Guayaquil. (Best of Latin America).

BEST BUSINESS HOTEL

Hilton Colon Guayaquil.

The high-tech meeting room at this hotel boasts chairs designed to be comfortable for eight-hour business meetings, but the Hilton has a lot more going for it than comfortable seating and an ATM machine that spits out U.S. dollars. This hotel in the growing Kennedy Norte commercial and financial zone sits next door to the Expoplaza convention center and near the new World Trade Center. It's also close to two banks, less than two kilometers from the airport and nine kilometers from the center of town. Its Portofino restaurant dishes up commendable northern Italian cuisine and its casual Cafe Colon is open 24 hours. Its 294 rooms, including 20 suites, have noise-isolated windows. (Rates start at US$195 with a 430-square foot room on the executive floor garnering US$225 and the biggest suites running US$1,200.) For execs who like to clear their heads with a workout, there's an outdoor pool, gym and squash courts. For other between-meeting pursuits, the Hilton sports a casino and shopping arcade. An airline desk helps with travel arrangements, Phone: [phone]; www.guayaquil.hilton.com

BEST CAR RENTAL

Localiza. In business throughout South America for 29 years, Localiza has been renting compacts, pick-ups, sport utilities and vans in Ecuador since 1994 and offers a 10% discount if booked over the Internet. It also arranges chauffeured cars. Toll-free phone in Ecuador: 800-562-2254.

www.Iocaliza.com.ec

BEST TIME-OUT

Ecuador's Pacific coast is famous for marlin and other big game fish and Salinas and the Puerto Lucia Yacht Club are just 70 miles west of Guayaquil. To sneak in a short fishing trip, head for Salinas at the end of the last business appointment. A good local operator is Pesca Tours, phone: [phone]. You can make travel arrangements in advance over the Internet through U.S.-based Magellan Offshore Fishing Tours www.mapellanoffshore.com

BEST TRAVEL AGENCY

Metropolitan Touring. Celebrating 50 years of handling travel arrangements in Ecuador, the agency has two locations in Guayaquil, one in the Hilton Colon Hotel and the other downtown. Phone: [phone]. www.metropolian-touring.com

BEST RESTAURANT FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH OR DINNER

La Trattoria da Enrico. Many good restaurants are found in the Urdesa neighborhood north of downtown. This is one of the best for Italian dishes. An aquarium in the ceiling and strolling musicians add to the atmosphere. Balsamos 504, Urdesa. Phone: [phone]. For Ecuadorian cuisine, try Lo Nuestro Cafe-Restaurant at Victor Emilio Estrada 903 and Higueras, in the same Urdesa neighborhood. 593-4-238-6398.

BEST VALUE-FOR-PRICE HOTEL

Unipark. This 11-story hotel, with an 80-store shopping center inside, is just three blocks from Malecon 2000, the recently completed two-kilometer promenade along the Guayas River that has turned the waterfront into a safe cultural, entertainment and restaurant area. It is also across the street from Parque Seminario (also know as Bolivar Park or the Park of the Iguanas, as dozens of the scaly creatures have made it their home). The lobby is on the second floor away from the street bustle. Unipark is part of the Oro Verde hotel chain. Room rates start at US$95 and suites at US$120 (plus 22% in taxes and service charges); flashing your business card can sometimes get you a room upgrade. As an added plus, there's a great sushi bar in the hoteL Phone: [phone]. www.oroverdehotels.com