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Travel Tips
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Beijing Olympics coming in 2008
The 2008 Olympic Games will take place in Beijing, China, August 8-24, 2008. Attendance is predicted to be in the millions, and the impact on travel and business within Beijing is expected to be significant on and around the days of the games.
Organizations and their travelers who have frequent travel to Beijing and the surrounding areas should prepare accordingly to reduce the impact that the Olympics will have on their daily business operations. Business travel to China is already an area of high demand, and travelers should anticipate that hotel rooms and flights into and out of Beijing will sell out quickly during the games.
If possible, travelers may want to avoid scheduling any non-essential meetings in Beijing during the Olympics. If business travel to the city must take place, flights and hotels should be booked well in advance to secure space. Travelers should also prepare to spend more than usual on hotel rooms and flights during the games, and should research transportation options for getting around the city.
Details of the games are as follows:
2008 Olympic Games
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August 8-24, 2008—Beijing, China
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Expected attendance—Millions
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Website— http://en.beijing2008.cn/
For information regarding passport and visa requirements for entry into China, travelers can refer to the following Websites:
U.S. citizens— http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/
Canadian citizens— http://www.chinaembassycanada.org/eng/
Sources: http://en.beijing2008.cn/, http://www.olympic.org
Traveling to Argentina
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 Argentina.
In business:
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Guidelines for punctuality vary depending on the occasion. Visitors are expected to be punctual for business meetings, even though the Argentine host may be late. Visitors should also be on time for lunches and events with a scheduled starting time, such as the theater. However, for social occasions such as dinner or parties, visitors are expected to be thirty (or more) minutes late.
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Meals are considered social occasions, and are generally not a time to discuss business.
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Personal relationships are highly important in Argentina. A level of trust must be built before business can take place.
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While Argentines may have double first names on their business cards (like Maria Teresa or Jose Antonio), they might have one name by which they prefer to be addressed. If it is not clear which first name they use, it is best to address them by their surnames.
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While Argentina shares some similar customs to Europe, the pace of business negotiations is much slower than in Europe. Travelers should be prepared that it may take several trips to complete a business deal.
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Argentine negotiators are careful to avoid risk, and will tend to remain fairly tough and unyielding.
Good to know:
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Spanish is the official language of Argentina, but many people speak English as well. Italian, German, and French are also commonly spoken.
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When conversing, Argentine people tend to maintain eye contact and stand close to the person they are addressing. While this may seem uncomfortable to people who are used to having more personal space, backing away may seem impolite.
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Travelers should be aware of the risk of street crime in Argentina. While generally not violent, car theft and scams are crimes to watch for.
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Money laundering and smuggling tend to be a problem in the region where the borders of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay meet. Travelers visiting this area may face thorough questioning when returning to their home country.
Source: “Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More Than 60 Countries,” by Terri Morrison and Wayne A. Conaway. Published by Adams Media of Avon, Massachusetts
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