Getting to know you.

Travel is no longer relegated only to top executives. And it is even less so in Latin America where, thanks to the increasingly global workplace, corporate travel has not only become part of the fabric of doing business but a crucial element in an executive's lifestyle. In Latin America, direct contact with business partners--and potential partners--is key to sealing the deal.

That's what LATIN TRADE readers told us in responding to our second annual Best of Latin America survey. For our readers, a business trip needs to be calibrated as finely as a stopwatch. Like any corporate enterprise, on-the-road negotiations have to bring results--and part of making that happen is to he travel savvy. That means knowing the best destinations for doing business, the hotels that rank the highest in accommodating business-travel needs, the restaurants that otter the right ambience and menus for cutting (or celebrating!) the deal. Beyond that, there are the car rental agencies that executives can always depend on and the insider tips that help road warriors streamline their trips.

Readers responded enthusiastically to our annual survey. Answering in English, Spanish or Portuguese, our voters told us their choices for the best of the best when it comes to making a business trip fruitful and enjoyable. Portuguese-speakers showed a distinct preference for Brazil in their voting choices, and some of last year's winners held onto their crowns. Mexico and Brazil again emerged as the region's business powerhouses. But there were also surprises, and some new winners won by wide margins.

Not satisfied to simply list readers' top choices, LATIN TRADE in this issue also takes an in-depth look at Latin America's biggest cities, key U.S. cities and international destinations that serve as business magnets. The result is our Best of Latin America issue, a complete guide for executives doing business in the region.