Corporate travel continues to be an essential part of any business and statistics highlight the industry is continuing to grow, with the average travel spend for European businesses more than doubling between 2016 – 2019*. To help the rising number of UK business travellers prepare for international trips and to ensure they are as successful as possible, the award-winning airport parking operator, APH has put together a guide highlighting the cultural customs when it comes to polite etiquette in popular destinations for business travel.
The guide draws attention to cultural customs that should be upheld and acknowledged when visiting 10 destinations such as Japan, the UAE and the USA. The guide compares the recommendations behind greetings, gift giving and dining, business attire, as well as the appropriate decorum when handing out business cards.
First Impressions Count
Although shaking hands is unsurprisingly the most universal form of greeting a business associate, travellers should only use the right hand when shaking hands in India and the United Arab Emirates, as accidentally using the left hand is considered unclean. In Brazil and Canada it is polite to greet women with a kiss on both cheeks and in China, Singapore, India and the United Arab Emirates, it is custom to greet the most senior or eldest person first out of respect. When entering a Japanese meeting room it is customary to knock three times but travellers should make note not to knock two times because this is the traditional way to check if a bathroom stall is occupied.
Giving and Receiving Gifts
Gift giving is an important part of international business protocol, especially in Japan and China, where gifts should be taken to the first business meeting. In these countries, presents should be given and received with two hands and should never be opened in front of the giver. Similarly, gifts of four and nine items should be avoided as they are considered unlucky in Japan, as are white flowers and potted plants which are associated with funerals and sickness. Business gifts are also appreciated in the United Arab Emirates, where they should be opened as soon as they are received, and in India where sweets are the number one choice of gift. However, in Singapore, Ireland and Australia, gifts are not essential for business meetings and furthermore, in Brazil giving a gift to a business associate is seen as a form of bribery.
Table Manners
Dining with new contacts is a great way to build relationships but in Singapore, Brazil and Australia business discussions should be kept away from mealtimes and when dining in Singapore it is polite to let your host order for you. A great way of creating rapport with business associates ‘Down Under’ and in Ireland is paying for a ‘shout’, or a round of drinks. For business travellers visiting India, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates it is considered inappropriate to ask for alcohol when it is not offered. It is also custom here, as in India, to only eat with the right hand because the left hand is considered unclean. Other faux pas that should be avoided in Japan and China include; leaving chopsticks straight up in rice bowls and using chopsticks for communal dishes when sharing plates of food. It is also important to remember that fish in China should never be flipped over on a plate as this is bad luck and symbolises a fishing boat capsizing. And, whilst slurping food is a dinner time no-no in the West, in China and Japan it is good practice to slurp noodles.
Dress to Impress
Fashion-forward folk will be pleased to know that clothes and accessories worn to a business meeting in Brazil are almost as important as the meeting itself. On the other hand, when travelling for business in countries such as the USA, the UAE and Canada, formal and conservative suits are essential, especially for women working in the UAE where clothing should cover the shoulders and knees. Business travellers in the United Arab Emirates and Singapore should make a conscious effort not to show the bottom of their shoes when they sit during meetings as this is considered rude and for those travelling to China, white clothing should be avoided since this is worn at funerals.
Business Card Etiquette
As with meetings in the UK, it’s expected that business cards will be exchanged when meeting a new contact. The act of presenting business cards is important, since in the UAE and India business cards should only be touched with the right hand. Likewise, in Japan, Singapore and China business cards should be shown with the utmost respect and received with two hands. Rushing to put business cards straight into wallets or stuffing them into back pockets is highly frowned upon in Japan and Singapore and instead they should be left out face-up during meetings and put away after. Lastly, it is common practice when travelling to destinations such as Brazil and Canada’s French provinces to print business cards in English and also the local language.
Small Talk Matters
When travelling for business it always pays to be punctual and prepared for small talk. However, business travellers visiting Japan and Singapore should embrace silence as this is valued more than an abundance of talking. It is also important to respect working weeks that are structured differently, for example when conducting business meetings in the United Arab Emirates it is best to schedule these for Thursday or Sunday so that Friday can be observed as a holy day.
GIFT GIVING
DO
• Give gifts at social gatherings
• Open gifts when they’re received
• Send flowers to your host the day after they have hosted you
DON’T
• Give gifts at business meetings
• Give purple or black because these colours are associated with mourning
DINING ETIQUETTE
DO
• Accept coffee
• Use knife and fork for all dishes
DON’T
• Talk about business
CLOTHING GUIDELINES
DO
• Dress with fashion in mind
• Wear polished shoes
DON’T
• Wear cartoon ties or ties with images
• Wear yellow and green
GREETINGS
DO
• Shake hands
• Kiss women on both cheeks
DON’T
• Use the ‘ok’ sign
BUSINESS CARD ETIQUETTE
DO
• Exchange business cards during introductions
• Hand out business cards printed in English and Portuguese
• Hand out business cards with the Portuguese side facing up
• Give everyone present your business card
DON’T
• N/A
GENERAL ETIQUETTE
DO
• Make small talk
DON’T
• Expect business deals to made during first meetings
• Talk about politics or Argentina
• Schedule a meeting between 12-3pm
GIFT GIVING
DO
• Offer gifts after a deal is closed
• Unwrap gifts immediately
• Unwrap gifts in front of the giver
DON’T
• Give white lilies
DINING ETIQUETTE
DO
• Focus on business
• Accept invitations to post-work drinks
DON’T
• Start eating until whole table has been served
• Eat while walking or on the street
CLOTHING GUIDELINES
DO
• Dress according to the weather
• Dress conservatively
• Wear suits
DON’T
• Wear strong scents
GREETINGS
DO
• Firm handshake
• Kiss on both cheeks when well acquainted
• Maintain eye contact
DON’T
• N/A
BUSINESS CARD ETIQUETTE
DO
• Have business cards printed in French and English
• Give everyone present your business card
DON’T
• N/A
GENERAL ETIQUETTE
DO
• Be direct
• Respect everyone regardless of rank or status
• Remember your manners
DON’T
• Arrange meetings on Monday
• Arrange meetings on Friday
GIFT GIVING
DO
• Bring a gift
• Give and receive gifts with two hands
• Refuse gifts before accepting
DON’T
• Offer a gift of four items
• Offer a gift of black or blue colours
• Open a gift in front of the giver
• Give clocks
• Give sharp objects
DINING ETIQUETTE
DO
• Slurp noodles
• Accept alcohol
• Sample all dishes
• Tap on the table when tea is refilled
DON’T
• Eat or drink before the host
• Point your chopsticks at other people
• Leave chopsticks straight up in rice
• Lick chopsticks
• Use chopsticks for common plates
• Don’t leave an empty plate
• Flip fish to eat the other side because it is bad luck
CLOTHING GUIDELINES
DO
• Dress conservatively
• Wear red because it is lucky
DON’T
• Wear black or white because this is associated with mourning and funerals
GREETINGS
DO
• Shake hands
• Address the eldest or most senior person first
DON’T
• Shake with the left hand
• Don’t shake hands sitting down
• Hug
BUSINESS CARD ETIQUETTE
DO
• Receive business cards with two hands
DON’T
• N/A
GENERAL ETIQUETTE
DO
• Be punctual
• Remove shoes when entering homes
DON’T
• Write in red ink
• Shake your leg
• Talk about religion
• Talk about politics
GIFT GIVING
DO
• Take gifts to homes
• Give sweets
• Add an extra rupee for luck when giving money
DON’T
• Give leather gifts to Hindus
DINING ETIQUETTE
DO
• Ensure water comes from a bottle
• Eat with the right hand only
DON’T
• Ask for alcohol when it is not offered
• Decline food
CLOTHING GUIDELINES
DO
• Wear smart business attire
• Wear traditional Indian clothing
DON’T
• Wear silk
GREETINGS
DO
• Greet the eldest or most senior person first
• Use the traditional ‘Namaste’ greeting
• Shake hands with male colleagues
DON’T
• Shake hands with the opposite gender
• Shake hands using the left hand because this is considered unclean
BUSINESS CARD ETIQUETTE
DO
• Hand out business cards printed in English
• Give and receive business cards with the right hand
• Include level of education on business card
DON’T
• Translate business cards into Hindi
GENERAL ETIQUETTE
DO
• Accept invitations to homes of business contacts
• Remove shoes when entering homes
DON’T
• Use the word no
• Point
• Talk about religion
GIFT GIVING
DO
• Take chocolates or wine if invited into a home
DON’T
• Give business gifts
DINING ETIQUETTE
DO
• Take meetings at the pub
• Organise business lunches
DON’T
• Organise business dinners
CLOTHING GUIDELINES
DO
• Dress formally
• Dress conservatively
DON’T
• N/A
GREETINGS
DO
• Firm handshake
• Maintain eye contact
DON’T
• N/A
BUSINESS CARD ETIQUETTE
DO
• Exchange business cards at the start or end of a meeting
DON’T
• Be offended if people don’t carry their business cards to hand out
GENERAL ETIQUETTE
DO
• Make jokes
• State your opinions
• Engage in small talk
DON’T
• Be offended if someone makes a joke at your expense
GIFT GIVING
DO
• Wrap gifts
• Give and receive gifts with two hands
• Take a gift to the first meeting
• Tell your host that you are going to give them a gift
• Refuse gifts before accepting
DON’T
• Offer a gift of four items because this is considered unlucky
• Offer a gift of nine items because this is considered unlucky
• Give white flowers because they are associated with funerals
• Give potted plants because these are thought to encourage sickness
• Open a gift in front of the giver
DINING ETIQUETTE
DO
• Slurp noodles
• Place chopsticks in parallel when pausing during a meal
• Sip tea after the host
• Accept drink invitations
DON’T
• Use chopsticks for common plates
• Hover chopsticks over dishes
• Lick chopsticks
• Leave chopsticks straight up in rice
• Pour yourself a drink
CLOTHING GUIDELINES
DO
• Dress conservatively
• Wrap kimonos left over right
DON’T
• N/A
GREETINGS
DO
• Bow
• Knock 3 times before entering a room
DON’T
• Use overly expressive hand gestures
• Use the ‘ok’ sign
BUSINESS CARD ETIQUETTE
DO
• Receive business cards with two hands
• Place your business card below your counterparts
• Keep business cards out and face up until after the meeting
DON’T
• Put business cards in pockets or wallets
• Cover the person’s name
GENERAL ETIQUETTE
DO
• Remove shoes when entering homes and Tatami rooms
• Cover tattoos
• Enter elevators in order of status
• Embrace silence
DON’T
• Blow your nose in meetings
• Point
• Openly display money
GIFT GIVING
DO
• Give a gift when invited to a home
DON’T
• Give business gifts
DINING ETIQUETTE
DO
• Engage in long mealtimes
• Allow the host to order
• Place chopsticks on a chopstick rest
• Wash hands before and after a meal
• Show you’re finished by placing the spoon and fork together on plate
DON’T
• Ask for alcohol when it is not offered
• Talk about business
• Share leftovers
• Refuse initial offerings of food
CLOTHING GUIDELINES
DO
• Wear light suits
• Dress in smart casual attire
DON’T
• Wear a jacket
• Show the bottom of shoes when in meetings
GREETINGS
DO
• Greet the most senior person first
• Shake hands when meeting and leaving
DON’T
• Bow unless you are bowed to
BUSINESS CARD ETIQUETTE
DO
• Always give your business card
• Give and receive business cards with two hands
• Treat business cards with respect
DON’T
• Print business cards in local languages
• Put business cards in your back pocket
• Write on business cards
GENERAL ETIQUETTE
DO
• Be punctual
• Make small talk
• Be direct
• Embrace silence
DON’T
• Point with the forefinger
• Touch a person’s head
• Pound the fist on an open palm
• Display emotions during meetings
GIFT GIVING
DO
• Open and examine the gift in front of the giver
• Give personal gifts
• Give gifts at the end of meetings
DON’T
• Give gold jewellery or silk garments to men
• Give flowers because these are reserved for special occasions
DINING ETIQUETTE
DO
• Accept coffee
• Shake coffee cup once finished
• Eat with right hand only
• Tip 10%
DON’T
• Ask for alcohol when it is not offered
• Consume pork
CLOTHING GUIDELINES
DO
• Dress conservatively
• Dress modestly
• Women should cover their shoulders and knees
DON’T
• Wear clothing that comes above the knee
• Show the bottom of shoes when in meetings
GREETINGS
DO
• Greet the most senior person first
• Shake hands using the right hand – the left hand is considered unclean
DON’T
• Shake hands with the opposite gender
BUSINESS CARD ETIQUETTE
DO
• Print business cards in Arabic and English
• Give and receive business cards with the right hand
• Give business cards at the beginning of meetings
DON’T
• N/A
GENERAL ETIQUETTE
DO
• Be punctual
• Build relationships
• Engage in small talk
• Schedule meetings on Thursdays and Sundays
• Remove shoes when entering homes
DON’T
• Rush into talking about business
• Schedule meetings on Fridays
• Conduct meetings during Ramadan
GIFT GIVING
DO
• Give gifts from your home country
DON’T
• Give money
• Be offended if someone cannot accept a gift e.g. government agents
DINING ETIQUETTE
DO
• Place napkin on lap
• Serve women first
• Tip 15-20% of the bill
DON’T
• Tuck napkins under the chin
• Start eating until whole table has been served
CLOTHING GUIDELINES
DO
• Wear suits
DON’T
• Wear open toed shoes
GREETINGS
DO
• Shake hands
• Hug if you’re well acquainted
• Return smiles
DON’T
• Take phrases such as ‘see you later’ literally
BUSINESS CARD ETIQUETTE
DO
• Hand out business cards
DON’T
• Be offended when cards are quickly put away
GENERAL ETIQUETTE
DO
• Engage in small talk
• Be punctual
• Expect informalities and openness
• Be direct
• Focus on business
DON’T
• Waste time
• Interrupt people
• Sit in silence