Northwest nirvanas for business travelers.

• Author: Woodring, Jeannie
• Position: Hotel accommodations for Alaskans

Are you jetting to Seattle for your 11th business meeting in two years? Zipping into Portland for the first time for a weekend conference? Lucky you. Minutes away from these Northwest business centers lie world-class vacation wonders, from gourmet dining to four-star ski runs, that can turn any business trip into an unforgettable event. Take a look:

SINGING IN SEATTLE

Alaska's thousands of business travelers who pass through Seattle every year do far more than sing in the rain.

At the Sorrento Hotel in downtown Seattle, for instance, you'll enjoy the luxury and style of a small European-style hotel. Built in 1909 to reflect the architectural traditions of Sorrento, Italy, the hotel offers 76 guest rooms and suites, each decorated with European touches like antique furnishings and goose down pillows.

If you're hungry, the hotel's Hunt Club restaurant provides award-winning Northwest cuisine. Simply thirsty? Relax in the Fireside Room for a cup of tea or drink, to the soothing tunes of piano or harp.

"Because we are a small hotel and privately owned, we're really customer-service oriented. Everybody here remembers your name. If you return for a visit, the staff even remembers your preferences," says Norma Rosenthal, the hotel's assistant public relations director.

Deluxe room rates at the Sorrento begin at $130 a night. For more information, call the Sorrento Hotel at (800) 426-1625.

It's hard to remain sleepless in Seattle with the wide range of other accommodations. Another small European-style hotel, the Alexis, lies only one block from the ferry terminal and the city's fascinating waterfront district.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Alexis offers 54 guest rooms decorated in 18 different styles. Amenities range from fireplaces and wet bars to complimentary morning newspapers and continental breakfasts.

In addition, visitors flock to the facility's famous Painted Table restaurant, which tempts food connoisseurs with reasonably-priced regional delights.

Room prices at the Alexis Hotel begin at $140 per night; call (800) 426-7033 for reservations and more information.

An extra bonus provided by all Seattle hotels is closeness to the city's fabled attractions. Step out any of these doors, and you're minutes away from the colorful Pike Place Farmers' Market, the historical Pioneer Square district, the Space Needle, boat cruises, shopping ... enough to keep anyone sleepless in Seattle.

WASHINGTON WONDERS

Just seven miles...