Argentina Business Etiquette

Dress Code

• Argentine businesspeople are formal and conservative regarding style and colors. Doing business in casual attire is not appropriate.
• For men, blue, grey and brown suits, white or light blue shirts and conservative ties are the norm.
• Women prefer dresses in blue or pastel colors with black or brown shoes made of leather.
• Wearing light colors is not recommended as this is not the tropical country some may assume it might be.
• Avoid eye-catching accessories, and wear only discreet jewellery.
• For dinner parties or restaurant outings, men wear suit and tie and women elegant, conservative dresses.
• Avoid shorts. 

Conversation

• Argentines are warm people and tend to get close and touch one another while speaking.
• When introducing one another, shaking hands is normal among men, women often exchange kisses on the cheek.
• The family is still the centre of life in Argentina therefore this can be another important topic of conversation.
• Argentina has a rich cultural life, with literature, films, and art. Tango, the urban national music, is highly valued. Make sure to visit one of the tango ball rooms [milongas].
• Interruptions are common and are a sign of interest.

Meetings

• If you need to contact a decision maker, you must go through his or her personal assistant or secretary.
• Appointments are usually scheduled one to two weeks in advance.
• Working hours differ: in Buenos Aires, people in decision-making positions may work non-stop from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm with a short break for lunch at 1.00 pm [which may often be turned into a business lunch].
• In the provinces, managers start earlier, have a break around 12:30/1:00 pm, resume work at 4:00/4:30 pm and then continue until 7:30/8:00 pm.
• Punctuality is appreciated and expected from visitors to Argentina for all business related occasions.
• Expect your Argentine counterpart to be 15 to 20 minutes late
• Guests to home invitations are expected to show up some 15 minutes late.
• For a dinner party, guests can arrive even 30 minutes late.
• January and February are holiday months. Avoid scheduling appointments in these summer months.

Negotiating

• Have your business card translated into Spanish on the reverse side. To exchange cards is very common. Smile and make eye contact when receiving cards and take a few moments to look at your counterpart's business card after it is handed to you.
• In Argentine business culture, interpersonal skills and cordial relations with the group are considered as important as professional competence and experience.
• Establishing rapport and friendship remain key to conducting business.
• Argentines generally discuss standing or sitting close to each other. Adapt to this practice as it may be seen as impolite if you back away from someone.
• An initial visit should be made by an upper-level executive, accompanied by mid-level executives. Mid-level executives will attend subsequent visits to conduct negotiations that go into greater depth.
• Your Argentine counterparts may appear formal during an initial meeting, subsequent encounters are usually conducted in a more cordial atmosphere
• Catholic values have a profound influence on Argentine thinking. Do not get into deep discussions about religion, politics, and sports.
• Higher-level executives have a reputation for efficiency. Usually, those in the highest positions of authority are entrusted with the final decision, so it's important to remain patient. It may be necessary to make several trips before the transaction can be concluded.

Gifts

• Choose gifts that will not be perceived as a form of bribery: inexpensive but in good taste.
• Ensure the gift is properly wrapped and a card is enclosed.
• When visiting an Argentine home, flowers [red, white roses], chocolates for the hostess and a well selected bottle of wine for the host are your best choices. 

Successful Business Entertainment

• Business entertaining is usually a social event and so let your host initiate any discussion of business.
• Staying at one of the finer international hotels in any large Argentine city will help you create a good impression.
• Business entertaining usually takes place at major restaurants and hotels.
• There are many types of restaurants in Argentina, depending on the city you are staying in. Making the payment arrangements in advance is tasteful way to host.
• Breakfast is usually taken between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Customarily; there is a one-hour break for lunch--the biggest meal of the day--that takes place sometime between noon and 2:00 p.m.
• Dinner is served between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. If you are invited for drinks at a home, you will very likely be invited to dinner as well.
• At parties, greet each person individually. Refrain from using the North American conversation starter 'What do you do?' If people wish to discuss their occupation, they will eventually volunteer this information. Customarily, the host or the most senior man present will be seated at the head of the table, with the guest of honor at his immediate right. The next seat of honor will be to the immediate right of either the hostess or the second-highest ranking Argentine.
• When your Argentine contact proposes a toast to you, propose another in return, and include a 'Salud!'
• 'Finger food' is not a part of formal meals.
• Always keep your hands visible when dining, with your wrists resting on the edge of the table. It is considered bad form to keep the hands concealed.
• Wine should be poured with the right hand.
• Before smoking, it's considered polite to offer cigarettes to your companions first.
• After a dinner party or similar occasion, the best policy is to make a phone call expressing your thanks.

Tipping:

• Restaurants: 15% of the bill is standard. 
• Spas : 15-20% of the service is standard at most spas.
• Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped unless they perform some extra service such as carrying your bags or luggage to your hotel entrance, etc.  But almost everybody leaves them some. Usually the coins change. 
• Minimum of one peso per baggage for taking luggage to your room. But with that minimum you are not gaining any further service. Better make the minimum a 2 pesos bill.

Content by www.MercaTrade.com

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