks would have solved the problem of where to hang my Mac.

If what you need is a place to lay your head (the bed was comfortable) and a good Chelsea location, the Gem is worth considering. For a longer business trip or where you need to have room to lay things out — be it work or your evening wear — other options are likely a better fit.

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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Cognac Bistro Photo: Boston Herald

The restaurant scene in Boston is always lively. Recently, your Nomad-in-Chief has had the chance to try three new eateries. I’m happy to say that all are worth a visit.

First is Tico, the new Mediterreanean bistro from chef Michale Schlow (of Radius fame). Tico features a wide range of small plates: Serrano ham and tomato-rubbed bread, salmon ceviche, tender pork tacos, chorizo risotto, and more. Four of us shared a wide selection of these and none disappointed. For dessert we shared a thin, rich chocolate tart and bread pudding with raisins. Yum. We accompanied it all with a couple of bottles of resaonably priced Albarino — a  memorable evening. The friendly service rates an A+.

Not far away, on the edge of the theater district, is Rustic Kitchen. The Park Square area has attracted a number of mediocre chains and Rustic Kitchen makes for a great alternative (perfect for a pre-theater dinner). The salads are oversized — the mozzerella was fresh though the “vine ripened” tomotoes were a disappointment — and the pasta fresh. The tagliatelle bolognese and orecchiette with crumbled sausage and broccolini were both rich without being heavy. Neither swam in its sauce — the mark of pasta done well. We washed it all down with a lovely Sangiovese Grosso. As with Tico, the service was excellent — friendly and able to keep us on a pre-theater schedule without rushing us.

Finally, if you are heading just a couple of miles west, you must stop at Cognac Bistro. I’ve been dreaming of an authentic, local French bistro for some time and this spot was worth the wait. It is small — just 31 seats — and offers a traditional bistro menu with steak frites, roast chicken, and lamb shank. Did I mention the oyster bar?! All of the dishes we tried were flavorful and prepared well. The wine list was short and well-priced. We had a delightful Chateau Sargent Bordeaux. Mini desserts offer a few bites of sweetness without loading on the calories.  (Read the Boston Herald review)

The Cots are served regularly by train although getting back by rail on a Sunday can be a challenge so you should consider a car (or taxi as far as Oxford where train service gets a bit more regular). Renting a car locally is more difficult than it should be as locations are quite scattered.

The first thing you must do is choose a north or south as it is too much to cover all of this region in two days. We chose north largely because the village of Broadway was described as among the most authentic hamlets and one that was not completely overrun with tourists. The south seems a bit more celebrity filled and, frankly, we were happy to leave the glitz in Soho. It’s lovely that Elizabeth Hurley has a farm there but I don’t want to have to compete with her for a dinner reservation.

Broadway was as described: a lovely collection of limestone buildings along the main road offering interesting shops as well as the essentials of food stores, a pharmacy, tea room, and the like. It was better outfitted than the other towns in which we spent time: Stow in the Wold and Chipping Campden (though each of these offered their own charms and was good for about an hour of diversion not counting tea and scones).

There are numerous guest houses and hotels available. We chose Southwold House, a B&B on the edge of the village. It was highly recommended on Trip Advisor and those kudos turned out to be well-deserved. The innkeepers, Alison and Trevor, could not have been more gracious. They even made loan of a sweatshirt when the weather turned nippier than we’d expected. The room was spacious and the breakfast delicious each day. Best of all, they reoriented our dining plans — we’d gotten it all wrong by relying on the Internet. Most of the best dining spots in town had not yet found a Web site necessary.

The Cots are the center of the slow food movement in Britain and even the smallest eateries bragged about the local sources of their food. Much of the greenery was organic and the meats were free range and grass fed. We had three spectacular dinners (The Swan, Russell’s — where it pays to go early for the prix fixe, and The Brasserie). Look for lots of lamb and whatever is in season from the fields. All three dinners together cost about what one dinner had in London.

Just above Broadway is the village of Snowshill (pronounced “snawzil” by the locals and the picture perfect setting where the beginning and end of Bridget Jones’ Diary were filmed) and a National Trust site at Snowshill Manor. It features one of the most lovely gardens we have ever encountered; small but full of surprises and interesting plantings. The manor house full of interesting things from samurai armor to antique bicycles. The owner was a bit of an eccentric and amassed an incredible collection of objects to amuse his guests. In fact, he didn’t live in the house but rather in an old rectory that appeared to be outfitted for the 17th century, not the first half of the 20th when Mr. Charles Wade was in residence. It was easy to spend two-to-three hours there. The little cafe also puts on a simple but enjoyable lunch that includes local ingredients. We had a delicious cottage pie.

The walk back to town is downhill and passes several fields of sheep and you can pick up the famed Cotswold Way walking trail if you’d like a ramble. Beware the ample sheep  poop though.

A bit farther afield is Hidcote Manor which features elaborate Arts & Crafts gardens. The Manor house is not open for touring but there is a cafe similar to that at Snow’s Hill. Both also have interesting gift shops with interesting mementoes such as leather gardening gloves (£10) as well as the usual books, DVDs, and such.

It will be a quiet, romantic weekend in the Cots and you’ll find yourself longing for Wellies and a Barbour jacket — actually a rental business for such items would have been welcomed as sturdy, rain-resistant gear would have been useful (beware unsettled August) but too bulky to pack.

Will we return? But of course. How else to take advantage of the chance to rent a sleek, sexy Morgan motor car for a day or two. It just wouldn’t fit into the agenda this time round.