Chinese And Americans Negotiations Style

Chinese And Americans Negotiations Style China has been becoming a key player in the world stage since last two decades for her rapid development of economy ¼Ã…’military force and so on. More and more countries regard China as an emerging market for her huge potential market and big amount of potential target customers; therefore, many countries want to operate business in China. According to the survey, America is one of the biggest business partners of China; it continues to maintain Chinas second largest trading partner, bilateral trade amounted to 102.34 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 11.4%. Among them, Chinas exports to the U.S. $ 74,300,000,000, an increase of 6.9%,more than a quarter of accelerating 1.5 percentage points over the same period accounted for 17.5% of the total value of Chinese exports; imported 28.04 billion U.S. dollars from the United States, an increase of 25.6%, trade surplus of 46.26 billion U.S. Dollars. As trade increases, more and more American companies have chosen to develop the Chinese market. While the problem also appears, it is difficult to negotiate with the Chinese. With the 5,000 years Chinese traditional culture, many multinational firms realized that China has her own negotiation style. This issue was mentioned by Lucian Pye (1992, p.74, cited by Tian, 2007), the Chinese may be less developed in technology and industrial organization than we, but for centuries they have known few peers in the subtle art of negotiating . When measured against the effort and skill the Chinese bring to the bargaining table, American executives fall short. From the above background, we can see that if the foreign business people want to do business in China, learning Chinese negotiation style is very important. With inadequate knowledge and skills of Chinese negotiation style, it will be difficult for Americans to succeed in striking a desirable deal with Chinese partners and in developing business in China. For this aim, this essay will do a systematically analysis on how to negotiation with Chinese, particularly for the Americans. This essay aims for set out how to understand Chinese negotiation style and find out the differences of negotiation styles between Chinese and Americans, to provide useful information on how to achieve a win-win object. In this essay, the main body will be the analysis of Chinese negotiation style. Section one will introduce some fundamental information of negotiation; in section two, the Chinese culture roots will be illustrated; in section three, the comparison of negotiation style between Chinese and Americans will be indicated; in section four, the conclusion will be given which is even though there are many differences among negotiation styles, the common rules still existed among these countries. Negotiation Based on Tian (2007), there are two parts contribute to negotiation process, which are common interests and conflicting interests. However, many scholars hold divergent views from different perspectives. From the social exchange theory, it defines negotiation as a process, which focus on problem-solving communication for both parties aims for a win-win agreement (McCall and Warrington, 1984; Graham, 1986, cited by Tian, 2007). Which means it focuses on how to maximize the benefits accruing to all parties. Therefore, it can be seen there is a positive relationship between two parties without hurting each other, the conflicts will also be addressed in a way that benefits all. Specifically, social exchange theory insists on a cooperative strategy of negotiation. This implies that both parties need to collaborate with each other and unify the interests of all aim for achieve mutual benefits. The cooperative strategy is illustrated as principled negotiation. As a principled negotiation, it focuses on: separate the human from the problem; focus on benefits rather than positions; options for mutual benefits; insist on objective criteria and no tricks and posturing. In all, the negotiation parties can gain from negotiation in a decent and fair manner. (Tian, 2007). Another theory is the game theory. This theory emphasizes on a win or lose agreement. It considers negotiation as a process that both parties communicate with each other in a competitive manner. (Raiffa, 1982; Siebe, 1991, cited by Tian, 2007). It defines negotiation as each party wants to maximize its own benefits at the cost of the other side. During negotiation all the parties can fight with one another in order to maximize their own interests. Hence, we can see that game theory is based on a competitive strategy. The third theory is called cross-cultural theory. This theory focuses on a specific type of negotiation, which is the different culture background. It indicates that different cultures may lead to different negotiation styles. Based on Tian (2007), game theory and social exchange theory have few implications on negotiation process, while the most influential factor is negotiators from different culture backgrounds need to have a basic understanding of each others cultural environments and negotiation styles; this will very helpful on the success of negotiation. In this essay, we will focus on the cross-cultural negotiation style to analysis the Chinese and Americans negotiation. Cultural roots of the Chinese negotiation style Lots of scholars argued that Chinese culture can be divided into two aspects; one is traditional Chinese culture, the other one is contemporary Chinese political culture (Tian, 2007; Fang and Ghauri). Traditional Chinese culture Confucianism is one of the most influential factors on Chinese negotiation style. There are six basic Confucian values. Firstly it emphasizes on moral cultivation. It regards trust and sincerity as the most important qualities. Secondly, it thinks highly of interpersonal relationships. Guanxi is a major mechanism in the Chinese social psychology. Thirdly, Confucianism pays attention on family and group orientation. The fourth factor is the respect of the age and hierarchy. Being a Chinese who needs to show respect to the aged people; for hierarchy, people should does his duty to contribute to social harmony and stability. The fifth factor is harmony first. Confucianism highlighted the need aim for harmony in the whole society by moral conduct in all kinds of relationships. The last factor is face, Confucianism educated the people they all should have a sense of shame in their minds. Face is a fundamental moral mechanism on Chinese way of life. (Fang and Ghauri). Sun Tzus stratagems: which known as Ji or Chinese stratagems, has a huge impact on Chinese strategic business behaviour. Sun Tzus provides Chinese with various kinds of solutions when facing different situations; how to gain psychological and material advantage to achieve ones purpose. Chinese negotiator is often Sun-Tzu-like strategist, seldom wages a physical business war but rather might be keen on a psychological wrestling of wit to create a favourable situation to manipulate his/her counterpart into doing business his/her way. (Fang and Ghauri; Chas.W, 1999). The most popular part of Sun Tzus stratagems is the Thirty-six ancient Chinese stratagems. Agrarian mentalities: China has a large agrarian population fir over 4,000 years. Even during the Cultural Revolution during 1966-1976, millions of students in urban areas were sent to the countryside by Mao Zedong to let them re-educated by the peasants. Even though most of the students went back to the city they still passed their re-educated values gained from countryside to their off springs; which is completely different with western countries. Based on many scholars research, (Tian, 2007; Graham and Lam; Pye, 1992), thrift and endurance are the most outstanding characteristics of the agrarian mindset when Chinese negotiating. So the agrarian mentalities continue to have a big influence on the way of thinking of the Chinese. Political Culture Mao Zedongs bureaucratic heritage and Deng Xiaopings pragmatism are the most important political cultures in China. Mao Zedongs bureaucratic heritage: this political culture based on orthodox Marxist-Leninist ideology with three main features. Firstly, the leader of the party has the biggest power on political and personnel. Secondly, fragmented and stratified bureaucratic agencies. Different ministries, province governments, government departments and agencies bargain and compete with each other over allocation of limited resources. Bureaucrats typically have good skills of bargaining within the system. Thirdly, the art of survival in the bureaucracy was responsibility avoided. The reason for this is how the unique bureaucratic system works. In China, power means everything especially in political, therefore, everyone tried very hard to avoid mistakes so they can stay at the office as usual. Some of them do everything based on orthodox Marxist-Leninist doctrines, some shifting responsibilities onto the others. Deng Xiaopings pragmatism: Deng is the leader of China economy reform which begun with market-oriented economy reform. During the reform period, Deng had to overcome the political barriers left from the previous period. Therefore, Deng promoted a pragmatist ways of thinking within the Party leadership, which has fundamental changed the political beliefs, attitudes, values and feelings of Chinese society at larger ever since. Dengs theory emphasized on practice rather than theory means. Moreover, Deng also promoted that white or black, it is a good cat as long as it catches nice, in his view, as long as China can achieve economic development and modernization, no matter what kinds of the measures are, the measures should be taken. From the above analysis, we can say that China not only has her own traditional culture, but also has her complicated political culture. All of the factors have big impact on Chinese negotiation style. The differences between Chinese negotiation and Americans negotiation Politics influence ¼Ã… ¡Lots of scholars pointed that, China always has a huge negotiation team but with little power on decision-making. (Adair, et al, 2001; Ghauri and Fang). To be specific, this power refers to the negotiation team power. The key reason to this phenomenon is in China, it is hardly to separate business from politics. In the Chinese Communist culture, they think politics is all-pervasive while on the contrast, Americans believe that business and politics should be separated (Pye, 1992). Ghauri and Fang also pointed that, if you want to do business in China, you should pay enough attention to the Chinese government because the government is the biggest boss and Chinese enterprises are just their factories. Chinese economic structure is more centralized while Americans is more open and free. They also indicated foreign firms should be sensitive to the guiding principles of Chinas social and economic development set forth by the Chinese Communist Party and the Chines e government, and also, should make a careful study of the Chinese governments priorities and implementation policies. In the contrast, Americans regard business is business and politics is politics, which are totally different aspects in the negotiation process. Legal Influence: The Chinese consider the interpersonal relationship is more important than legal contract, which is totally different from Americans. As Pye (1992) mentioned, Chinese culture traditionally shuns legal considerations and instead stresses ethical and moralist principles, whereas Americans are thought to be highly legalistic. So historically, Chinese and western cultures has quite different views about the importance of legal process. The Chinese seem to be bound by their tradition non-legalistic practices. Tian (2007) also indicated that, the Chinese negotiators do not pay much attention to legal agreement as western people do. They focus more on interpersonal trust, friendship and guanxi. Some American businessmen argued that they learned that among Chinese it was a traditional way to seal agreements with only the oral commitment, a nod of the head, or a handshake (Pye, 1992). This Chinese negotiation style is closely related to the Confucianism that required people t o appreciate interpersonal relationships rather than laws and legal regulations; and also, it is a reflection of emphasizes on the harmony. In the contrast, Americans consider legal contract is much more persuasive than personal relationship. As Pye (1992) indicated that the majority of American negotiators are lawyers, which means that the Americans consider the contract is the most important part of negotiation. Holistic Thinking: Graham and Lam pointed that; the Chinese always consider the question from a whole picture; however, the Americans think sequentially and individualistically. Chinese negotiators always start negotiations on the general principles first and leave details to the later stages (Tian, 2007). Also, Pye (1992) pointed the Chinese seek agreement on generalities, dwelling on overall considerations, and avoiding specific details as much as possible, leaving, as they like to say concrete arrangements to later negotiations. But the Americans are more in favour of solve problems one by one. Why the Chinese like use this negotiation style? The reason can be considered consistent with Maos bureaucratic heritage; the party leaders always set the general principles and the followers had to agree upon before any details can be discussed. According to Pye (1992) and Tian (2007), some western businessmen argued this as a negotiating ploy. They argued that Chinese negotiators can take advantages of the signed general principles at the later stage of negotiations. This ploy is quite obvious when it comes to the specific details. Assume that both parties were arguing about details while at this moment, Chinese negotiators can attack the other side for not complying with the general principles signed earlier. Therefore this can be called one of the thirty-six stratagems-shut the door to catch the thief. Nevertheless, even the western businessmen consider this as a ploy it still has its advantages. Pye (1992) said that Chinese can quickly turn an agreement on principles into an agreement on goals and then insist that all discussion on concrete arrangement must foster those agree-upon goals. This measure is useful during negotiation process approved by a American: by making each agreement between us move from a more general to a more technical level, the Chinese can constantly argue that what they were insisting upon in operating procedures was logically consistent w ith all that had been agreed to before.they sure taxed out patience and always put us on the defensiveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Information exchange (emotional aspect): the Americans pay more attention on the information exchange during negotiation process; they can accept the discussion as main method to solve the problems, even the discussion is very intensive. In contrast, the Chinese are focusing whether the counter party gives their face or not. In Chinese business culture, ones reputation and social standing rest on saving face. Assume that foreign businessmen cause the Chinese embarrassment or lose face, even unintentionally; it can be disastrous for negotiation process. Moreover, Tian (2007), Ghauri and Fang, found that face is extremely important for Chinese. They argued that if someone gives enough face to the Chinese negotiators, they will behave as a Confucian gentlemen otherwise they will return you back or set block in the negotiation process. Therefore, from this perspective we can see that compared with the Americans, the Chinese are thinking highly of face. Time issue: Americans in favour of fast meeting when negotiation, while the Chinese need much more time to build the trust with counter party before negotiation. The reason is influenced by Confucianism; Chinese only do business with someone they can trust; while trust building is a time-consuming issue. As one Chinese negotiator said they [western firms] want to come and sign the contract quickly and do not know that [if] we do not understand each otherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦there is no business relationship first, we have to know and trust each other, and then we sign the contract!(Ghauri and Fang). Patience: Compared with the Chinese, Americans are more impatient. As long as an initial agreement has been reached, the American negotiators become more than ever impatient for the consummation of a deal, for they tend to assume that the step from general agreement to detailed substantive negotiations should be a short one (Adair et al, 2001). In many cases, the impatience of the Americans is fuelled by the fact that it is not convenient, or economical, to keep their entire negotiating team in China doing nothing (Pye, 1992). For the Chinese, however, this may be the time for substantial delay. The officials who have been talking with the Americans may not have the authority to go further and must wait for the further instructions. The Chinese are also short of expert talent and thus lower officials may have to await the clearing of bottlenecks in their own hierarchies. Also, Chinese cadres often seem genuinely to feel that once there has been an agreement in principle, congratulati ons are in order, and therefore, they are in no hurry to get into the potentially troublesome haggling over details. Negotiation team: the Chinese negotiation team tends to be a large one but indecisive compared with Americans. According to Tian (2007), a western businessman pointed that it is common that lots of people from carious government departments and commissions (such like planning, economic and foreign trade commissions and the like) get involved in the negotiation team. Apart from government officials, some representatives from various departments of the Chinese company are often also invited to participate in the negotiating team, aims for avoid possible non-collaboration in the long term. The feature of the Chinese negotiation style is related to Maos bureaucratic heritage. Economic planning has been playing a key role even after reform since 1978; consequently, fragmented bureaucratic institutions have to maintain control over specific resource, which is even true at the enterprise level. As a Chinese negotiator admitted when it comes to negotiation of a lager project in which various departments are involved, if you do not ask each of these departments to come, they will probably make complaints and wont support your work very much in the futureà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦therefore, in order to coordinate our work, we asked every department to send one representative to form our negotiating team (Fang, 1999, p.208, cited by Tian, 2007). Nothing is ever final: Americans hold the view that once the contract being signed, then all the parties should show up the expected behaviour in a fixed time; aims for perform the contract in time. The Chinese seem to have less feeling for the drama of agreement and little expectation that any formalized contract will end the process of negotiations. Lots of western negotiators argued that the Chinese brought up proposals for revising what had been agreed upon, right on the heels of signing a contract. Thus although they are reportedly scrupulous in adhering to agreements, they have no inhibitions in proposing changes. What is more, the Chinese officials do not seem troubled by the thought of suddenly terminating contracts; or in other words, the Chinese do not stick to the contracts as Americans do. As mentioned above, the Americans are more legalistic, but the Chinese think the sudden change or termination of the contract do not have influence on the relationship between the weste rners while this is completely different compared with the Americans. In Americans view, once the agreement being signed, the negotiation process is over while the Chinese always tend to continue the process with continuously new questions (Pye, 1992). Chinese stratagems: The Chinese more likely to use stratagems during the negotiation process, while the Americans always being honest and humorous. Lots of scholars pointed that the Chinese in favour of using stratagems (Ji) during negotiation, which is too hard for them to identify (Tian, 2007; Fang, 2006; Miles, 2003). For example, when Ericson entered China during pre-negotiation stage, the Chinese changed negotiators suddenly, was being regarded as steal the beams and change the pillars, as mentioned above, the Chinese only doing business with the people they can trust with, without solid trust it is hardly for them to be truly honest, therefore they will use stratagems. As one negotiator admitted that they used the stratagems unconsciously but the stratagems occupied more than 10% in the negotiation process. Using stratagems, for the Chinese, is deeply influenced by the traditional Chinese culture. Risk-taking: Americans are the risk-takers compared with the Chinese. They are often prepared to put forward new and innovative ideas, suggestions. This is often done without prior approval from headquarters and represents the risk the head of delegation is prepared to take, in order to reach consensus. This trait is widely recognized and highly respected by other delegations. Compared with the Americans, the Chinese negotiators are more conservative during negotiation, without any back guarantee or the higher direction from the upper level, the Chinese negotiators tend to be very careful, speak and act cautiously (Adler et al, 1992). Price-sensitive: the Chinese are sensitive to price. Lots of foreigner negotiators said that the Chinese often keep asking for lower price during the whole negotiation process. This difference compared with Americans discussed in almost all the influential studies on Chinese negotiation styles. Such like Tian (2007), Pye (1992). This sensitivity closely related to the Chinese agrarian mentalities, which emphasized thrift. It also related to Dengs pragmatism, based on the backward reality of China, which is, the resource is very limited that the Chinese have to pay attention to the cost issue. Moreover, the Chinese would think that we have provided you with a huge market with huge potential profits; you need to give us favour back. The similarities between Chinese negotiation and Americans negotiation Protectionism: some scholars argue that the Chinese always being protective to the local industries, especially for the national key industries, such like IT, telecommunication industry. It is probably the common phenomenon in every country. Lately Huawei, the Chinese telecommunication enterprise wanted entered America but rejected by the national security department for the reason that the telecommunication is a key industry and it also consistent with the national security (Xu, 2011). From this we can see that, no matter China or America, both of them pay special attention to the key industries. Pragmatic: The Americans tend to be very practical, pragmatic ones. They do not interest in high-flown rhetoric or speeches in the negotiation process. As the Chinese, they are very practical people as well. They have the clear purpose when negotiation, which is obtain the favour and reach the win-win result. Conclusion In this essay we mainly analyzed the differences and the similarities of the negotiation style between Chinese and Americans. It is hardly to give a definite conclusion which is better than the other one. But for China, there are four points for them to amend compared with the Americans in the negotiation process in the future. Firstly, the Chinese should learn from the Americans they prefer the legal contract rather than the personal relationships. Since nowadays, China is getting more involved in the world business, facing various kinds of counter negotiation parties, different cultures around the world, the business need to base on the legal contract. It should be seen as a secure for the business. With the rapid development of economic and culture, legal, is becoming a main method to protect the rights and interests between the people, the Chinese should recognize this. Secondly, the huge but indecisive negotiation team should be improved. Due to the unique culture of China burea ucracy, the Chinese negotiation team always bigger than its actual needed. This is a waste of human resource; also, each department of the government should be separate from each other, each performs its own functions, if so, the efficiency of negotiation will be enhanced better. But to achieve this target, it will take a long time and the joint efforts of all departments. Thirdly, the Chinese always behave nothing is ever final even the contract signed already. This is a performance of bad faith; it is harmful for the Chinese to continue doing business with the foreigner partners. In other words, the root cause of this phenomenon is the indifference of Chinese legal concept. For the Americans, they should learn from the Chinese being patient when negotiating, it is easy to make loss due to the decision made when lost impatience.

SORRY, it’s my entire fault. :: English Literature Essays

SORRY, it’s my entire fault. I wish I had not done it. If I had been more sensible, the accident would not have happened; but it’s no use saying that now. One day at school last term, we didn’t have very much to do. The teachers had all gone to a staff meeting, and most of us in Form 4A were chatting, joking and reading magazines. Vincent, who had to prepare for an overseas examination, was the only one who was working. He had a large Physics book in front of him and was making careful notes in an exercise book. He looked so serious that I suddenly had a marvelous idea for a joke. I crept up behind him and quickly snatched his glasses from his face. The others in the class roared with laughter, as I took him completely by surprise. Even the girls over on the other side of the room giggled. One girl told me to give the glasses back., but I knew she was not serious. Everybody was enjoying the joke except for Vincent. â€Å" Please,† he begged, â€Å"give me my glasses.† He stood up and moved towards me. I turned round and threw them to Raymond, who was behind me. Unfortunately Raymond wasn’t expecting this and he missed them. The glasses fell on the cement floor and both lenses were shattered. One or two people laughed, but then the room fell silent. They had been expensive glasses with metal frames, and the lenses were tinted. Vincent had to wear them in the sun as well as indoors. â€Å" Vincent, I’m sorry,† I apologized lamely. â€Å" I meant it as a joke†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Vincent didn’t reply. I’ll help you buy a new pair,† I promised. But he wasn’t listening to me. If he had been angry, it would have been better; but by ignoring me, he made me feel very small. I didn’t know what to do. A lot of us in Form Four came to school by bicycle or motorbike. Vincent had a motorbike, given to him by his father. I was rather jealous, because I came on an old bicycle, the same one that I had been using since I was in Form Two. After school I saw Vincent go to the stand by the gates, pull out his motorbike, get on it and ride off alone. I felt extremely sorry about what I had done, but I thought that if I could find enough money for a new pair of glasses we might be friends again.

Feasibility of Hoosier Burger

Six Feasibility Factors: 1) Economic Feasibility With proper inventory strategy and good customer service, the Hoosier Burger can benefit in terms of increased sales and profit. Besides that, the Hoosier Burger would definitely have regular customers like any other restaurants. Therefore, the Hoosier Burger should improve its management system to assure the regular visits. 2) Operational Feasibility Better operating system leads to more efficient time management as it is an issue of Hoosier Burger.Implementations of a good system enable better schedule handling and customer service. By applying a new and improved system, problems can be solved and the use of time would be proper during business. 3) Technical Feasibility With the help of the project team and owners Bob and Thelma, Hoosier Burger should have no problem executing this proposed system. The issues to be fixed are very fixable and can be done quite quickly with the proper organization and strive. 4) Schedule FeasibilityWhi le there is no time frame mentioned in the case, it is assumed that Hoosier Burger will take action promptly to assure continued success of the business. They want to keep their loyal customers and must act quickly in order to do so. 5) Legal and Contractual Feasibility There seem to be few legal risks in this case. This is a small but established business that will not have copyright or nondisclosure issues. The only risk may be in retrieving information about the customer base. 6) Political Feasibility Politics are not mentioned or described in the Hoosier Burger case.

Hospitality Tips for Arab Guests

THE ARAB GUEST The Arab travel mentality can vary greatly as the Arabian region stretches over a vast area encompassing 22 countries from Mauritania in the west to Yemen in the east. As the majority of Arab guests are from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), consisting of Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, the advice given here pertains mainly to this important region. The above-named states have in common rapid economic growth due to the large oil and gas reserves.These states have been catapulted from a tribal life to relative wealth, although Dubai has always held a significant role as a trade centre in the Middle East. Tourism in the UAE is booming, and luxuries, the newest technologies and excellent service have become the norm. No wonder then that the most expensive and luxurious hotel in the world, the Burj al Arab, is in Dubai. Apart from expecting exclusively furnished hotels, Arab guests also expect respect and tolerance for their lifestyle. To the majority of Arabs, Islamic rule s are the foundation of daily life. Courteous and attentive service is a prerequisite. 1.Tolerance and Sensitivity Personal recommendations and networking between Arab families are of the utmost importance and recommendations by acquaintances are given more heed than extravagant advertising brochures. The chance of winning over the Arab market through a few families is therefore very high, but at the same time, a single ‘mishap’ by an employee can ruin the reputation of an entire hotel. Family consciousness is highly regarded in the Arab region. Unlike in the West, the family is the basic social unit, not the individual. In Arab society the weak are respected and protected, and the elderly are always afforded special respect.Arabs behave in a reserved manner towards Europeans and react very sensitively to a lack of respect and intolerance. To avoid such conflicts, sensitivity and empathy are of great importance. 2. Travel The majority of Arabs travel with their entire f amilies. Individual tourists and business travellers are still in the minority, although this is slowly changing. Only male travellers will travel alone. Arab travellers are normally well-to-do. They are used to being looked after and often buy themselves certain freedoms using their substantial economic means.Despite their buying power, however, prices are no longer simply paid; comparisons are made, especially when it comes to hotel accommodation. To do this they are using the internet more and more. The main reasons for travel are business trips, visits to conferences and exhibitions and medical visits. Medical trips are most often undertaken by guests from the UAE as their medical schemes pay for hospital stays, drinks (non-alcoholic) and laundry. Medical checks are often combined with family holidays. Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. apetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected ] travel Another reason for travel is to escape the summer heat and for the sake of children, who are highly regarded, with many trips being undertaken purely for their sake and to visit theme parks and shop for toys. 3. Travel Structure and Duration The main travel season is between June and September. Family groups can number up to 60 people during this time. Depending on the rank of the Arab, nannies, secretaries and drivers are often part of the entourage, which makes it difficult to establish an average group size.Ten people per family are an approximate starting point. The duration of trips varies from case to case, but is generally several weeks. 4. Holiday Mentality It is not the norm in Arab states to have to ask for service, nor to thank for services received. Excellent service is expected and a given. Most Arab guests are highly educated and well travelled. They are therefore often seen as demanding. Flexibility and tolerance of their special requests is therefore a must. For example, Arab guests will expect the restaurant times to be adjusted to their daily routine or for room service and room cleaning services to be individually scheduled.Taking time to develop personal relationships between the hosts and the guests is much appreciated. Business and personal relationships are not strictly separated. The Arab guest prefers a designated contact partner that ensures his wishes and interests are looked after, and that keeps up intense communication. These contacts do not necessarily need to be able to speak Arabic. Often this is even seen as a benefit, as it protects their privacy if the contact cannot understand everything discussed. It is not unusual for the younger generation to be fluent in English.Guests from North Africa generally speak French as their second language. Arab women completely covered in black robes are still an oddity to most Europeans. However, the social standing of women ranges between ‘strictly Muslim’ and ‘ emancipated’. The rules laid out in the Koran guarantee her that she will be looked after her entire life. In return, she must acknowledge the man’s authority in society, the family and in marriage. The wearing of veils was long seen as a sign of high social prestige. Only women of high standing were allowed to wear them; slaves and dancers were forbidden to do this, under threat of punishment.Today the veil signifies a close affinity to Islam and is a sign of the honorable life of the wearer. Advances by men are not tolerated. Hoteliers must be prepared for the lobby area to occasionally look like a bazaar. In an effort to strengthen their relationships Arab guests will meet there, drink tea, smoke – and if permitted also their hubbly bubblies. 5. Information and Booking Behaviour Prior to travel the normal booking procedures (internet, advertising, travel agents and agents specialising in medical trips) are checked for prices, availability and decor, special s ervices etc.For guests travelling for medical reasons, local embassies and consulates often take care of these issues. Close contacts with these are therefore of benefit. Often guests book hotels only to then compare offers and prices with other hotels once in the country. Should the hotel booked not live up to their standards and expectations, they Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel will relocate.Reception staff can play a decisive role in this decision. Although low prices and rebates are important, negotiations seldom take place. Representatives of a group are often sent ahead. More often than not however these days, guests arrive without having booked at all. Because guests are not under any time constraints, the departure date is often left open. This fact should always be taken into account and dealt with flexibly. When booki ngs are made, babies up to three years old are not mentioned as they are not seen as children. This often leads to confusion on check-in.A point should therefore be made to specifically ask about babies accompanying the group. When a booking is made, the hierarchy (family, drivers, nannies etc), who will be footing the bill, as well as the individual family members’ names must be established. For long stays, the billing should be clarified at the start, especially when guests are travelling for medical reasons. The health department of the country of origin often covers the accommodation, F&B and laundry. Bookings are often made using the prefix ‘El’ or ‘Al’, a type of royal title, which however is left off on arrival or when telephoning.This often leads to irritations and misunderstandings, which is why this fact should be remembered from the outset. It is also recommended that families from various regions are separated from one another. A good opt ion is to inform guests of the Arabic origins of the other guests. Rooms should always be in quiet areas where no lingering smells are present. There are also often requests for rooms with connecting doors. Should this request not be made, family rooms should be situated close to one another on the same floor. 6. Travel Content The main interests are sight-seeing, casino visits and outings with/for children.Shopping is also very popular, which is why hotels should always have shopping tips at hand. Addresses for oversized clothing should also be included. Apart from shopping, excursions into nature, especially the mountains and such, are enjoyed. Sports events are also favourite pastimes; this includes soccer, which is becoming increasingly popular, horseracing, golf and motor racing. 7. Communication Because the majority of Arab guests are able to speak English well, communication problems are rare. Should the older members of a group not be fluent in English, the younger ones do t he translating.Children often speak English astonishingly well. When it comes to negotiations or relationship building, Arabs use very descriptive language combined with many gestures. Instead of coming to the point they use longwinded descriptions. So as not to come across as disrespectful or uninterested, it is advisable to take time and to adapt one’s way of expression as much as possible. It is most important not to decline a guest’s request too bluntly. This ensures that neither party loses face. The wording: ‘I will try my best’ or suggesting an alternative to the request are often very helpful.But under no circumstances should a promise be made that cannot be kept. Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel Honesty is a virtue: this saying is interpreted very differently in various countries. Because Arabs are so relationship orientated and take heed of harmonies and friendships, it is still considered being honest when unpleasant subjects are simply ignored and positives stressed.Arabs will always be able to ‘fish out’ the truth in a conversation. In contrast to Europeans, Arabs find it insulting to ignore people that walk into a conversation. Making them wait or even ignoring them must be avoided at all costs, even if one just politely acknowledges the guest and advises him that he will be attended to shortly. Interpersonal relationships have a much higher priority than does time-keeping. This is why Arab guests cannot understand it when no time is taken to have an in-depth discussion. Even unimportant subjects offer the opportunity to build trust and understanding.Therefore, when under time constraints, rather tactfully and reassuringly promise the guest a chat at a later stage. Arabs always expect first-class service/performance, and requests therefore often come acr oss as being demanding. Diplomacy and tolerance are therefore advisable. In addition, absolute punctuality and dependability are expected from the hotel. It is advisable to regularly question the guest on his/her satisfaction. Should there at any time be a problem, e. g. the behaviour of children, this must be addressed privately, with the group’s representative. Under no circumstances should the head of the party be confronted or called. . 1 Topics of Conversation A sure way to win the affection and loyalty of an Arab guest is the enquiry into the wellbeing of his family, especially that of the male members. Enquiries about the female members could be misconstrued and are to be avoided. It would be of great benefit to the hotel contact person to have background information on the family ties of guests. It is therefore vital to keep a guest file containing all the relevant up-to-date details. Topics to be avoided are religion and politics, although being knowledgeable about I slamic religion is a sign of respect. This should however not be shown off.The local customs and way of life are interesting topics and offer much to talk about. Most Arabs are pleased by declarations of friendship. In addition, substantiated acknowledgment of their technical advances, art and social security systems helps to reduce feelings of mistrust and is generally appreciated. They also value acknowledgements for the cultural achievements in their respective countries. Positive comments on the high standard of tourism in the Gulf States are also appreciated. Humour is a very difficult thing to transfer across cultural lines and should be used cautiously.Translations of amusing sayings often lose their amusement value and are not easily understood. Sarcasm and irony are to be avoided unless one knows the other person very well. 7. 2 Non-verbal Communication To begin with some Arab guests may come across as being reserved and sometimes even uninterested. Countering this with a s mile helps make the guest feel respected and welcome. Ignoring a guest is interpreted as an insult. As an Arab saying goes: â€Å"Kill me, but don’t give me a funny look! † Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. ravel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel Arab women will generally avoid any eye contact with male staff. Eye contact between women however is not an issue. A male staff member should therefore avoid eye contact with a female guest and should never try to force it. Should a woman ask a question, the male companion is addressed unless the woman actively seeks eye contact. Between men, however, direct and intense eye contact is highly regarded. Arabs generally have smaller personal comfort zones than Europeans. During conversations it is customary to feel the speaker’s breath.Europeans who keep their normal personal distance could therefore evoke the feeling that their presence is felt as repulsive. Pointing fingers at persons is also seen as very impolite. Should one be unsure about how to behave when dealing with Arab guests, the best advice is to rather be too reserved rather than forceful. 7. 3 Guest Complaints As with all guests, voicing of complaints depends very much on the personality of the person. Should complaints arise these are brought up by the family’s spokesperson (interpreter), rather than the head of the family or his wife.It is therefore important to establish a good relationship, based on trust, with the spokesperson. The spokesperson should also be given a few names of people in authority, who are able to make quick decisions that are followed through. This has the benefit that instead of discussing problems with other guests/families, the spokesperson can approach the hotel directly to sort matters out. This is also important as families stay for long periods and tend to develop contacts with other families. Through direct communication the escalation of a problem can therefore be avoided.Even though women are taking up more and more managerial roles, experience shows that Arab guests still prefer addressing complaints with male employees. Even if a guest becomes loud and angry, it is important to stay calm. A good tactic is to remove the guest from the public area and discuss the matter over a cup of tea. Complaints are always to be seen as a chance to improve service. 8. HOTEL 8. 1 Choice of Hotel Luxury is not the deciding factor when it comes to choosing a hotel. A certain standard is definitely expected, but the proximity to shopping centres or supermarkets and the hotel’s atmosphere are more important.Medical checks are often the reason for visits, so the proximity to clinics can be a deciding factor in such a case. Should the hotel not be ideally situated, a limousine service could be considered. Instead of city hotels, smaller, family hotels are becoming more an d more popular. As friendliness is a deciding factor, hotels with a family atmosphere are preferred. 8. 2 Greeting and Check-In The greeting is the first, all-important impression a guest gets. On arrival guests want to feel welcomed and respected. An Arab saying goes: â€Å"A look can kill quicker than a sword! To counter this, a smile or even an Arab greeting can make a big difference. Even though Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel direct communication might not be possible, the effort is seen as a friendly gesture, which in turn will leave a positive memory. Greetings are so important in Arab society that they have taken on an almost ritualistic character. Even when staff are under pressure, they should always stay calm and take their time with this greeting ceremony.Arab men should be respectfully approached, and then one shou ld await their response. Some greet by shaking hands, others do not. Most Arabs however find handshaking strange, and should it take place, only the right hand is to be offered, as the left is considered ‘unclean’. Arab men greet each other in a variety of ways, either with their noses, their shoulders or by hand. Well-known acquaintances of the same gender also exchange three kisses on the cheeks. It is customary to greet the highest-ranking person first. Ladies are usually not greeted by hand; a greeting is merely implied (hinted at).European women may offer their hand in greeting. When it comes to money, however, this should be dealt with by a male. Especially the older Arab generations find it difficult to deal with female staff. Reception should always have the times for sunrise and sunset handy, as these are important for prayer times. Times can be requested from the local mosques. Prayers are said five times a day, facing the direction of Mecca. It is therefore o f the utmost importance that the guest knows where Mecca lies. To assist with this, stickers can be put on the windowsills advising the direction of Mecca.Some hotels even offer compasses or instruct their staff accordingly. The addresses of embassies and Arabic-speaking doctors should also be at hand and are regularly asked for. These can be given with the welcome letter. Further information that is often requested is recommendations on Arabic, Persian or Lebanese restaurants, limousine rental companies or Arabic-speaking guides. For Arabs the weekend starts on Fridays, and Sundays are a normal working day. Although Arabs generally value a calm and relaxed atmosphere, the check-in should proceed speedily.This is especially important for the women and children who have been travelling for many hours. On arrival the guest will want to inspect and choose from several rooms to ensure that they meet his expectations and those of his family members. The category booked by the organiser s hould however not be changed. Special wishes are often only requested on check-in. Staff should therefore be flexible. Even after several visits to a hotel the special requests may vary from visit to visit, which is why requests from previous years should be clarified before implementation. Due to the long duration of stay, many hotels insist on weekly billing.Should this be the case, the guest must be advised of this on check-in. Financial matters must however be dealt with tactfully so as to avoid giving the impression of mistrust. When luggage is taken to the room the porter should always leave the door open and leave the room as quickly as possible. The ladies in the party will often wait outside the room until the porter has left. To wait for a tip is seen as rude. Arab guests tend to occupy rooms in big groups. To check the number of guests in a room it is helpful to consult with the housekeeper, as she is in charge of the daily cleaning of rooms.Guests also like to change roo ms amongst themselves and the spokesperson of the group should therefore be consulted to clarify the room occupancies. Nonetheless, Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel guests are usually quite cooperative should occupancy issues arise. Arabic guests often leave their room doors open or unlocked. It is therefore advised that guests should be informed in writing about the hotels liability policy in cases of theft from the rooms.The issuing of house rules in Arabic is seen as an insult, but should this be a standard, these rules should also be laid out in English and another common language if possible. A friendly welcome letter, which politely requests the adherence to certain rules, will usually be readily accepted. 8. 3 Hotel Interiors/Furnishings Children occupy a very important status in Arabic countries and if possible, designate d areas should be set aside for them. A playroom furnished with billiard tables, computer games etc. is a good idea.The venue should be in an area of the hotel where noise disturbance would be at a minimum and where children can play until late at night. Due to the fact that Arab children are only used to their local foods, it often happens that foods will be heated up in their hotel rooms. This can be prevented by including Arabic foods on the menu. Nannies travelling with children have a purely supervisory and chaperoning function, they are not entitled to reprimand or discipline. Should it be possible, the hotel could offer activity and entertainment programmes for the children to keep them in check.Reception should also advise the nannies of the quickest route to the nearest playground or park. Security is an important aspect for Arabic travellers as the man carries the responsibility for the entire family. The presence of security personnel and/or cameras in the passages is pos itively met. Airconditioning is an absolute must and is seen as a non-negotiable standard. Religion being an integral part of Arab life, guests pray five times a day. A designated prayer room would therefore be appreciated. This room can be very basic, e. g. an empty conference room or guest room in which prayer mats can be spread out.Prayer mats are usually brought along, but some hotels also offer these for loan. It is also seen as polite to remove any items connected to other religions. Arab women appreciate pool times designated for their exclusive use, with only female staff on duty, should this be required. The standard swimwear worn by ladies is leggings and t-shirts. European swimwear is seldom worn. 8. 4 Room Furnishings Although Arab guests are usually quite good at speaking English, signage in Arabic clarifies any uncertainties and helps to make the guest feel welcomed.The room service menu should definitely be translated and guest service directories in Arabic, as well a s a welcome letter in that language, will leave a lasting impression. Guest rooms should be as spacious as possible, as Arabs are used to having a lot of space. Big rooms, preferably suites, are expected. Should no connecting doors between rooms be available, rooms should at least be adjacent to one another. Big beds are also preferred (king and queen size), and baby cots are also often requested. Cooking facilities in rooms are also welcomed, as baby milk can be warmed and water boiled for tea.Many guests do not like ordering room service too often, and should cooking facilities not be available, at least a kettle could be offered as an alternative. Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel Arabic TV channels should be available; suggestions are Al-Jazeera and Nile, which are both available via satellite. Video recorders and DVD players are also an ideal service to make available. Arabic newspapers are a must, as the need for up-to-date information is high.A welcome letter in the room which not only greets the guest but also conveys detailed information on the hotel and its services is much appreciated. Small welcome gifts such as fruit, figs, nuts, biscuits, cakes and alcohol-free chocolates are popular. As the ‘Do not disturb’ sign is often left out during the day, good communication between room service and housekeeping is vital. Small gifts for children e. g. chocolate are very important. Arab guests greatly appreciate finding big bottles of still mineral water in their rooms on arrival. These are especially enjoyed by the children after a long trip.Only still water is drunk and internationally known brands are preferred to the local ones. It should be noted that Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, but that not all Arabs are Muslims. In addition, this prohibition is treated in a more rela xed manner when in Europe. Alcohol need only be removed from rooms on request or after enquiry from the hotel or when children accompany adults. Minibars are usually cleared shortly after arrival anyway to accommodate water bottles. The stocking of the minibar can be discussed on arrival. As appliances are often brought along, adapters and cables should be available on request. . 5 Bathrooms Arab guests will request a large number of bath towels on a daily basis. This is due to the fact that the entire body must be cleansed prior to every prayer session. A towel is never used twice, which is why the usage is so high. In addition, it is regarded as unhygienic to only use toilet paper after visiting the toilet. Arabian custom dictates that one also uses water to clean oneself, which is done with the left hand. This is why their toilets are fitted with a water spray facility. Seeing that standard toilets are not fitted with this device, a towel is then used to clean the left hand.Natur ally the towel is immediately given in to be laundered. Some adults try to adjust to the ‘strange’ European habit, but this can not be expected from children. Due to the unpleasant smell of these towels Arabs are often labelled as being unhygienic, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Even though towels are immediately sent to be laundered, the provision of white towels is not necessarily doing them a favour. In addition, guests should also be able to make use of a laundry facility. As children often run around barefoot, towels are laid out in the bathrooms to avoid them becoming ill due to the unfamiliar temperatures. . 6 Daily Routine Because of the high daytime temperatures in the Arab region, Arabs tend to be more active during the evening hours. Their daily routine has adjusted accordingly. It is therefore suggested that cleaning routines for rooms are planned according to individual guests. It is also advisable to allocate more time for the cleaning of rooms than Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel usual.Complaints might be received because cleaning staff, for insurance reasons, are not permitted to move items lying around in order to clean the room. The reason for the ‘non-tidying’ should be explained in a friendly and tactful manner. To avoid unnecessary conflicts it is recommended that enough female cleaning staff are at hand to adhere to the strict gender segregation. It is however often difficult to get access to rooms due to the ‘Do not disturb’ sign being out. It is therefore advisable to inform the guests well in advance as to when cleaning is scheduled. 9.Eating Habits The provision of appropriate foods can be a potential area of conflict. Hotels often react negatively to the delivery of food from external sources, or the cooking of foods in the room. There are however several reasons for Arab guests not being able to go without their familiar foods: The length of their stays is often much greater than that of other guests, which is why familiar tastes are missed. In addition, children accompanying adults cannot be expected to adapt. Also, the quality of many exotic fruits is not comparable to that of their home country, which is why special products are often flown in.Not to be forgotten is the fact that the Muslim religion prescribes certain rules when it comes to food and drink, i. e. no pork or alcohol may be consumed, nor any other intoxicating substances. Meat must always be well done as the Koran prohibits the consumption of blood. Many Muslims also insist on meat having been slaughtered according to Islamic rites. Arabic eating habits also vary greatly from those of European cultures. Although European foods are readily tried, Arabic foods are definitely preferred. If possible, Arabic, Turkish or Libyan chefs shoul d therefore be brought in.Some hotels even allow the guests’ own chefs to use the hotel kitchen. The breakfast times stipulated in hotels often do not fit into the daily routine of Arabs, who usually take breakfast between 10h00 and noon. The foods on offer in hotels however are more than sufficient to cover the guests’ needs. Great value is placed on a variety of fruits and fruit juices. Beware: Children often go to breakfast unaccompanied by parents. It is therefore vital to make it clear which cold meats/foods contain pork, to avoid children eating these forbidden foods. Dinner is usually taken between 21h00 and 23h00 and is ordered from room service.Enough staff should therefore always be at hand. Choices should include Arabic dishes, menus should be translated and the various dishes should be numbered to avoid any miscommunication. Should the hotel wish to limit guests from going out for meals or ordering in, it would be advisable to adjust themselves to the Arabi c habits. Some hotels offer Arabic buffets in separate rooms or in a section of the restaurant. Others do not cater for the guests’ needs and have an agreement allowing the guests to order in, but charge a ‘corkage’ fee for this privilege.Should the guests make use of the restaurant, children should be especially well treated and served. Arabic guests go to eat not because the adults are hungry, but because the Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel children are hungry. Due to the fact that children are often ‘neglected’ in restaurants, parents prefer going to Arabic or Lebanese restaurants. 9. 1 Etiquette during meals Despite rumours, Arabic guests do not sit on the floor to eat.This is only done when the table is covered by brochures or is too small. There is little talking during meals, meaning that the noise disturbance is minimal. A small amount of the main meal is always left on the plate, after which dessert and coffee is quickly consumed. It is a sign of politeness to at least try every dish, even if one is not hungry. Eating only commences once the head of the table opens the meal with the words ‘Bismillah’ (in the name of Allah). Everyone helps themselves, and it is an unwritten law that one eats the most from the dish directly in front of one.The host will always ensure that these are the best dishes. After dinner, when coffee is served, only three small cups are consumed, as more would be considered impolite. One can however indicate beforehand when one has had enough, otherwise replenishment will be done without asking. The signal for this in the Middle East is to quickly wave the cup from left to right whilst holding it between your thumb and index finger. In Europe, Arab guests eat with knives and forks. If meals are eaten by hand, only the right hand i s used, as the left is considered as ‘unclean’.In the Middle East meals are served with nan or pita bread, which is broken into little pieces that are then formed into a shovel using three fingers, and the food picked is up with this. Dates are always a welcome offering, although the locally available ones are not of the same quality as the ones in the Middle East. This is why they are often flown in especially by guests. Favoured desserts are heavy and sweet, but usually quite costly as they contain ingredients such as hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, pistachios and honey.Baklava, Swiss chocolate and glazed chestnuts are very well liked. It is considered very rude to remove plates that are not quite empty without asking. Arab guests do not necessarily know the rule of laying the knife and fork next to one another on the plate to signal that one has finished. Permission must therefore be asked for before clearing. 9. 2 Beverages In Arab countries beverages are ordered durin g or after meals, not before. They are also used to receiving their food soon after ordering.In the Arab region guests are greeted with a beverage upon arrival, without having ordered. This is an Arab ritual and serves to create a friendly atmosphere. Ordering drinks prior to receiving food is not customary and seen as a nuisance. Apart from mocha, there is no drink that is consumed in larger amounts than tea. Especially popular are black tea with a few sprigs of mint, but also cardamom, aniseed and jasmine are popular flavourants. Tea is an obligatory welcome drink for guests, and is drunk very sweet, and many hotels have started serving tea out of samovars in the lobby area.Some guests however may be irritated by the fact that the same person who serves them the tea also serves alcohol. Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel Coffee i s served in small mocha cups with a lot of sugar (hulwa), half a sugar cube (madbuta) or without sugar (murra). Because the method of preparation and taste of coffee prepared by hotels differs greatly, coffee is often brought along by guests.The water consumed is usually still water, and for cost reasons is often bought in large bottles at supermarkets. To counter this, water can be offered at special prices as part of room service. Because Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, a large range of nonalcoholic drinks should be made available. Arab Christians however are permitted to consume alcohol. Apart from water, fruit juices and Coca-Cola are very popular, especially with children. 10. Summary of Important Tips Specifics ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Emphasise to staff the importance of offering suggestions Enquire about health and satisfaction on a regular basis Have information about mosques and prayer times at hand Inform other guests that Arab guests are sharing the same fl oor Explain to staff how to offer tactful service by making use of examples Print hotel rules in Arabic, English and German Welcome letters can contain tactful requests about adherence to certain house rules Inform guests about hotel liability policy in writing (when doors are left open) Specify a contact person who is responsible for the group during the stay Show flexibility when it comes to breakfast and restaurant opening times Respect special requests when cleaning rooms Have information on children’s activities and programmes at hand Show the nanny the way to the nearest park Verbal Communication ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Discuss the subject of communication between Arab guests and staff Never leave a guest waiting when they want to communicate Do not be irritated by the emotional expressions of guests Do not deny requests, rather offer alternatives and show that you are concerned and wanting to assist Communicate criticism tactfully Always plan enough time to ensure a trusting rel ationship is built up with guests Show personal interest Be careful when using humour; irony and sarcasm are no-no’s Non-verbal Communication ? ? ? ? Stern expressions are interpreted as arrogant – always smile No direct eye contact between female guests and male staff Eye contact is important between men Accept minimal personal space when communicating Complaint Behavior ? Be sensitive and tactful during emotionally charged complaints ? Should guests retire/leave quietly, assume that there is a problem ?Involve the middle man/interpreter when guest or hotel complaints come up Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel ? Be proactive to avoid a spate of complaints ? Serious issues must be handled by male staff Reservations ? ? ? ? Clarify hierarchical order in advance Clarify exact number of guests including babies and nannie s Internally, ensure that all names are spelt in one way Clarify on arrival who will be taking care of payments Greeting / Welcome ? Allocate sufficient time for the greeting/arrival ? Use Arab forms of greeting ? Discuss the importance of first impressions with staff.Despite reservations, guests will change hotels if they are not happy ? Male staff should not shake hands with female guests ? Handshakes that are too firm are to be avoided ? Never offer the left hand, as it is considered ‘unclean’ ? Ensure that the check-in runs smoothly and speedily ? Financial issues must be dealt with tactfully ? Plan in more time and staff to deal with special requests ? Have city information at hand in Arabic Hotel Interior ? ? ? ? ? Hotels with self-catering facilities are preferred Ensure that guests feel safe Offer play rooms/entertainment areas for children A/C is a must Be prepared that the lobby will at times resemble a bazaar Room Interiors ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Rooms should be b ig with interconnecting doors Check number of guests per room regularly Advise in a sensitive manner the rules for number of persons allowed per room Offer big beds Provide Arab TV channels Prepare friendly welcome letter Offer still mineral water in large bottles Discuss minibar contents in advance Indicate direction of Mecca (remove any other religious symbols/books) Be prepared for increased towel usage Services on Offer ? Discuss cleaning schedules with individual rooms ? Have enough cleaning staff at hand, preferably female ? Offer newspapers in home languages Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel Food and Beverages ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Offer room service Translate menu into Arabic and number the dishes Be prepared for increase in room service between 21h00 and 23h00 Have an Arabic chef prepare Arabic meals Alternatively, allow the g uests’ personal chef to use kitchen Order in Arab catering Adjust restaurant opening times to suit guests Serve children first and quickly Pork and alcohol are prohibited for Muslims Breakfast ? Offer normal international breakfast buffet ? Offer wide selection of fruit and fruit juices ? Indicate which cold meats contain pork Etiquette during Meal Times ? Always ask whether plates may be removed before doing so ? Place big tables in guest rooms to avoid guests having to eat sitting on the floor ? Only eat with the right hand, as the left is considered ‘unclean’ Drinks ? ? ? Offer black tea with sprigs of fresh mint leaves Tea is generally drunk very sweet Offer a good selection of non-alcoholic beverages Be aware that coffee is often brought by the guests themselves Arabic Phrases Good day Good morning Good evening Good night Welcome Thank you Please See you again One moment please Excuse me please I wish you a pleasant stay Salam aleikhum (pronounced: sala male icum) Sabah elkheir (pronounced: sabba elsher) Masah elkheir (pronounced: masse elsher) Tisbah ala kheir (pronounced: tisba ala kair) Marhaba Shokran (pronounced: shukran) Afoin (pronounced: affoan) Maa salama Min fadlak Lau samahat Ekama saida Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. ravel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel Titles The confusing name sequences are constructed with between three and six elements: ? Social status ? First name and family ties ? Father and sometimes grandfathers’ names ? Social and geographic origin ? Sometimes honour titles and occupational titles The social rank is always mentioned at the beginning of the name; this is especially clear for heads of state, e. g. Emir (Arab. Amir), Sultan, Malik (king) or Rais (president). In the UAE the rulers do not call each other Emir, but rather Sheikh. This is followed by the first name, which is follow ed by the description of family ties/connections.For boys ‘Ibn’ (son of), for girls ‘Bint’ (daughter of), for fathers ‘Abu’ (Father of). An especially honorable title is ‘Umm’ (mother of), followed by the eldest son’s name. These are followed by the social or geographic origins. Muslims who have fulfilled their trips to the holy sites of Mecca and Medina carry the honorary title of Hajj, although this is seldom used in the Emirates or Gulf of Oman. The job title is often also part of the title, e. g. ‘Imam’ (priest), ‘Qadi’ (judge) or ‘Hakim’ (doctor). The surname always stands last. Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel

IEP Inclusion Essay

The main function of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has always been to integrate the value of learning and development among special students within the educational curriculum. Recognizing the current trends and needs of students, the law was changed to address the functions of consolidating different measures to enhance approaches that bridges further effectiveness in carrying out its goals and objectives. Reacting to its application within Georgia (GA), these new tenets diversified the value of integrating new laws and furthering opportunities that infused better means of facilitation, transmission, and redirection of necessary elements essential towards increased appreciation and learning. One essential application of the amendment of the IDEA corresponds to the acquisition and training of highly qualified teachers. Since the practice of inclusion of special students within the classroom requires the necessary skills and competence among educators, the application of standards coincide not only within the precept of IDEA but also on other educational mandates such as the No Child Left behind Policy (NCLB). By ensuring that Georgian teachers are fit to meet the needs of students via training and development of necessary skills, they can help transcend towards furthering means to induce inclusion and determine the best programs available for students regardless of their physical and cognitive capacities (Hyatt, 2007). Another crucial component shaping Georgia in adherence to the needs of facilitating inclusion and the needs of special students revolves around the procedural safeguards present within the state. Here, the board of education alongside educational institutions are the ones who ensure that careful application of protective mandates is given towards special students particularly in the realm of disciplining, mediation, and the process of intervention during specific cases. Such directions can then induce better means for reinforcing accountability and responsibility among educators and administrators in congruence to the mandates provided by IDEA in reference to protective mechanism for the needs of special students and the promotion of inclusion (Hyatt, 2007). The third aspect that needs to be considered revolves around the nature of individualized education programs. Under the specific tenets advocated by the Georgian Board of Education, it has mandated and amended new conditions prior to the implementation of an IEP program. Under these conditions, it must correspond to particular standards and approved by the supervisory committee handling specific subjects and disciplines. In here, modifications within the IDEA were introduced to carry out a wider span and target new means of consolidating a wider scope in trying to reach out towards the needs of special students particularly those with disabilities (Georgia Department of Education, 2009). With regards to early intervention programs, specific attention is made by the Georgia Department of Education wherein they try to incorporate different schemes in reaching out towards special students and making them take part in government sponsored programs. In here, specific consideration is made the derivation of rubrics and EIP guidelines so as to guide both parents and educators about the appropriate model that is effective for each participant (Georgia Department of Education, 2009). Alongside this process is the condition towards centering options to help students meet the demands of their grade level and adhere to the standards provided by IDEA. The last part circumvents with the process alignment with the No Child Left behind Policy. Under this mandate, the Georgia Department of Education has corresponded and integrated its school policies and its programs according to its mandates. Here, amendments and rules were reinforced to guide educators and administrators the appropriate perspectives in helping students with disabilities become readily available and competent (Idea Partnership. org, 2007). Similarly, these conditions also center in areas such as special education services, school improvement, and addressing proficiency standards. All these conditions then necessitate better means to justify and outline congruence with both the differing perspectives and mandates provided by IDEA and NCLB. In the end, it can be argued that the Georgia Department of Education has indeed consolidated efforts towards bridging and redefining the mandates of the IDEA. Here, they had sought to help induce inclusion within the classroom by consolidating the directives provided by the IDEA and applies them according to the norms prevalent within educational institutions. By reinforcing these policies, Georgia remains responsive and accountable to the increasing needs of special students and opens up opportunities for growth and development.

MCDONALDS Corp Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

MCDONALDS Corp - Research Paper Example McDonalds was established in the year 1955 by Ray Croc in USA as a retailer of snack foods like burgers. The company since then has grown by leaps and bounds with the company presently having its dedicated presence in about 118 diverse nations across the globe and an attractive product offering that includes famous products like Big Mac, Mc Nuggets, Quarter Pounders etc. McDonalds has about 33000 restaurants across the globe that provides the best experience at largely affordable price to the customers. McDonalds serves its customers through a dedicated employee base of over 1.7 million active employees who are determined to provide the best experience to the customers with a touch of excellence to satisfy the needs of the customers (McDonalds, 2011). The mission statement of the company is â€Å"be our customers favourite place and way to eat†. The company believes in creating a marketing mix that is essentially in line with the mission statement of the organization. McDonald s prepares a menu that is in tune with the market demands in an innovative manner that tends to satisfy the demands of the target market audience (McDonalds-b, 2011). The history of McDonalds began in the year 190 when the founder of the organization opened up a Bar-B-Que restaurant in California. This was essentially a drive in restaurants that provided snack items for individuals on the drive. However after a few years this restaurant was closed off an official McDonald’s restaurant brand was launched in 1955. The restaurant met with good success and eventually sold 100 million burgers by the end of the third year into the business. By the year 1963 there were about 500 restaurants operating under the McDonalds brand name. Subsequently the company went public in the year 1965 with IPO of 22.5 US dollars as the price of a share. After three years the company went about to launch the product Big Mac that is one

Factors That Had a Impact on Eurocopters Capability to Continuously Essay

Factors That Had a Impact on Eurocopters Capability to Continuously Innovate - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Eurocopter has an enabling environment which allows the employees to raise innovative ideas in their operations and this plays a significant role as far as motivation is concerned since it promotes the creation of a sense of belonging to the organization among them.Eurocopter is also committed to continuous product development which puts it in a better position to continuously grow throw innovation. About 10 % of its annual sales are committed to its effort on its R&D’s resources. The organization’s structure has also positively contributed to its success given that there is a close link among all the stages involved in manufacturing and the culture promotes a cordial relationship among the employees. Another internal factor that has led to the organization’s capability to be continuously innovative is the re-engineering strategy of major business processes through changing from vertical to the horizontal structure. The horizontal stru cture of the organization promotes innovative ideas whereby sharing of ideas and knowledge among the employees is promoted. A good example can be drawn from the realignment of the blade repair processes. Communication forms a pivotal role in the organization’s ability to promote and harness innovative ideas among its employees. The channels of communication are open and cross-functional teams can communicate effectively which is one major contributor to its innovative capabilities. Different ideas come from individuals and they can be transformed into new knowledge which is the essence of innovation through communication. There is also a close communication channel between the customer support team, the design and quality teams and this helps create mutual understanding among them. Eurocopter uses different HR management functions to promote innovation among its employees and these include job rotation and performance appraisals, learning as well as good management skills. Em ployees are motivated by these factors and they are proud to identify with the organization which gives them the autonomy to use their minds to continuously suggest ideas that can make their workplace a better place to be every day.