4.1.9.Business Meals

Working breakfasts, lunches and dinners are an established way of doing business. They have their own code of behaviour which you should observe if you are to get the best out of them.

If you are the host, you should use them:

• To establish a new relationship in a very informal way

• To explore a business proposition in a discreet way

• To get to know someone better personally

• To discuss a personnel issue with a subordinate

• To fit in a meeting in either your (or your guest's) overburdened schedule.

The host usually invites the guest personally by telephone but should always confirm the date, time and venue in writing. If the host is going to be accompanied by colleagues, he should state this in the letter and give their job title or function. It is courteous for the host or his secretary to call the guest a few days before the event to confirm the arrangements.

The host should always be at the venue ten minutes ahead of the meeting to confirm the dining arrangements with the restaurant or hotel. The host should greet the guest personally (don't leave this to a hall porter or head waiter) and should ensure that the guest is comfortable before going in to eat.

It is convention for the host to decide when and how the business topic is introduced. If there is more than one member in the host's party, it is helpful for them to agree a broad agenda and timetable for the business part of the meal. Hosts should always brief themselves on the guest's background (both of his company and personally). They should always ensure that the guest enjoys the meal as much as possible and not let the business discussion distract them from their role as host.

Business meals are almost always informal in structure although brief notes of actions or decisions are often made at their conclusion. Business cards are usually exchanged at the end of business meals rather than at the beginning. The host should always pay for the meal and this should be done as discreetly as possible (ideally by signing an account to be charged to his company. However, it is not usual to pay the guest's taxi fare back to his office or hotel.

Assignments

I Suggest the Ukrainian equivalents of the phrases below:

to establish a new relationship; to explore a business proposition; to fit in; to confirm the date; to accompany; overburden schedule; job title; to be at the venue ten minutes ahead; to greet the guest personally; to brief; to enjoy the meal; to distract them from their role as a host; notes of actions or decisions; business card; this should be done as discreetly as possible; an account to be charged to his company.

II. Study the use of italicized words in different phrases, suggest their Ukrainian equivalents:

~ dinner ~

formal ~ ; public ~ ; to go out to ~ ; to give a ~ ; to ask smb. to ~ ; ~ clothes; ~ dress; ~ jacket; ~ party.

III. Answer the questions:

1. What is the purpose of working breakfasts (lunches and dinners)?

2. Is it customary to agree an agenda for the business part of the meal?

3. What is made at the conclusion of business meals?

IV. Translate into English:

1. Вважається ввічливим зателефонувати гостеві за декілька днів до ділового обіду і підтвердити запрошення.

2. Візитівками заведено обмінюватися наприкінці ділового обіду.

3. Одна з причин проведення ділових обідів – це спроба вставити ділову зустріч у перевантажений робочий графік.