Business Traveler magazine announced the winners of their Business Travel Awards, and the Park Hyatt was one of the big winners, receiving the honor of “Best Hotel Chain” from 4,000 business travelers surveyed.

The Park Hyatt brand is the “smaller, luxury” branch of the enormous Hyatt empire, with white glove service, art collections and “cuisine” rather than food. This kind of experience doesn’t come cheap, so it makes sense that business travelers — with an expense account — are fans of the brand.

If you are one of the lucky wealthy who can afford to stay at the luxurious Park Hyatt, you can find premier locations in North America including Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

Park Hyatt Chicago

Outside of the US, you can find Park Hyatts in Buenos Aires, Hamburg, Istanbul, Dubai, Beijing, Sydney and Tokyo, to name just a few. They are also building additional properties in locations like Tbilisi, Mexico City and Mallorca.

Park Hyatt Dubai

Rooms and rates vary depending on where you are, but it’s a luxury hotel with corresponding costs and amenities. From the websites I gather that the common decorating theme is “expensive and hard to clean white furniture” which is a treat few of us enjoy at home — one of the many joys of business travel, along with room service coffee and towel service.

Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami

One of the biggest stories in the world of hotels is the “refresh” of the famed Fontainebleau Hotel on the narrow spit of Miami Beach, Florida.

Built in 1954, the Fontainebleau was designed by famed architect Morris Lapidus. For years it was considered the crown jewel of “Millionaires Row” and was the setting for films like the James Bond classic Goldfinger and Al Pacino’s Scarface.

For all of that glamor, the years took their toll on the Fontainebleau. I stayed there in 2004 for a work conference, and by then it was aging behemoth. Although the curving facade of the exterior was still dazzling, the inside was a frumpy mess of worn carpeting and dowdy furnishings.

The property was purchased in 2005 by developers, and all but shut down between 2006 and 2008. One billion — yes, with a “b” — dollars later, the Grande Dame has been transformed back into the Sexy Vamp of her younger days.

The renovation and expansion brings the number of guest rooms and suites up to 1,504 across 22 oceanfront acres. There is a 40,000 square foot spa, and a pool with private cabanas. The new Fontainebleau boasts 11 restaurants and nightclubs, for some of the most talked about dining in all of Miami Beach.

It’s a luxury hotel, with rates to match, starting at $399 between December 22, 2008 and May 31, 2009. If that’s a little too rich for your blood, but you’re dying to see the updated classic, you can take advantage of the “Rediscover Fontainebleau” promotion. If you make a reservation before January 20th, and stay for two or more nights between now and May 31st, the Fontainbleau will give you a $50 daily resort credit which is good for all of the restaurants, spas and hotel shops.

Photo: Oh_Candy on flickr

The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular

When you think of a luxury hotel in New York City, there’s no doubt The Plaza Hotel is one of the first to come to mind. But, for many of us, spending between $700 and $5000 a night on a room room in a six-star hotel just isn’t feasible. At least, not most of the time.

However, if you’re ever going to go a little over the top, Christmas is the time to do it, and The Plaza has the splurgiest of all splurges with their “Christmas Spectacular” package. The guest experience includes Premiere seating for two at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, a Christmas Spectacular-themed holiday dessert served in The Palm Court, and, of course, wonderfully luxurious accommodations at The Plaza.

Rates begin at $875 per night, so it’s probably not for everyone, but it certainly would be a fabulous surprise gift for your sweetheart. You can take advantage of this package through December 30th of this year, but seven days’ notice is required, so you might have to get cracking. And, you’ll need to make this reservation by phone — it’s not available online.

The Plaza at night

If this package doesn’t quite work for you this year, there are still some other opportunities to celebrate the season at The Plaza, especially if you don’t mind celebrating sometime after New Year’s. With the Advanced Booking Special Offer, if you book with at least 14 days notice, you’ll get 30 percent off the best available rate. And when the best available rate is several hundred dollars, 30 percent really adds up.

Want to know what other deals you can score at New York’s most prestigious address (perhaps to give a hint to someone who’s struggling to find your holiday gift this year)? Check out The Plaza’s packages right here.

Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

Photo: StevenM_61 on flickr