Arrival/Check-in: I don’t think I ever truly understood the definition of the word “efficiency” until I arrived at the Conrad Tokyo. As I stepped out of the taxi, the bellman asked my name and took my luggage. From that point on the entire staff was one step ahead of me. From the ground-floor lobby, sleek with a bell desk and sculpture, I proceeded to the 28th-floor main lobby. Floating above Tokyo, modern design continued to exude urban luxury. The hotel manager escorted me to the long check-in desk and then directed me to another set of elevators to the guestrooms; my check-in process was seamless. (30/30)

Guest Quarters: The softly lit hallways with set-back dark wooden doors emphasized the contrast of the entrance into a bright and modern room. The room was a Japanese design meant to inspire calm and inspiration. I found that inspiration in the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a beautiful Japanese garden and bathing the room in natural sunlight. I appreciated the sunlight when I was working in my room, and the evening view inspired me to get out into the lights of Tokyo. My Executive room had a separate sitting room with a flat-screen TV and a half bath. The living room led into the bedroom and connected to the main, luxurious bathroom. A separate changing room with closets was also off the bathroom, further separating it from the living room while creating a spacious living area. (28/30)

Services/Amenities: The hotel operates as a city within a city. There are four restaurants, including the one-Michelin-star China Blue and two Gordon Ramsay venues, plus a lobby lounge. China Blue was an impressive dining experience from entry to exit. Gordon Ramsay’s space had some catching up to do. In the evening the sparkling lobby lounge bar filled with hotel guests and the trend-setting, local upper crust. The hotel also contained a state-of-the-art fitness center, a gym, a spa (a haven of tranquility and calm in a bustling city) and an indoor pool — enough to satisfy any health nut. The in-room wireless Internet came with a fee and required an access card from the front desk. I found it a bit of a hassle to have to call downstairs to arrange for my Internet connection, but someone always delivered the card promptly. (33/40)

The Experience: Tokyo is an extremely spread-out city, so location is important when choosing a hotel. For media people, the Conrad is very well situated, and the restaurants and lobby are ideal for entertaining clients. I was within walking distance to the Ginza, the premium shopping area in Tokyo; and the subway Shiodome was also a stone’s throw away, connecting me to any part of the city I chose. The Conrad Tokyo sets the bar high for anyone looking for efficiency, luxury and comfort in a premium hotel.

Total Score: 91/100

Conrad Tokyo

1-9-1 Higashi-Shinbashi
Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-7337
Japan
tel 81 3 6388 8000