Makati Shangri-La, Manila

Curvilinear, blonde-wood paneling envelopes the 699 guestrooms at this prestigious property, just 20 minutes from the international airport. With generous views of the pulsing financial district, the hotel contains a range of meeting spots for power-player guests. It's also within easy reach of some of the city's best shopping complexes, including the gargantuan Glorietta Mall, where an indoor playground and concert stage share space with hundreds of specialty stores. To escape the crowds, opt for a lazy lunch at Red, the hotel's cosmopolitan steakhouse (recommendations include Wagyu beef with abalone mushrooms) or a massage at the in-house spa, available around the clock.