Business Oriental

Archive for the ‘Business Travel International’ Category

There is a lot of talk today about being “global”. What does global mean? A person of the world? Every country is as different. So is every locality and city or town. The skills a business person needs to be successful in international business go beyond being global. While not comprehensive, this list based on over a dozen years of international business experience should help.

Travel

For the international business person, travel is a way of life. Long distance air travel can be especially brutal. The best advice is to arrive one day before any important meetings or conferences to adjust to any time difference. In the air, eat, sleep, work and read but do all in moderation. Air travel gluttony is common among international travelers. The on thing you cannot do is exercise on an airplane.

Lodging

Stay where your host, whether a local office or a client recommends. While cost is a consideration, so is safety, convenience to meeting locations and services provided. This is the home away from home so chose it with care.

Meals

Eat in moderation. Business travel is not the time to make up for every diet that one has ever been one. There is the temptation to eat more than usual. On the other had, when with people who live locally, whether colleagues or clients, ask what they recommend when dining together. Apart from allergies, one should be open to eating local cuisine.

Drinking

Some cultures drink more than Americans. Some drink less. And some not at all. The best advice is to drink in moderation or not at all. Similar to eating, international business travel is not the time to beat ones college drinking record. It is not healthy and it is insulting to clients and colleagues.

Dress

Most American business people, even after the business casual trend, still dress much more casually than business people internationally. Find out from local colleagues or even clients what attire is appropriate. If you do not know, dress in traditional business attire (suits for men and for women). This can always be dressed down if appropriate. Dress like you mean business but more importantly, dress appropriately. The same applies to evening dinners and functions outside of business hours.

Meetings

Be at meeting early. Do not leave until the meeting is over. Even if others leave to take calls, do not do so except at scheduled breaks. Eat in moderation if lunch is brought in. Do not drink too much coffee but bottled water is good. Clean up after yourself after the meeting. And do not sit in the meeting with your laptop and read your email. That is rude. Do make sure you bring plenty of business cards. Introduce yourself to everybody. Do not interrupt, raise your voice or swear. If you have other calls, schedule them for the evening when not meeting with the clients or your colleagues.

Recreation

In the evenings it is common to have dinner with clients or colleagues. After dinner is often a time to relax, exercise and catch up on some work before the next day. If staying over a weekend or taking a day off, visit local historical sites, museums, cultural events and also shops and restaurants. Staying in the hotel doing work is not healthy and it does not make one more internationally-minded or cultured.

Communication

Find out how your clients and colleagues prefer to communicate when not face-to-face. E-mail is common today. Conference calls are important too. Video conference calls can be very effective. Snail mail and faxes are less and less common today but are still necessary from time-to-time. Keep all communications clear, crisp and to the point. On international conference calls, listen more than talk. And do not interrupt. Ever. Take notes or minutes and make sure they are distributed within one business day of the call. Never e-mail jokes, gags, anything obscene or off-color. Do not swear or raise your voice on calls or video calls. Listening and patience are valued in most non-US cultures.

Language

While most non-US business people speak 2-4 languages most from the US speak 1 or perhaps 2 and not well. To this end, speak clearly in English. Be patient if asked to repeat or explain. This is especially true on conference calls. It is acceptable to pick up local words or phrases. Make sure they are appropriate and that they are pronounced flawlessly. Do not make a joke out of local words or phrases. This is insulting to clients and local colleagues.

While business has a lot to do with finance, technology, human resources, research and development and law, it has more to do with people than anything else. To that end, doing business internationally is about people. By traveling and working with dignity and respect for customers and local colleagues, one is taking the first step toward the extensive skills needed to be successful in international business.

Hospitality and tourism industry is by far one of the thriving fields of business that boosts up reputation of a certain city, country or state. Domestic and foreign tourists alike are relying on services offered by travel agencies, airlines, hotels, tourism bureaus and tourist guides so that every tour is made worthwhile and meaningful. The virtual side of business, Internet, is getting along with the jet-setting lifestyle of people, thus free international travel guides are accessible online.

The phenomenal approach of providing free international travel guides is a manifestation of how tourism keeps up with technology. Traveling is huge part of people’s lifestyle especially those transacting business in any parts of the globe or those who are big fanatics of exploring the world for pleasure. Travel packages for city tours, ocean cruises, island hops, zoo explorations, island escapades, bar hopping and other interesting itineraries are being accessible through world travel sites such as Real Travel, The World Travel Guide, Travel Library, Ex-Travelation and Around The World Guide.

Free international travel guides provide every bit of information including map for travels to Africa, Australia and South Pacific, Far East Asia, Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, North and South Americas, South East Asia, Central Asia, Europe and the United States. By specifying the name of destination name and target dates of travel, you will be led to more specific information such as airlines flying to and fro, hotel options, landmarks to catch sight of, distinctive features of your chosen destination, and tourism services you can enjoy during the entire travel duration. Travel agents are usually available to respond to your needs as soon as you send your queries.

Online magazines are integrated in free international travel guides so that you are up-to-date with feature stories about what the top tourist destinations in the world with corresponding landmarks it is known best for-say Paris is known for Eiffel Tower, US is known for the Statue of Liberty in New York, Canada for Niagara Falls, and so on. Free holiday and travel brochures or travelogues are also made available to those local tourists hoping to explore nearby cities and foreign tourists aspiring to fly across the continent.

Helpful information to prepare any tourist for his trip is definitely for free. Tips on how to have a safe tour are also given. There are also travel entities that deliver free international travel guides right to everyone’s doorway without any mailing fees at all. After mapping out the specifics of your intended trip, you can consult travel sites for whatever it is that you need: airline, hotel, package tours and car service or whatever. Most travel sites are accommodating and ready-to-serve just for you to attain a fulfilling travel agenda.

According to the American Express Business Travel’s second survey of corporate travel management service in China, the country will become the world’s third-largest market for corporate travel within five years. The survey shows that the spending on international business travel by China approximates US$4.2 billion a year, which is 17 percent of the Asian market for business travel. This figure, in addition to the spending on the domestic business travel in China, adds up to almost US$20 billion.

The healthy growth of China’s GDP is likely to secure a two-digit rise in China’s business travel market in a few years. It is estimated that by the year 2020, the number of Chinese business travellers will be five times as many as that at present. International travel service providers and global giants such as American Express, Kar Shun Travel, and Rosenbluth have noticed the potential of China market for business travel and have made inroads into China.

Global business travellers are advised to adhere to local business etiquettes. In Chinese business culture, conservative suits are the norm. For business purposes, it is traditionally acceptable to call a Chinese person by the family name, together with a title, such as “”Director Li”". Avoid using someone’s first name unless you know him or her closely. Formality is a sign of respect, and it is sensible to clarify how you will address someone early in a relationship.

Business hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. There is, however, a five-day workweek in larger cities. Avoid visiting government offices on Friday afternoon because this is sometimes reserved for “political studying” of the officials. Offices are typically closed on public holidays including the Spring Festival, during which most Chinese take five days off; other holidays during which offices close include Labor Day on May 1, and the National Day on October 1.