WEEKENDER: travel.

Byline: Jeffrey O. Valisno

In the past, the business hotel concept used to be quite off-putting. Terrible aesthetics, minuscule guest rooms and vile furniture were all justified in the name of functionality and practicality.

While all hotels used to look and feel the same, new design concepts have radically changed the industry in recent years. Frequent flyers now have a choice.

Suddenly, the lure of a lodging with personalized service, spacious rooms and impeccable design have become more the rule than the exception.

Business travelers have taken notice. For them, a hotel is no longer just for conducting business, executing e-mails, and sleeping to get rid of jet lag. It is now also for …