Saturday, July 26th
11:00am - 12:30pm

4A - Global Issues: Global Business Etiquette
Presenter: Richard R. Gesteland, President, Global Management LLC, Oregon, WI

The most common piece of advice today for international business travelers is, "Oh, don't worry about all those differences in customs and etiquette, just remember to be polite wherever you go in the world." That sounds good until you learn -- painfully -- that what is polite in your culture is often rude or insulting in someone else's culture!

After 40 years of managing negotiations in over 50 different countries on six continents, and having lived and run businesses in six different countries, Richard has a rich lode of verbal and nonverbal gaffes to share.

It's better to learn from other people's mistakes than to embarrass ourselves abroad, don't you agree?

Attendees will learn:

• How to avoid embarrassing faux pas when interacting with international counterparts.
• Five gestures which are common in the U.S. but are obscene and vulgar in other parts of the world.
• Do's and taboos for gift-giving around the world.
• In which 80-plus countries of the world is the left hand is considered unclean? Learn a short-cut to remembering which ones.
• Learn which normal American table manners are considered weird (even risqué) in Europe?
• Six tips for hosting dinner guests from around the world..

Following Mr. Gesteland's presentation, the Chair of the International Steering Committee, Bob Mayer, CFE, along with colleagues from IAAM-Europe, Venue Managment Association, and others will provide an update on global issues.

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