Nicaragua Business Etiquette

 

Dress Code

  • Businessmen wear business suits with ties, or long-sleeved shirts
  • Businesswomen wear business dresses.
  • Dressing more formally is acceptable for a first contact meeting. Subsequent meetings are normally more relaxed.

Meetings

  • It is acceptable to arrive for a meeting at least 20 minutes late. More than that is considered a clear insult unless a very reasonable excuse is given.
  • Plan plenty of time for the meeting. 
  • Rushing off to another meeting is disrecpectful to the people who are at the current meeting.
  • A handshake is often accompanied with the opposite hand being extended to the other person's shoulder, or gently holding the other person's arm above the elbow.
  • Among more familiar associates, a warm embrace among men is also common
  • Women frequently kiss one another on their cheeks when greeting one another, and this may be repeated when saying good-bye.
  • Eye contact is encouraged.

Successful Business Entertainment

  • Most important decisions in Nicaraguan business are made outside of formal meetings.
  • Meetings serve principally to formalize decisions already taken, to communicate the decisions to others
  • Refusing a drink (especially on a hot day) or not praising the host on the quality of the meal is considered rude

Gifts

  • If you are invited, a small gift such as chocolates are always appreciated.

Public Conduct

  • Exchanging greetings is also very important. When you see someone you know, approach them by exchanging handshakes and kisses. Waves and verbal salutations do not suffice.

Tipping:

  • Tips or service charges are not usually added to a bill in Nicaragua. In general, a tip of 10% of the total bill is given. This applies to servers, barbers and hairdressers, taxi drivers, etc.
  • At hotels and airports, bellhops and doormen are generally paid $2 total for the handling of luggage.

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