Executive Travel : Personal View

Name: Joe Allen

Position: president

Company: South Coast Communications, Irvine

Allen likes to stay at the Peninsula Hotel when in New York City. “The Peninsula has good business services, including rooms wired for computer use. With my laptop computer, I can plug into files at my office and be productive. I particularly like the option of requesting a fax machine in my room. Having one avoids problems of non-public information being seen by other people.

“I find a good workout gets me through any tiredness from traveling. The Peninsula has . . . a lap pool, Nautilus and Universal equipment, free weights, step and rowing machines, aerobic options and a wood floor--and it never seems to be crowded, day or night.”

The staff of the midtown Manhattan hotel includes an “extraordinary” concierge, Anthony Mirza. “He books restaurants that you normally can’t get into and can arrange . . . cars, limos, a meeting room, secretaries--or he will Fed-Ex a package for you.”

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