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Travel Tips
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Traveling to India
Editor’s note: Global business, and subsequently, global business travel, continues to expand rapidly. In response, CWT Traveler will provide to readers each month in 2007 insights and tips on traveling from North America to other countries around the world. This month’s installment focuses on India.
In business:
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The traditional Indian greeting is the namaste – palms together, below the chin, with a slight nod or bow. This can be appropriate when greeting an individual or a group.
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Indian men and women may offer a handshake when greeting foreign men and sometimes women. Western women should wait to see if a handshake is offered rather than initiating it themselves.
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India operates in one time zone, and is ten and a half hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time.
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The preferred meeting time for Indian executives is late morning or early afternoon, generally between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
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Business meetings should not be scheduled during religious holidays. Consult an Indian calendar or check with local contacts before scheduling a meeting.
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Always use a person’s title when addressing them, unless instructed to use their first name. Professional titles such as “Doctor” or “Professor” should be used when applicable.
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Indians do not have the same hurried attitude toward time that many North Americans do. Negotiations may take place at a more relaxed pace.
Good to know:
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When giving a gift, do not wrap it in black or white, as those colors are considered unlucky. Lucky colors are green, red, and yellow.
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Pointing with a finger is considered rude. Indians often point with their chin.
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Standing with hands on one’s hips may be interpreted as an angry or aggressive pose.
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The left hand is considered unclean, and should only be used for hygienic purposes. Eating should be done with the right hand only.
How to complain constructively
While all business travelers hope each travel experience will be smooth and trouble-free, the realities of life on the road sometimes make perfection an unrealistic goal. Depending on the severity of the situation, a traveler may need to file a complaint to resolve a problem.
Below are a few guidelines to make the process more effective when travelers must make a complaint – about a delayed flight, an unsatisfactory hotel room, or most any other problem that arises while away from home:
Take action at the time of the problem
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Airlines, hotels, and other travel providers want their customers to be happy and would prefer to resolve the problem as it’s occurring, rather than afterward. Raising the issue immediately is much more effective than writing a letter of complaint after the trip is over.
Complain to the right person
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The best place to start is with the person providing the service. If that person cannot resolve the problem, it may then be appropriate to escalate the complaint.
Request a reasonable solution
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Depending on the severity of the problem, the solution may not always amount to a free flight or hotel room. By requesting a realistic solution, a traveler is more likely to be taken seriously, and to receive appropriate compensation.
Communicate calmly and clearly
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By assessing the situation and clearly identifying the specific problem and the desired result, a traveler can present their complaint clearly, enabling an appropriate response from a travel provider. Irrational reactions and shouted demands are rarely effective in achieving the best results. Politeness and patience, on the other hand, go a long way.
Source: MSNBC.com
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