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Travel Tips
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Traveling to Sweden
Editor’s note: Global business, and subsequently, global business travel, continues to expand rapidly. In response, CWT Traveler will provide to readers each month insights and tips on traveling from North America to other countries around the world. This month’s installment focuses on Sweden.
In business:
- Sweden is six hours ahead of U.S Eastern Standard Time.
- The date is written with the day first, then the month, then the year (i.e. 16-3-09).
- Appointments should be made two weeks in advance. Similarly, punctuality—both in start and end times—is respected. The hours of 9-10 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. typically are set aside for meetings.
- Swedes can be known to be informal, well prepared, quiet/calm, and polite yet hard bargainers.
- It is recommended for visitors to scale down hype and high enthusiasm; this can be found distasteful and typically is not successful.
- Consensus decisions are often made amongst teams, but may be informal. Mutual agreements are often done with a simple head nod or gesture.
- Personal questions are typically not discussed in business meetings.
- Formal business lunches and dinners are common. “Skoal” is the Swedish word for “cheers.” Visitors should wait for the hosts to toast before proceeding to drink, and should be prepared to make a speech when seated to the left of the host.
- Professionals should be addressed by their titles (i.e. Doctor, Engineer, Professor, etc.).
- It can be considered uncomfortable to be touched; therefore it is recommended to keep physical contact—especially in business—to a minimum.
Good to know:
- The official language is Swedish; however, 15 other languages are spoken, including Danish and Norwegian.
- Most Swedes take off the entire month of July as well as time around the Christmas holiday season.
- Berries are considered to be a delicacy in cuisine. They are commonly seen in a variety of dinners as well as jams, ice cream, or soups.
- Winter weather is cold, dark, and snowy; arrive prepared.
- Sweden is considered to be a safe country. There is very little poverty.
- Swedes highly value their quality of life and their environment.
Sources: travel.state.gov, “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.
Stuck in coach for the long haul? Take note
With more businesses tightening travel policies due to the present economy, first- and business-class travel may not be an approved option for all international flights. Travelers can enlist some strategies to minimize the effect of flying coach class on extended flights.
- Request an aisle seat; avoid middle seats if possible.
- Drink lots of water. Buy bottled water after going through security, and ask for bottled water in flight.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they both dehydrate.
- Choose fresh fruits and vegetables over prepared foods that may contain salt or MSG. Avoid salty snacks.
- Move about to avoid DVT (deep-vein thrombosis/clots) on long-distance flights. Walk every hour or so and do some ankle/foot flexing, isometrics and stretches while seated. Consider wearing compression stockings.
- Try to get some sleep during the flight. Pack sleep aids such as noise-reduction headphones, eyeshades, pillow, slippers, inflatable neck pillow, a fleece, or purchase blanket/pillow kit from the airline.
- Relax with a book, on-board entertainment, MP3, or DVD player. Go with and maintain a positive attitude.
Source: dallasnews.com
Savings/value decisions when renting a car
When renting a car during business travel, travelers should keep in mind that the final cost includes more than just the daily rental rate. There are a number of decisions the traveler can make that can impact both the savings/value of a rental, as well as the overall efficiency and productivity of the trip.
Travelers should always consult their corporate travel policy before renting a car. Below are tips travelers should keep in mind during different steps of the process.
When booking the reservation
- Consult the travel policy for guidelines around when to rent a car.
- Make all bookings through company-approved channels.
- Book the reservation with the company’s preferred car rental vendors.
At the counter
- Know the corporate policy regarding upgrades.
- Accept or decline insurance coverage based on policy guidelines.
- Accept or decline amenities based on corporate policy and value.
- GPS: When traveling within a familiar city, this amenity may be unnecessary, but if navigating a new city, it may be worth the extra expense if it will prevent getting lost on the way to an important meeting.
- Transponders: These electronic toll payment systems may save time and limit the environmental impact of waiting in stop-and-go toll lines. Depending on the city, these devices may or may not be available.
When returning the vehicle
- Follow the corporate travel policy’s refueling guidelines.
- Review the final bill for accuracy.
Sources: BTE, btnonline.com
