Chicago is one of my favorite cities in the United States, so I’m very happy to be here this week for business. After an early-morning departure (and on time!) from Philadelphia on Wednesday morning, I arrived in Chicago a few minutes ahead of schedule.

I typically take the airport shuttle service to my downtown hotel, but with the terminal service desk unattended, I opted for a cab. I was pleased with the payment service once I arrived at my hotel. The driver handed me an iPhone after swiping my credit card; I signed and opted to have my receipt emailed to me. Within seconds, I was out of the cab and the receipt was in my inbox — what an easy, efficient service for business travelers. 

My suite at The James Chicago is spacious, with lots of seating options and areas, allowing me to work in comfort. Some other great features for business travelers include complimentary WiFi, in-room water and a 24-hour fitness center. The on-site restaurant, David Burke’s Primehouse, was perfect for my first lunch meeting. Perhaps these photos of my Caesar salad with crispy crab croutons made tableside will whet your appetite for your next business trip to Chicago.

The rest of my stay in Chicago is sure to be just as seamless — reaffirming my belief that it is a perfect city in which to do business and to visit for leisure pursuits!

— Kim Krol, managing editor