LONDON
Town Hall Hotel
Bethnal Green Town Hall's transformation into a cutting-edge hotel requires a little imagination. While proportions are huge, the atmosphere of the council chamber is never far away. In fact, the original chamber, with its wooden panelling and flip-down leather chairs, can be hired for events. Local art adds character, though not all appreciate owner Loh Lik Peng's vintage dentist chair collection. The hotel's best assets are its can-do staff, its light-filled events rooms and its showstopping apartments. These cost the same as a standard room in central London, but give at least double the space, plus fully fitted kitchens and office facilities. The De Montfort Suite is spectacular. townhallhotel.com
CYPRUS
InterContinental
Aphrodite Hills
Cyprus — winter sun, world-class golf courses and an easy flight from the UK. No wonder it's one of Europe's most popular conference destinations. And if you're going there to work, why not take loved ones along? As well as a conventional hotel experience, there are lavish private villas and apartments with granite kitchens, marble flooring and more bathrooms than bedrooms. The hotel can host events in its Morpheas Ballroom for up to 900 and all meeting rooms have natural light. Beaches round here aren't great but, as Aphrodite Hills is a 15-minute drive inland from Paphos, enjoy the greens, tennis academy and award-winning spa instead. aphroditehills.com
BERLIN
Miniloft
Berlin has more than its fair share of apartment hotels. Miniloft stands out for its award-winning design featuring a curvaceous steel and concrete exterior built on to what was a bombsite in front of a run-down building dating from the 1890s. While interiors are predominantly minimalist, Miniloft has a homely feel. This is partly because rooms feature underfloor heating and well-equipped kitchenettes, and partly because Miniloft
is run by the architects who designed it. Their in-room guides to the surrounding Mitte area include insider tips on bars and restaurants and
useful walking guides. The Hautbahnhof railway station,
a tourist attraction in its own right is only a ten-minute walk away. miniloft.com
MOSCOW
Radisson Royal
An ornate 50s skyscraper, the Radisson Royal is housed in one of the city's 'Seven Sisters', landmark edifices designed to reflect the glory of the Soviet era. With 497 rooms, this is the largest five-star hotel in Moscow, and it also offers 38 serviced apartments. These are always busy with expats struggling to find places to
stay in this booming city. Guests benefit from all the hotel services, including Iranian, Russian, Italian and Japanese restaurants, large library, 13 meeting rooms and an excellent business centre. Located on the Moskva River the hotel provides its own
fleet of boats to get guests around the city. radisson.ru/royalhotel-moscow
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