By Jim Thompson

The JW Marriott Grand Hotel in Bucharest was home to FIJET during the openng days of the 53rd World Congress in this enchanting city. Surrounding us in luxury, the hotel was both an elegant setting and a relaxing home away from home for the delegates.

Besides offering the elegance befitting European royalty, it was perfectly located next to the stunning Parliament Palace, site of the Opening Ceremonies for the Congress. Additionally, it was close to sites that included the Bucharest National Opera House, the National Observatory, the Botanical Garden, the Arch Of Triumph, the Natural History Museum and Cismigiu Park. It was the perfect headquarters for visiting Bucharest.

The public facilities included an up-scale shopping gallery and casino, state-of-the-art fitness club, World Class Health Academy and six of Bucharest's finest restaurants including an American sports bar.

Accommodations at the hotel -- 379 rooms and 22 suites -- include the largest rooms in Bucharest, spacious work areas with wireless internet access and round-the-clock butler service. To insure our comfort, the hotel provides exquisite bedding with down comforters, cotton-rich linens and plush pillows.

The restaurants within the hotel offered everything you could want. There was Cucina - The Italian Kitchen, where traditional Italian cuisine and a relaxing atmosphere combine with excellent food. Champions - The American Sports Bar & Restaurant features Tex -Mex cuisine (a combination of Texas down-home cooking with traditional Mexican food) is a great place for watching sport events live on 29 screens or just for hanging with friends.

In the afternoon, the Vienna Lounge - The Austrian Coffee House provides wonderful Viennese coffee, fresh cake buffet, accompanied by live classical music.

When the weather permits (and it was perfect the days that we were there) the Garden is the place to be. This outdoor terrace features grilled dishes, salads and mouth-watering desserts. Want something more substantial? Try, the JW Steakhouse, a real American steakhouse, serving the best of U.S. Black Angus beef in an elegant and distinctive atmosphere completed with a generous wine collection, a bourbon bar and a cigar lounge.

To work off the food and tensions, the hotel provides the World Class Health Academy, a wonderful fitness, spa and recreation center. This facility offers cardiovascular equipment, free weights, swimming, whirlpool, sauna, squash courts and instructors. The Spa offers members and guests a world of products and services for increased well-being along with the very best of personal service.

But all of this was second to the warm welcome we received from the wonderful staff of this hotel. It seemed that no request was too difficult to fill. At every turn, the hotel staff was there to insure that our stay was comfortable. It was truly more like living in a grand home than in a grand hotel.