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Doing business & staying in touch

Businesspeople are generally expected to dress smartly. Western business courtesies should be observed, although Americans tend to be less formal than Europeans. Appointments and punctuality are expected procedure and business cards are widely used. Dates in America are written month-day-year.

Suits are still the norm in many offices and financial institutions, business dress has generally become more relaxed, particularly on Friday, when many companies allow casual clothes.

Meetings can take place over lunch, breakfast or in a more formal setting, depending on the company and situation. Business cards are usually exchanged. By and large, people are health-conscious and smoking or heavy drinking may be frowned upon in a business environment.

After work, it would be more common for a business guest to be taken out for drinks or to a restaurant by the host, rather than back to someone's home. If invited home, however, wine, chocolates or flowers would be appropriate gifts but are not expected.

Office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0830-1730.

Economy: 

Telephone: 

For emergency police, fire or medical services in major cities, dial 911. The following codes denote toll free (freephone) numbers: 800, 855, 866, 877 and 888.

Mobile phone: 

Foreign mobile telephones only work if they are tri-band or quad-band; charges are high. Visitors can also hire a mobile telephone. Pre-pay cell phones can be purchased from a variety of retail outlets, including drug stores.

Internet: 

There are Internet cafés in most urban areas, and an increasing number of Wi-Fi hotspots. Many coffee shops offer free Wi-Fi. Many of the international airports offer Internet access too.

Media: 

Freedom of expression in the US is guaranteed by the constitution. The USA has the most highly developed mass media in the world. Public broadcasting is partly government-funded, but also supported by private grants.

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