4. Culture and entertainment
Business relationships are developed and strengthened in social situations. Your success in business depends upon establishing social relationships, which can be made over business lunch or dinner. Mastering the art of fine dining adds to the competitive edge in today’s social and business climate. The host and the guest each have a responsibility to ensure the overall success of the event.
Invitation
Entertaining business clients over lunch or dinner often takes place at a restaurant, in a private club, or in a banquet hall. Moreover, first class hotels are usually appropriate venues for business meals and banquets.
Accept all invitations to lunch or dinner whenever possible. If the time or date is inconvenient, immediately take the initiative to suggest an alternative.
It is rare for spouses to be included in an invitation for a business dinner.
Do not wear blue or white at social functions; these colours are associated with death and mourning.
When invited to dinner, it can be appropriate to bring fruit, candy or cookies to the hostess; present your gift with both hands.
Before dinner
Greet everyone when you arrive, beginning with the most senior or elderly.
After entering a home, visitors are usually offered tea, soft drinks or warm water.
Before starting a meal, guests should recognize the older members of the family.
During a meal
Seating etiquette is important. The guest of honour traditionally sits opposite the host. The next most important guest sits to the left of the guest of honour; the third-ranking person is seated to the right of the guest of honour. This continues all the way around the table. Surprisingly to Westerners, this arrangement actually results in the “least important” people being seated next to the host.
Placing the host closest to the entrance has its advantages. This puts him in a better position to oversee the servers. Moreover, at the end of the evening, the host is traditionally expected to escort honored guests out to their cars.
When sitting, visitors should place their hands in their laps and keep their legs still.
During a meal, numerous courses may be served, so try not to eat too much at once. The best policy is to lightly sample each dish.
If you’re having a meal or a drink with someone, you can’t spend all your time talking about business. Much of the time you’ll be chatting or socializing. An important part of socializing is telling people about things that have happened to you – unusual, amusing or interesting experiences you’ve had.
Different cultures
Giving sincere compliments is always appreciated; denying these remarks, however, is the Chinese way of accepting them.
Banquets are an important part of entertaining in Hong Kong business culture, especially for celebrating a productive meeting or new alliance.
Rice is seen as a filler, so do not eat extensive amounts of it. Leave most rice untouched during the last course; doing otherwise will imply that not enough food was provided.
A very traditional Chinese restaurant might not provide napkins. Instead, you are expected to wipe your hands on the tablecloth. At such an establishment, leaving a messy tablecloth indicates that you have eaten well and enjoyed the food.
(From: NIBE, WB)
Table Manners
These apply to the Americas and most of Europe. If you’re elsewhere, do some research beforehand.
T
he
fork goes on the left. The spoon and knife go on the right. Food
items go on the left, so your bread plate is on your left. Drinks,
including coffee cups, should be on the right. When sitting at a
banquet table, you may begin eating when two people to your left and
right are served. If you haven’t been served, but most of your
table has, encourage others to start. Reach only for items in front
of you, ask that other items be passed by a neighbor. Offer to the
left; pass to the right, although once things start being passed, go
with the flow.