Arianne Najah Thakur Rouelle Anghelica Balila

BSTM 502 November 18, 2023

Homework

1.

ITALY

a) Social customs and etiquettes

Meeting Etiquette
 Salutations are warm yet a little formal.
 For strangers, a simple handshake, direct eye contact, and a smile will do.
 Men also frequently give each other a slap on the back and begin air-kissing one other on the
cheeks when a friendship has developed, starting with the left.
 Prior to going on a first-name basis, wait to be invited.
 Since Italians rely heavily on first impressions, it's critical that you welcome people with grace
and decency, particularly when you're meeting them for the first time.
 In social settings, calling cards are frequently used by Italians. These are a little bigger than
standard business cards and include the recipient's name, phone number, title, and any
academic honors.

Gift Giving Etiquette

 Chrysanthemums are utilized at funerals; do not gift them there.
 Red flowers should not be given as they symbolize secrecy.
 Give no yellow flowers; they are a sign of envy.
 Make sure the wine you bring is from a decent vintage. What matters is quality, not quantity.
 Don't wrap gifts in black, as this color is typically associated with sadness.
 Avoid wrapping presents in purple, since it represents misfortune.
 Most of the time, gifts are unwrapped right away.
Dining Etiquette
If a residence in Italy is invited:
 Wear fashionable yet still somewhat traditional attire, such as a jacket and tie for men and a
beautiful dress for ladies, even if the invitation specifies a casual dress code.
  Being on time is not required. If asked to a dinner, you can be late by up to thirty minutes, and if
invited to a party, you can be late by up to fifteen minutes.
 If you are invited to a meal, bring presents that can be wrapped, such chocolates or champagne.
 Have flowers delivered that day if you are invited to a dinner and would like to send them.
Table Manners
 Wait to be seated until you are asked to do so. You could be directed to a certain seat.
 When dining, one should use their left hand for the fork and their right for the knife according to
continental table etiquette.
 Take your cue from the hostess, who usually sits at the table first, begins eating first, and gets up
first when the dinner is over.
 The first toast is made by the host.
 Later in the meal, an honored guest should reciprocate the toast.
 Ladies could propose a toast.
 Always start modest and allow yourself to be persuaded to accept a second helping.
 During the meal, avoid resting your elbows on the table but also avoid keeping your hands in your
lap.
 Leaving a tiny quantity of food on your plate is okay.
 Use your knife to pick up cheese instead of your fingers.
 Keep your wine glass almost full if you do not want any more.

b) Business or workplace ethics

Business Etiquette for Meetings

 It is required to make appointments, which must be done in writing (in Italian) two to three weeks
beforehand.
 Call or fax again to confirm the meeting (again in Italian).
 It's advisable to avoid trying to organize meetings in August because many businesses are closed
during that month, and even those that are open tend to have vacations taken by Italians.
 Since being on time is valued highly in the north, you can expect your business counterparts to be
prompt as well.
 Establishing mutual respect and trust with your Italian business associates is the aim of the first
encounter.
 Make sure that every printed item you have is available in both Italian and English.
 If your Italian is not very good, get an interpreter.
For negotiations
 People in the north are forthright, they value time highly, and they don't waste much time on small
talk before getting down to business.
 People in the south have a slower pace of life and want to get to know the people they do business
with.
 Let your Italian business associates dictate the negotiation's speed. When it's acceptable to go from
social to business chats, take their lead.
 Italians like doing business with those in positions of authority.
 The foundation of Italian business is hierarchy. Age and power are respected in Italy.
 Long-lasting negotiations are common.
Clothes Etiquette
 In Italy, looking well is quite important.
 Men should dress in formal, dark-colored business suits.
 Ladies should dress conservatively or in business suits.
 Chic accessories are essential for both men and women.
JAPAN

a) Social customs and etiquettes

Greetings and Meeting

 In Japan, greetings are highly ceremonial and formal.
 It's critical to treat people with the appropriate level of reverence and respect depending on
their standing in relation to your own.
 Attend the introduction.
 Even at huge gatherings, it is considered disrespectful to introduce yourself.
 Although shaking hands is anticipated, bowing is the customary way to meet someone from
abroad.
 The circumstances and your connection with the other person will determine how far you bow.
Respect is indicated by how deeply you bow.
 A foreign guest, or "gaijin," may bend their head slightly since nobody expects foreigners to be
aware of the finer points of bowing.
Style of communication
 The Japanese interpret emotions from a person's posture, tone of voice, and facial expressions.
 Since words may have several meanings, they frequently place greater reliance in non-verbal
cues than in spoken communication.
 The meaning of words is influenced by the context in which they are used. Consequently, in
order to really grasp the reaction, it is essential to comprehend the circumstances.
 When someone is speaking, frowning is seen as an indication of disapproval.
 When conversing, the majority of Japanese people adopt a neutral expression.
 Nonverbal communication is so important that there is a book explaining how to read signs for
"gaijins," or outsiders!
 Staring into someone else's eyes is considered rude, especially if that person is older or more
prestigious than you.
Dining Protocol
 Await instructions on where to sit. There's an order that needs to be followed.
 The oldest or honored visitor will take the seat in the middle of the table, farthest away from
the door.
 The first person to start eating is usually the oldest or the honored visitor.
  You will get great benefits from learning to utilize chopsticks.
 Never aim the fork or spoon.
 Avoid puncturing your meal with chopsticks.
 Chopstick rests should be replaced after each mouthful, as well as whenever you sip something
or pause to talk.
 When placing your chopsticks on the chopstick rest, do not cross them.
 Arrange the bones on your plate's side.
 Try a few other things. If you don't like the taste of anything, it's okay to inquire what it is and
even to wince.
 If your Japanese coworkers slurp their soup and noodles, don't be shocked.
 It is customary not to combine rice with other foods. They should never be combined, as is the
case in many Western nations; instead, you should take little amounts of each and then small
amounts of the other.
 Do not consume the contents of your glass if you are done drinking. Someone can serve you
more if your glass is empty.

Giving Gifts
 Giving gifts is a very traditional and significant activity in Japan.
 Oftentimes, the presentation ritual and the wrapping of the gift have greater significance than
the actual item.
 There are several reasons to offer gifts.
 It's not necessary for the present to be costly but be sure to consult someone who is familiar
with the culture before deciding on what to offer.
 Small cakes or high-quality chocolates make nice gifts.
 Given their association with funerals, lilies, camellias, and lotus blooms should not be given.
White flowers of any type should also be avoided.
 Potted plants should never be given since they promote illness, while bonsai trees are always
fine.
 Provide goods in odd quantities, but not in nine (in Japan, the digits nine and four are
inauspicious).
 Get the present wrapped if you purchase it in Japan. The ideal colors for wrapping paper are
pastels.
 Presents don't always need to be opened right away.

b) Business or workplace ethics

How to dress
 It's crucial to dress modestly and sensibly.
 During the winter, men should dress in a black suit, white shirt, and non-bright colored tie.
 It is appropriate to dress in light gray suits and half-sleeve shirts throughout the summer
because it can get rather hot.
 Additionally, women should dress appropriately and wear their hair back or short. Short skirts
and ostentatious jewelry are not deemed suitable.
Gatherings
 It is necessary to schedule appointments, which should ideally be done several weeks in
advance.
 Making an appointment over the phone is preferable to sending a letter, fax, or email.
 Being on time is essential. Attend meetings on time, and assume that your Japanese colleagues
will as well.
 Be ready for a group gathering even if you believe you will only be meeting one individual
because this is a group society.
  The senior Japanese member will be situated farthest away from the door, followed by the
remaining members in decreasing order of seniority until the youngest member is seated
closest to the door.
 Before your Japanese colleagues feel at ease enough to do business with you, it can take a few
meetings.

Handling/Managing
 The cornerstone of Japanese corporate culture is the hierarchical structure in business
management. Everyone knows exactly what their responsibilities are inside the company.
 It is not required of managers to include their subordinates in decision-making. Delaying
choices or participating in them all at once may be seen as a show of weakness, in fact.
 It is the responsibility of managers to provide an atmosphere that best supports group
productivity. They should thus be easy to reach by team members and willing to coach and train
them.
 In most cases, plans are approved by managers and information is shared from the bottom up.
 Japanese managers use a high context communication style.
GREECE

a) Social customs and etiquettes

Meeting Protocol
 Greeks are kind and welcoming people.
 They grin, give a firm handshake, and make direct eye contact when they first meet someone.
 In addition to embracing, good friends sometimes give each other cheek kisses. Male pals
frequently give each other shoulder slaps.
Etiquette for Giving Gifts
 Typically, Greeks celebrate Christmas and "namedays," which are the birthdays of the saints
after whom they are named, by exchanging presents with loved ones.
 While some Greeks commemorate their birthdays, nameday celebrations are often more
common.
 Presents don't have to be costly. Giving something of significant worth might stress the recipient
since they would feel forced to offer you something of equal value, as presents are typically
reciprocated.
 Bring something tiny when you are invited to a Greek house for supper.
 You may send a flower arrangement ahead of time for the occasion.
 Presents ought to be wrapped.
  Most of the time, gifts are unwrapped right away.

Dining Protocols
If a Greek person extends an invitation to you:
 Being thirty minutes late is seen as on time!
 Adorn well. This shows consideration for your hosts.
 Offer to assist the hostess in cleaning up after the dinner is served or in preparing. Though it's
possible it won't be accepted, thank you for your offer.
 Be prepared to receive royal treatment!
 Make the house seem good.
Table etiquette
 Wait to be seated until you are asked to do so. You could be directed to a certain seat.
 Wait until the hostess begins eating before starting.
 When dining, one should use their left hand for the fork and their right for the knife according
to continental table etiquette.
 Usually, the oldest individual receives service first.
 When dining, keep your hands above the table and your elbows off it.
 Taking a second helping is a way to thank the host.
 Anticipate a lot of conversation. It's sociable time during meals.
 Using a slice of bread to mop up gravy or sauce is considered courteous.
 Sharing food from a platter is common.
 "To your health" is the most popular toast, and it is called "eis igían sas" at formal events and
"stinygiasou" in casual settings.

c) Business or workplace ethics

Business Protocols for Meetings

 Although it is frequently feasible to book appointments on short notice, appointments are
required and should be made one to two weeks in advance.
 Call to confirm meetings at least one day in advance.
 It is not a good idea to have a meeting between 1 and 3 p.m. because many entrepreneurs take
lunch around this period.
 Frequently, business is not really performed until the third meeting. Your Greek business
associates will want to learn a little something about you personally on the initial encounter.
Mutual respect and trust are developed on the second encounter. The third meeting is when
business can start.
 Provide printed materials in Greek and English.
 Frequently, meetings are cut short.

Commercial Bargaining
 Establishing a personal connection is essential to creating a fruitful commercial partnership.
 In companies, there are tiers. Greeks honor status and age.
 Dealings are done slowly. It's going to take patience not to look upset.
 Show how your offering improves the standing of your colleague.
 Keep your cool and avoid showing signs of irritation when having business talks.
 Greeks are skilled bargainers. They actually really like haggling.
 Decisions are made at the company's highest levels.
  Setting a deadline for making a choice might put a stop to the talks.
 Since the personal relationship requires that concessions will be made on either side should the
need arise, contracts are typically quite straightforward.

Business Attire
 In most of Europe, business attire is standard.
 Men should dress in formal, dark-colored business suits.
 Either elegant dresses or business suits are appropriate for women to wear; dark or subdued
colors are preferred.
Reference:
https://www.commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/

2.
a. What are the things you’ve learned or realized from this activity?
The things we’ve learned from this activity is that it is important to know the country before travelling there.
The importance of acquiring knowledge about a country before embarking on a journey cannot be overstated. From
fostering cultural understanding to ensuring legal compliance, safeguarding health and safety, and enhancing overall
travel experiences, pre-travel knowledge serves as a compass guiding travelers through the diverse landscapes of
our interconnected world. As we venture into the unknown, armed with information, we not only protect ourselves
but also contribute to the mutual respect and understanding that characterize the essence of global travel.

b. How are these learnings or realizations helpful and applicable and applicable in your future work in a tourism
and hospitality establishment?
These learnings have a great value for our future plans as we are going to work in the tourism industry.
Beyond personal enrichment, there are other benefits to knowing about a place before visiting in the dynamic and
globalized world of travel. It will help us become more culturally competent, provide better customer service,
maintain safety compliance, and succeed in out career as a whole. Those with a thorough awareness of the
multicultural world we live in are better positioned to succeed and make a long-lasting positive influence on the
experiences of people they serve as the travel industry continues to change.