The most discerning—and hardest-working—travelers reveal their favorite hotels, airlines, and airports around the globe

Nobody knows more about the inside—or the inside story—of airports, hotel rooms, and airplane cabins (both coach and premium class) than business travelers. The number of nights they spend working away from home (close to 50 per year, on average) makes them, willing or not, experts on the companies that cater to road warriors. Which is why, year after year, we turn to them for their informed opinions on who's doing the best to keep them comfortable, cosseted, and connected while on the road.

But before we look at this year's standouts, let's turn our attention to business travelers themselves. They're wired, of course, with 93 percent traveling with a cell phone and 63 percent with a laptop. Somewhat surprisingly, though, only 16 percent pack a BlackBerry or other portable e-mail device. Increasingly savvy about the conveniences technology is making possible, almost 60 percent now check in and print their boarding passes before leaving for the airport, a process made much easier lately, now that several Hiltons, Marriotts, and Sheratons have installed ticket kiosks in their lobbies. Virtually all of them have booked a hotel room online, and 80 percent have made restaurant reservations via the Web, more than double the number who had done so last year.

In terms of air travel, a quarter of business travelers think that the airport security screening process improved this year (we're curious, though, to see how respondents' opinions change in next year's poll in light of the tightening of carry-on restrictions following last summer's heightened security level). As for the all-important frequent-flier programs, despite all the noise in recent years about airlines making it more difficult to become a top-tier member, only 19 percent of respondents were downgraded in their status, while 20 percent moved up a notch.

We value our readers' hard-won opinions and readily make use of their tips. If you are looking for the world's best hotels and airlines for business travelers, we recommend you do the same.

U.S. Hotels
Six of the top ten hotels in the United States are part of the Four Seasons brand (including the Ritz-Carlton, Chicago), but the No. 1 slot belongs to The Peninsula, Chicago. Only five years old, it's already won over business travelers with its long list of conveniences—a central location, free wireless Internet access in all rooms, and 24-hour room service from one of the city's top kitchens.

International Hotels
Unlike the rankings of the top U.S. properties, no single brand dominates the list of international winners. Dorchester, Fairmont, Four Seasons, Hyatt, InterContinental, JW Marriott, and Pan Pacific are all high scorers. And among continents, Asia wins hands down: Five of business travelers' ten favorite hotels are to be found there.