Sao Paulo.

BEST HOTEL

Maksoud Plaza. Home to hospitality, elegance and irreproachable service, the Maksoud Plaza wins many international prizes. Taking up a block of traditional and elegant Avenida Paulista. a half-hour from airports, the hotel is in the heart of Sao Paulo. The impressive Atrium Lobby is an unforgettable entryway, with fountains, shopping, a 24-hour restaurant complex with four eateries and four bars, panoramic-view elevators and hanging tropical gardens overlooking a 22-story sculpture. All of the 416 rooms and suites, recently renovated, have electronic controls over music, room temperature and lights. For the occupants of the suites and deluxe rooms, the hotel has installed an upper-floor salon for breakfast and drinks throughout the day, offering one of the best views of the city. The hotel has all kinds of services and has a physical therapy center with expert masseurs to massage away the tensions of the day. Heading out? The concierge can call a limousine to take you wherever you need to go. Booms run from US$123 to $700 for a duplex suite. Alameda Campinas 150. Phone: [55] (11) 3145-8000.

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH OR DINNER

Fasano Hotel e Restaurante. Considered one of the best restaurants in Brazil since opening in 1990, the Fasano restaurant has a sumptuous atmosphere and a level of service rarely equaled. Specialties of the house including northern Italian dishes from Lombardia and Veneto. The Fasano family, recognized for more than a century for its hospitality and fine cooking, just opened a hotel near the original restaurant. A decade of planning and construction were needed to build on the private street, called Visabuelo Vittorio Fasano. It has 64 rooms and is a gem of classic elegance perfectly located between luxury shopping and the financial and business districts. Restaurant is at Rua Haddock 1644; the hotel is at Rua Vittorio Fasano, 88. Phone: [55] (11) 3896-4077. www.fasano.com.br

BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT

Eau, in the Grand Hyatt. This exclusive restaurant services contemporary French cuisine with sophistication and flair. The open kitchen is entertaining, practically kitchen-as-theater for the diners. The bread is, of course, freshly made. Eau has 122 seats, terrace seating outside and a dining room with a unique atmosphere for any type of event, from an intimate dinner to a formal business meeting. The wine list complements the menu well. Avenida dos Nacoes Unidas 13.301. Phone: [55] (11) 6838-1234. www.saopaulo.grand.hyatt.com

BEST-KEPT SECRET

An appointment with Patricia at the Grand Hyatt Sao Paulo. Patricia does private manicures and pedicures at the Grand Hyatt and is so much in demand that you need advance reservations (sometimes well in advance) if you want a shot at her services. But it's worth planning ahead because she's considered the best in the city--and that's saying something in one of the world's largest metropolises. For executives who put importance in their appearance, its easier to plan ahead and line up time with Patricia than to trust your luck at a shop on the street. The concierge at the Grand Hyatt can make arrangements. Phone: [55] (11) 6838-1234.

BEST TRAVEL AGENCY

American Express, With tour locations in and around Sao Paulo, and two of them at the international airport open at 6:30 a.m., American Express is the agency of choice among LATIN TRADE readers. In additional to travel agents and reservations services, the main offices, in the airport and downtown, provide additional services business travelers appreciate: international currency exchange, travelers cheques, funds transfers, emergency funds, and credit card replacement. At Sao Paulo International Airport, Rodovia Hello Schmidt, Terminal 1. Phone: [55] (11) 6445-3351. www.americanexpress.com

BEST CAR RENTAL

Unidas San Paulo. Both the Cumbica Airport and the Congonhas Airport have car rental desks for Unidas, which is owned by Grupo SAG, one of the biggest automobile sector conglomerates in Portugal. Unidas' fleet is large, with more than 300 models to choose from, and offers a full range of vehicle brands, sizes and equipment. This company is used to meeting the needs of demanding clients. Phone: [55] (11) 3155-5854. www.unidas.com.br