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Travel Tips
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Traveling to Greece
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 Greece.
Good to know:
- Greece is seven hours ahead of North America Eastern Standard Time (EST).
- The Greek Orthodox Church forms an integral part of the Greek identity; it is the official religion and 98 percent of Greeks are members.
- The Greek language is written in the Greek alphabet, which is over 2,000 years old.
- Greeks tend to be physically demonstrative.
- There is a Greek tradition of hard bargaining.
- Many Greeks are heavy smokers (approximately 45 percent of adults smoke). Although smoking is banned in many public places, this rule is often ignored.
In business:
- It is advisable to have one side of business cards printed in English and the other in Greek. Present the card with the Greek side up.
- The business day generally starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m., with a lengthy break in the early afternoon.
- Lunch is the main meal of the day, served between noon and 2:00 p.m. Dinner is a small meal, eaten late.
- Always be punctual, even if this is not stressed by Greek counterparts.
- Conservative business clothing is best.
- In first business encounters, a handshake is typical.
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.
Travelers can remain productive on the road
Business travel means spending hours in airports, planes, and hotel rooms, away from the efficiency of a normal work space. How can business travelers compensate for the loss of productivity, especially if travel plans are disrupted?
Productivity experts recommend:
- Always book through a travel agency, to ensure assistance in making alternate travel arrangements is available, if necessary.
- Dress professionally for the flight, at least business casual. If luggage goes astray, this allows the traveler to still attend the business meeting looking presentable.
- Consider membership to an airport VIP lounge, which offers a quiet environment for work.
- Stay in touch with assistants during a lengthy trip, to keep on top of issues.
- Some frequent travelers keep a second suitcase ready at home, packed for the next immediate trip.
- Schedule flights to make the most of any time zone differences. If headed west, try to leave in the evening; if headed east, leave mid-afternoon.
- Get enough sleep and keep up an exercise regimen.
The least efficient workspace, according to an American Airlines Customer Research online study, is in flight. More than 96 percent of respondents said they conduct work-related activities at their hotels. Eighty-five percent conduct work-related activities at the airport, but this number drops to 52.6 percent onboard a flight. Reasons include lack of space, distractions and lack of power or Internet access.
Consider working on a personal digital assistant (PDA) while in flight, rather than a laptop, to do low-security tasks, including emails.
Sources: Calgary Herald; internetnews.com
