A Bounty of Bests List Picks Which Hotels Excel in Particular Feature or Service by Heather Nalbone As a necessary disclaimer, hereís the scoop: Thereís no real methodical structure to the way the following list was compiled. No polls were taken, no surveys were conducted and no scientific methods were used. The Washington Diplomat simply scoured the regionís hotels to come up with our own ìbest of the bestî directory. What you wonít find on the following pages is an exhaustive list or voter-based compilation of accommodations. What you will find are journalistsí choices for places to stay when you want to enjoy a relaxing night on the town, a weekend of shopping or an extra bed for your dog. more... Where Lifeís a Beach Hip, Chic, Diverse Miami Has Become International Hotspot by Anna Gawel With the cold weather creeping back into the Washington area, now is the perfect time to head south to soak up some sun and tropical temperatures, and one destination that regularly attracts not only Washingtonians, but tourists from around the world, is Miamiís internationally renowned paradise hotspot: South Beach. more... In a Class by Themselves New Ultra-Luxury Hotels Offer Guests Height of Hospitality by Alan B. Nichols Competition in Washingtonís high-end hospitality market just heated up with the opening of three ultra-luxury hotels: The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, the Mandarin Oriental and the Fairmont Washington, D.C. This impressive trio is out to make a lasting impact on Washingtonís visitors, among them diplomats, heads of state, lobbyists and international corporate executives who expect the highest product and service standards in their accommodations. more...

Eating In Washingtonís Hotel Restaurants Becoming Culinary Destinations by Anna Gawel In addition to full-service spas and gyms, stylishly decorated and well-equipped rooms, and amenities designed to pamper and primp, restaurants have become an important magnet for attracting guests to hotels, and Washington, D.C., hotel restaurants do not disappoint with their culinary creations. Many of the cityís top-tier restaurants are situated inside hotels, such as the Willard, Latham Inn and Hotel George, attracting critical acclaim as dining destinations unto themselves and not mere extensions of the hotels in which they are housed. The Washington Diplomat took a look at three of these standouts, each of which approach their craft in a slightly different but no less exceptional way. more... New York Stay Diplomats Seek Rooms With Proximity to U.N., Added Security by Larry Luxner No U.S. city, perhaps other than Washington, has suffered more from terrorism than New York, and when foreign diplomats these days travel to the Big Apple, security is uppermost in their minds. But so are personalized service and proximity to the United Nationsóa fact not lost on the half dozen or so New York hotels that compete year round for diplomatic business. more... HOTEL DIRECTORY This listing highlights hotels specializing in services for the diplomatic and international communities. more...