Ah.. Paris! Food, sites, history, culture, cruises, shops, Eiffel Tower, and luxury!

All of the best business hotels in Paris have a great location, world-class service and modern facilities in addition to their unique personalities. For those that can afford the lap of luxury, here is a  handpicked collection of luxury hotels, identified the best business hotels in Paris.

The best business hotels in Paris all strive to ensure that guests are as stress-free as possible while working away from home.

High-speed Internet should be easily available, the business center should be staffed around the clock, conference rooms are accessible, and you’ll find convenient transportation.

Hotel Baltimore Paris | Paris, France

This handsome building was transformed into a luxury hotel in the 1920s, taking on the name of its famous first guest, Lord Baltimore. With distinctly Parisian charm, the Hotel Baltimore Paris invokes the art de vivre a la francaise with a Champagne bar, fine cuisine, library lounge and fitness room.

The attentive and dedicated services offers a personalized and high-quality welcome combining respect, discretion and a constant desire to meet guest expectations.

All of these combines traits ensure this is one of the top business hotels in Paris

Hotel de Crillon | Paris, France

Designated as a unique historical monument, the Hotel de Crillon is an elegant 18th century luxury hotel situated on the world famous Place De La Concorde in the heart of Paris. Only a few steps away from the Champs-Elysees, the Faubourg Saint Honore shopping area and all major museums, the Hotel de Crillon is the place to stay in Paris.

This mythical hotel is rich in history and culture. Decorated in a Louis XV style, the hotel’s 147 guest rooms and suites include Presidential apartments and the exceptional Louis XV and Leonard Bernstein suites.

With 140 square meters of terrace, tall windows allowing abundant light, warm colors and wood-paneling, these renowned suites offer magnificent views of Paris, the Eiffel Tower proudly visible from a luxurious bubble-bath. Offering its guests the highest level of personalized service is the ultimate goal of Hotel de Crillon.

Hotel Le Bristol Paris | Paris, France

Hotel Le Bristol Paris is an exceptional luxury hotel. With a large “a la française” garden, it is ideally located on the rue du Faubourg Saint Honore. 102 rooms and 85 suites filled with sumptuous fabrics and refined woodwork.

The Restaurant offers exceptional and innovative cuisine by 3 Michelin star Chef Eric Frechon. The bar, elegant and spontaneous, welcomes you for an afternoon tea, or less formal lunch or dinner. Exceptional? Absolutely. Best business hotels in Paris? True, too!

Hotel Plaza Athenee | Paris, France

Hotel Plaza Athenee deploys a palette of colors and light in its guest rooms and suites with elegance, charm, and sophistication so that guests can enjoy a unique, refreshing atmosphere. As you move from one window to the next, your eyes follow the line of sweet chestnut trees on avenue Montaigne.

Then sweep across the rooftops of Montmartre to the Eiffel Tower before coming to rest on the Garden Courtyard with its Virginia creeper and geraniums.

Hyatt Regency Madeleine | Paris, France

Hyatt Regency Paris-Madeleine is a fine luxury boutique hotel in Paris, ideally situated in the area of La Madeleine, in the midst of the most fashionable shopping district and close to the historical centre.

Located on the typically Parisian Boulevard Malesherbes, this five-star hotel is few minutes from the haute couture, fashion and jewellery shops of the famous streets Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Rue Royale and the department stores Printemps Haussman and Galeries Lafayette on Haussmann Boulevard.

Given the resources, these hotels are truly amazing. If there is time on your trip, I’d even recommend just walking into them, especially the Hotel de Crillon, truly a remarkable place just to see.

Enjoy!

Business owners planning to establish and expand their business in Vietnam can benefit greatly by following Vietnam business etiquette. Vietnamese people believe in developing strong relationships in personal as well as professional settings. Showing proficiency in Vietnamese business etiquettes can impress your business associate. It can also give you an advantage to develop a great working relationship with them.

Vietnam Business Etiquette & Corporate Culture The Vietnamese are quite punctual and expect foreigners to arrive on time. However, if a situation occurs that is beyond your control, they can be flexible and accommodating. Business cards are an essential part of Vietnamese business world.

They are exchanged at the start of the meeting and are considered as the first step to a long-term professional relationship. A bilingual business card shows that you value your client and are seriously interested in working with them. You need to receive and present the cards with both hands to show respect. You are expected to bring surplus business cards as you may meet more people than you expected. As a foreigner, you might need to deal with certain government officials to get permits.

This might be a long and stressful procedure. You might need to make several visits to get licenses and approvals from ministry officials.

Since the local chamber of commerce and the embassies have close ties, they can be a great source of information for business related queries and business procedures. They can also help in expediting your documentation process by facilitating effective networking. In Vietnam, decisions are usually made by committees.

As no one holds absolute power, you cannot rely on one person to safeguard your interest. You may need to meet and convince several individuals to close the deal. Additionally, Vietnamese businessmen anticipate high profits from business deals. They seek the best offer from you which may sometimes slow down their decisions making process.

Vietnam Business Etiquette Greeting: Personal respect has critical value in Vietnamese culture. Offering a hand shake with a slight bow is customary in Vietnamese business world. Additionally, it is expected that you address your colleague by Mr. or Miss. followed by the given name. The people of Vietnam are very sensitive about self-respect. Your Vietnamese colleague should never get a sense of lost status or dignity. A slight mistake on your part may make them feel disrespectful which may lead to immediate loss of contact.

Vietnamese Business Meetings Vietnamese businessmen prefer formal dressing at business meetings. Men usually wear suits while women wear dress or suits. During warm weather, it is acceptable not to wear jacket. Vietnamese businessmen are more comfortable in their native language than speaking in English.

Consider hiring an interpreter to facilitate communication. Learning a few Vietnamese words with correct pronunciation may also help to get admiration from your Vietnamese colleague.

In addition, this book, Vietnam Business Guide was absolutely amazingly helpful in giving critical background and business support for my trips and even more so for friends that moved there for work.

In addition to following these Vietnam Business Etiquettes protocols, you should be careful about choosing the businessman you are working with. Due to widespread corruption in the country, inappropriate business partners may cause inconvenience in several ways.

Many respectable companies are registered with the government and your local embassies can offer great assistance here. When I first moved to China back in 2003, it was still very uncommon to hear of people going to Vietnam for anything, to be honest.

I had the fortunate opportunity to meet a few Vietnamese during my travels and I found them to have a vibrant culture and great passion for learning and exploring. Many friends of mine ended up moving from Hong Kong to Vietnam in the late 2000’s as many banks were opening offices there.

And, if you’re looking to have a great time along the coast there, be sure to check out my article here: Vietnam Coastline.

Enjoy!

The ethos of Italian business is family-focused. Management structures are usually hierarchical, and most decisions are made at levels above middle management. Take time to find out at an early stage in your business relationship where the real decisions will be made. This is easier to accomplish if you can understand and utilize a few Italian phrases, spoken in their tongue.

Business Dealings in Italy

Traveling to foreign countries to conduct business is often daunting. This is especially true when you don’t speak the language. Italians are warm and accommodating, and they welcome foreigners (stranieri) openly. They will welcome your attempts to speak to them in their native tongue, and business will be conducted more easily if you understand and use a few business phrases in Italian.

Business in Italy – Phrases to Know:

Scusi, un informazione, per favore.

Excuse me; I need some information, please.

In any language, business negotiations must be fully understood by all the parties involved. If you don’t have sufficient information with which to make a decision, it is perfectly acceptable to ask for more.

If you do not have all the facts you need before making a decision, you may end up making an unwise business decision. This would not bode well for your future dealings with your employer.

siete aperti a qualche tipo di contrattazione?

Are you open to negotiation?

This may be used early or later in a negotiation. Sometimes, Italians like to throw a virtual curve ball at the last minute, to test your commitment. It is important to find out ahead of time how open your Italian colleagues are to negotiation.

Può l’ufficio commerciale occuparsi della pubblicità?

Can we have marketing create the ad?

This is a straightforward request, but it will mean more if you speak it in the language of your host.

Ottimo! Salute allora, al nostro nuovo progetto!

Excellent! Cheers then, to our new project!

This is used after the negotiations are complete, and the project is a “go” from both sides. Practice it a bit, so it will sound natural when you use it.

Using the Right Gestures and Language

For Business in Italy, using the proper gestures and language in communication is quite important.

Do not move away from advances; they may consider you unfriendly. Trust is important to establish a good working relationship.

Deals are made slowly, so avoid showing a sense of urgency. This is seen as a weakness in Italy. If your hosts are making small talk, then allow that. Make small talk with them, covering topics like art, food, sports or fashion. Do not introduce Italian politics or religion into the conversations.

Communicating Face to Face

Eye contact is important in Italy. It shows frankness, interest and openness. Looking away should be avoided, since it sends negative signals to your hosts.

English is used most commonly in business, along with Italian and some French and German.

Business in Italy: Meeting Agendas

Agendas in business meetings are quite flexible in Italy. All meeting members may take an active role and interrupt the flow of conversation. There are frequent side conversations, as well. During a meeting, it is not unusual for some delegates to leave while new ones arrive to join into the conversations with gusto. Use the Italian phrases you know well and for other comments, stick to English.

And for the language? Well, this was a big problem for me, and who knows, maybe it is a problem for you? I know I wanted my best to try to solve it and that is when I found this amazing software, and they even have a free trial! I’d check it out if you have time. Italian is such a beautiful language, steeped in the history of Italy.

I remember once I had to travel to Milan to meet a business partner, someone whom I consider a close friend. We were working on a large printout for a brand we both work with. We were sitting in a beautiful cafe outside of the Duomo having an espresso and a croissant, really just chatting about families.

Then someone started walking over, impeccable suit, like cut out of a magazine, and totally embraced my friend like they’ve been friends for 30 years! They started talking in rapid Italian, no way I could catch a single word. It felt like minutes before I was even acknowdlged (which made them feel very bad).

Turns out that this “new” person to our snack was just a friend who happened to be in Milan and had just decided to go out for a walk! But having just a little understanding of Italian customs goes a long way.

Business in Italy can be a lot of fun too and it definitely helps knowing some important phrases!

Enjoy!

Ah! Magnificent! What a great experience this can be, Italian Business Meals! After your successful business meeting, it is very common to go out for a meal. A little forewarning though, it can last a long time, be full on the stomach, but completely enjoyable!

If you are traveling for business to Italy, you may well make a friend for your career life, or just life in general. Cultivating friendships is an important part of business etiquette in Italy. Be patient and genuine, and learn a bit of Italian, so that you will appear gracious. Oh, thins one was a problem for me as I had been wanting to learn Italian for so long. I can’t say that I’m very good, but it was a problem for me, and maybe it’s a problem or desire for you, too? This solution worked really well for me and I’d totally recommend checking it out: learn Italian.

Italians prize education, intelligence, imagination and inventiveness. They maintain personal relations scrupulously, with an especially high value placed on loyalty. This is especially true in families. The most important affiliation for Italians is the family.

Meeting and Greeting

When you are introduced for Italian business meals, shake hands with everyone, including children.

You will also shake hands before you leave. Ladies extend their hands to men, first. Friends may be greeted with kisses on both cheeks.

Use business associates’ last names and proper titles until your host or the colleagues themselves invite you to use their first names.

Maintain strict eye contact when you are speaking with potential business associates. Otherwise, your hosts may feel that you are trying to hide something from them. Italians use body language a great deal, probably more than most other Europeans.

Italian Business Meals – The Discussions

Business conversation is avoided at breakfast, but brought up at lunch, in Italy. Guests should not pour wine – this is for the hosts to do. Dinners are opportunities for social networking. If you invite your Italian business counterparts for lunch or dinner, be expected to pay.

The beginning of the meal is reserved for chit chat and catch up. Business talk is reserved until later.

Early dinner conversation consists of small talk, about sports, culture, wine and food. Business entertainment usually takes place in a restaurant, at dinner or lunch. Dinner entertainment is usually more social than business-related. But, be prepared, dinners can start early and end very late, with course after course of food being served.

Cocktails are not often seen in Italy. Eating almost always accompanies drinking. It is not normal nor appreciated to drink heavily. Even a mild case of intoxication is considered to be ill mannered.

Dressing for Success

Conservative business suits work exceptionally well in Italy. Choose sedate colors for your suits, ties or dresses. Even casual dress should be well fitting and sharp. As you enter a building, remove your head coverings.

Old-Fashioned Niceties

In Italy, it’s common to practice niceties that Americans would consider old-fashioned. Stand up for elders and avoid asking questions that are personal. Be prepared for gifts by bringing something for your hosts. Corporate gifts, music and wine are acceptable gifts.

Large lunches or dinner parties begin often with an aperitif (campari, vermouth, cinzano, etc.). They will end with the hosts’ after dinner drinks, like sambuca or grappa (prepare for an intense rush from that!).

As mentioned above business meal in Italy may start early and end late!

But that’s because of all the courses, great food, and conversation. There generally is an order that’s followed and normally goes like this:

• Antipasto – This includes appetizers, such as pates and fruit or prosciutto.

• 

• Soup

• 

• Pasta

• 

• The Main Dish
• Salad
• Cheese
• Dessert

• 

• Fruit
• After-dinner drinks and espresso.

  

Etiquette for Business during Dining

Much depends on how developed a relationship you have with your Italian colleagues. As a rule, business decisions are not made during meals. Take your cues from the Italians at the table.

Corporate Culture

English is a commonly used language in business in Italy, but always be sure whether you will need an interpreter or not. It is polite to interject Italian phrases when you are speaking with your hosts, as long as your pronunciation is acceptable. However, the meals are also supposed to be “fun,” a time away from the office. Don’t be shy in trying out a few Italian words and never fear in asking for help. Italians love to help when it comes to there language and if they laugh, it’s because they’re enjoying the moment.

Italians love to show off their homes, so if an invitation is extended during a business meal, oblige them by visiting their home.

Without question Italian business meals is a social event, used to get out of the office, get away from the scene and an opportunity to build that relationship. Take the lead from your host, they’ll be open about asking you what is appropriate or not to discuss at the table. Family is important to Italians so they may want to ask how your family is.

While American’s tend to keep personal and work topics separate, sometimes the lines are blurred. And when the meal is wrapping up and you’ve downed your grappa, make sure to have an espresso, it’ll help make sure you get back to your room that night.

Enjoy!

The first time I had to fly to Italy on business I had completely lost track of time (enjoying the sites) and ended up being over 30 minutes late! Being an American I was so worried, that my business deal wasn’t going to go through or all the work we started on would have to start over. Fortunately, when I arrived, no one seemed overly alarmed! I was certainly taken by surprise.

Every country has its own set of customs and etiquette that may leave visitors taken aback. If you are traveling to Italy on business, you will need to be sure you’re not feeling over-sensitive. Don’t take everything too personally, and you should be fine. I know from personal recommendations that this language software was insanely helpful for friends of mine when they needed to learn Italian.

There are still things to watch out for, to make sure you make the best professional impression. Here is a list of Italian business etiquettes that can certainly come in handy when having a business meeting.

Doing Business – Italian Etiquette

Courtesy and good manners are much prized in Italy. Be polite and formal when introducing yourself and shaking hands is considered courteous.

Your conduct when doing business in Italy should be polished. Being considerate will win you points even if you are not familiar with all the behaviors of their business people.

When you meet and depart, shake hands. This is as applicable for individuals as it is for groups. If you have built a business relationship with an Italian, don’t be shocked if you are embraced when met. This is a good sign, and means that your relationship is at a level that is more intimate.

Italians do not leave much personal space between people when they interact. They are tactile, so do not insult them by keeping your distance or moving away. This will not make a good impression on your Italian hosts.

If you happen to know some Italian, even a little bit, before a relationship is fully established,  use the polite ‘lei’ form. Then once the relationship has been built, feel free use the more informal ‘tu’ form.

Addressing people by there titles is well regarded in Italy. When addressing people, use ‘Signor’ (m) or ‘Signora’ (f) followed by their surname. ‘Dottore’ (m) or ‘Dottoressa’ (f) is used for those who have graduated.

Italian Business Etiquette – Hospitality

Hospitality is important in the business culture of Italy. Expect to be invited to lunch or dinner when you do business there. Small and exclusive groups are usually present. Each person attending has an interest in the reason for your visit. If you want to host a business meal, check with the most senior Italian contact to find out who should be invited.

Dining has its protocol when you are in Italy. However, you can worry so much about it that you don’t have a chance to enjoy the meal. Honored guests sit near the center of the table, and the host will always pay. You should not answer cell phone calls while you are eating with business associates.

Dress to Impress in Italy

Do the names Prada, Gucci and Versace sound familiar to you? It should come as no surprise that one dresses properly in Italy for business meetings and meals. Make an impression with your clothing, and be sure it’s a good impression – not a humorous one. The clothes you wear in Italy speak much about what type of person you are.

Italian Business Etiquette – Punctuality

Some business sites will tell you that Italians are very punctual, while others state that they are not as concerned about punctuality as people in other European countries. If you are consistently late, it is considered rude. There’s nothing wrong with being early and having to wait. It will make a better impression.

As my story above, I was very fortunate that my business partners were willing to forgive and it didn’t happen again. If you are late, but sure to give the real reason and almost ways your Italian counterparts will understand.

Meetings and Negotiations

Use networks and contacts to introduce yourself to the business people with whom you will be working. Italians would rather do business with people they know.

Negotiations in Italy can be quite slow. Do not show urgency, as we frequently do in the United States. It works well here, but is seen as being too rushed in Italy and can potentially backfire all your hard work. Avoid business talk when the meeting first starts, and begin with small talk. Safe topics include culture, wine and soccer (remember, they call it football).

Italian business people take proposals away and analyze them well. Give them as much information as you can. Stay firm in any area of business that is important to you. Italians sometimes like to make dramatic demand changes late in negotiations to test you.

These are some good guidelines to help understand Italian business etiquette. Italians love to learn about you, they can show a great interest in your own interests, so don’t be afraid to share or ask. And remember, you’re in Italy! There is great food, culture, history, and sites! Here’s a list of top 5 things to do if you’re short on time in Rome.

Enjoy!

Demonstrating a little understanding of Japanese culture in a business meeting implies that you have a genuine interest in doing business with them. That’s the best way to create a lasting impression on your business associates.

Good manners, politeness, and sensitivity are the pillars of Japanese business etiquettes as they are in other parts of the world. The difference here is that Japanese business etiquettes are quite formal. However, the Japanese are usually forgiving to outsiders and tend to ignore minor transgressions if you show an effort to understanding their customs.

Japanese Business Etiquette – Meetings

Japanese businessmen like a conservative demeanor. Showing modesty builds trust and image and leads to a higher level of respect from a Japanese host.

When going for a meeting with a Japanese counterpart, you should call your client 1-2 hours prior to the meeting to confirm that you are coming. If you think you may be late, call at least an hour in advance to ask your client to reschedule the meeting. It is always advisable to arrive approximately 10 minutes early for a meeting.

Upon meeting, your Japanese counterpart may offer a handshake. However, bowing may show respect to their culture making a more favorable impression on your business associate.

When the time comes to sit, wait till your Japanese host guides you where to sit as there is a custom regarding seating positions around the table.

Moreover, taking a lot of notes is considered a sign of interest. It is good to take notes of everything at meetings to keep yourself involved in the discussion and look interested.

Business Cards

The exchange of business cards during a meeting is essential business protocol in Japan. The Japanese call business cards “meishi” and foreigners are expected to bring their dual-side printed bilingual business cards essentially.

The Japanese place great emphasis on business cards. They see your business card as a reflection of your image and your intent of carrying out business with them so it is the best way to create a strong impression on your Japanese counterpart.

When your Japanese counterpart presents the card, receive it with both hands and give a quick bow. Read the card and place it carefully on the table until the meeting is over. When the meeting comes to an end, place the card in the folder or card case.

Things to Avoid in Japanese Business Meetings

• Keep your hands out of your pockets when talking to someone.
• Do not deface or damage the business card that has been presented to you. Also, avoid putting them in your pocket.
• If your Japanese associate or client invites you for lunch or dinner, accept it wholeheartedly.
• The numbers 4 and 9 are considered unlucky in Japanese culture. Avoid giving gifts in set of four or nine.
• Do not write in red ink.
• Avoid raising your voice or using excessive hand gestures in business meetings.

The Japanese may not seem welcoming initially. But, once you develop strong relationship with them, your interactions may get less formal and friendlier with them. Learning Japanese business etiquettes and there culture was of great interest of mine, both when I was young and later when I had to travel to Japan for business. This book helped me solve much of that curiosity.

Learning about the long history and culture of the society helps to build your reputation in your Japanese counterparts’ eyes.

I can remember the first time I was invited out for a dinner in China. It has been the early 2000’s, I was in my early 20’s, and I by nature, I was expecting dinner to be exactly like it was in NY! I mean, when I thought about it, I had many friends in New York, had had dinner in there homes, but nope! Dinner in China is a real adventure, a real treat, and some awesome food. I’ll be writing about many kinds of meals, dinners, meanings by dinners, proper placement of seating, who eats first, who eats last, uh-oh I don’t know how to use chopsticks, do I need to drink beer or smoke, and so so so much more.

But, that first dinner… coming into the well lit room with a large round table in the middle with a lazy susan on top, couches on the side, a Mar Jong table on the other side and a TV playing in the front? Not exactly what I had expected, but certainly was a dinner I’ll never forget! Oh, and I do tell the whole story in another post, so be sure to check back!

These are some great tips and suggestions for your dinners. A quite FYI, not all these “rules” apply all the time, but I would follow these rules as my guidelines for all dinners I attended. But, as mentioned above, their will be plenty more!

You might feel confused as to why you need to be prepared when all you will be doing is going out to dinner in China, but you have to keep in mind that you are in an unfamiliar foreign country and you have to observe the rules, customs and traditions of the country you are traveling in. This is why it is always best to be prepared and bring all that you need so that you do not get any unpleasant surprises along the way.

As a tourist and an American citizen, I totally understand why some of the rules may seem really odd; Chinese culture and their rules are different from the culture and rules we follow in the United States of America. I have listed some of the dining etiquettes that you need to observe while having Dinner in China:

• Always bring cash.

Credit cards are not always accepted in different Chinese restaurants, which is why it is best to avoid embarrassment when you are paying for a good meal. You should always have some amount of cash with you so that in case you are faced with a situation like this, you can pay the restaurant in cash. Never depend on credit cards in China because they either do not work or are not accepted in different restaurants.

• If Invited to Dinner, Bring a Gift

Yes, that is necessary. If someone invites you to have dinner in China with them, it is mandatory and a sign of good manners for you to bring the host something of significance. It can be a token present such as flowers, wine or anything such as that, but it says a lot about your nature and your gratitude. This is one way of showing that you are pleased to be invited and that you are thanking the host for inviting you to dinner.

You also have to take care of basic Chinese etiquettes when you are having dinner in China.

You have to be mindful of things that they consider important so that you do not seem rude to them. Here is a checklist so that you can be on your best behavior when you are dining with your Chinese friends.

• While it is normally considered rude to put your elbows up on the table whilst eating, in China it is considered perfectly normal.
• Never be late for a meal.
• Never sit in any random place, instead wait for the host to assign you a seat.
• Let the older people eat first as it is a sign of respect to them.
• You should not only refill your own bowl with rice but also proceed to refill other’s plate whilst asking them if they need refills. Elders like to be offered refills by the younger people on the table.
• Close your mouth and swallow soundlessly so you seem more civilized. Chinese people have no patience for ill-mannered people on the table.
• Do not hold your chopsticks in such a manner in which your index finger or your middle finger points toward the guests as this can be misconstrued as something obscene or offensive.
• Do not spear your food with chopsticks under any circumstances.

I know this seems like a lot for dinner in China, but don’t worry or sweat even an ounce because I have tons more tips to offer so you don’t feel lost for a millisecond!

Plus, these are super quick tips to pick up, they’re often shown to you when you arrive, and most Chinese guests will not take offense if anything above is missed. Chinese are very happy to show why. But, having Dinner in China is filled with more subtleties, and each one of them is like adding a point onto a checklist Chinese keep in there minds.

But! Most important of all! Have fun! The food is fantastic, many sorts of varieties and most does not look like what we have back in America.

Be sure to check back for more posts. Is it true tea is served all over the country? Well…. Or, rice is the staple food, right? Not really… And why is chicken served first and fish last? Or one of my favorites, did he REALLY just eat the whole fish??? Why? And, do I really need to eat that???

Oh, and why do locals tap two fingers when tea is being poured?

Enjoy!