Venezuela Business Etiquette

Dress Code

• Men should dress conservatively, in dark business suits made of lighter wools.
• Female visitors are advised to bring conservative, stylish business clothes of the highest quality, including one cocktail dress.
• Shorts and tennis shoes are generally for the beach.

Conversation

• Be sensitive to the fact that Venezuelans tend to stand extremely close to others when conversing.
• Venezuelans sometimes touch each other's arms or jacket during conversations.
• Maintaining eye contact is an important way of signaling attentiveness in this culture.
• It will be appreciated if you make the effort to learn about Venezuela's political and cultural history.
• Talk about :
  • positive aspects of Venezuela, particularly what you like most about the country
  • Venezuelan history
  • Venezuelan arts
  • Sports, especially baseball and soccer
  • Restaurants/food

• Topics to Avoid
  • a person's private life
  • personal questions
  • religion
  • Venezuelan politics
  • the influence of the United States on South America

Meetings

• Punctuality is expected. There is a lt of traffic congestion especially in Caracas so plan ahead to ensure you have plenty of time to arrive to your appointment.
• Generally, the working week is Monday though Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with at least an hour break for lunch; some executives take a two-hour lunch.
• Refrain from scheduling appointments two or three days before a holiday.
• It's advised that you confirm, through fax or e-mail, your meeting a few days before the scheduled date.
• Stores are open from 9:00 a.m. to noon and again from 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. or later. Shopping malls stay open later
• Any written correspondence should be followed up with a phone call made during business hours.
• Business cards are important in establishing working relationships in this culture. Consequently, ensure that you bring a plentiful supply and have them ready when first meeting others.
• It's recommended that you have one side of your business card printed in Spanish, and the reverse in English. Also, ensure that your title and position are clearly stated on the card, since Venezuelan businesspeople tend to be highly status-conscious.
• Immediately following an introduction, present your business card.
• Business cards should be treated with care and respect.
• The pace of negotiations is slower in Venezuela than in the United States.
• Generally, there are two approaches to conducting business in this culture. Businesspeople from the older generation often place a greater emphasis on getting to know you personally. Conversely, the younger generation, especially those educated in the United States, is chiefly preoccupied with business concerns.
• After the first business contact in Venezuela, it is appropriate for the senior executive of your firm to write a thank-you note to the senior executive of the Venezuelan firm.

Gifts

• Gifts should be considered necessary after you have been invited to dinner or when someone has done something thoughtful for you. Female business travelers, however, should not give gifts to businessmen.
• The best time to present a business gift is during a long lunch.
• When invited to a Venezuelan home, always arrive with at least a token gift.
• It will also be appreciated if you give gifts to any children of your hosts or colleagues that you may encounter.
• When you are planning to make a return trip, ask colleagues if there is something from your home country that they would like you to bring back.
• Appreciated Gifts: 
  • fine chocolates
  • quality, imported liquor such as scotch
  • high-quality desk accessory with your company name
  • high-quality lighter with your company name
  • a name brand pen
  • a name brand desk set
  • small electronics
  • book featured on the 'New York Times' bestseller list [if the recipient reads English]
  • For a woman, a good perfume is a welcome gift.
  • An arrangement of orchids, the national flower, is a popular and easily available floral gift.

Business entertainment

• Business dinners, in particular are purely social occasions, so refrain from discussing work-related matters unless your Venezuelan contact brings up the subject.
• The lunch period in Venezuela is usually between noon and 2 p.m. This meal will consist of five or more courses, including soup and dessert, followed by strong coffee.
• When you receive a dinner invitation, expect to be served a light meal, served later in the evening, around 8:30 or 9:00 p.m.; this occasion often lasts until midnight.
• Spouses are usually invited to dinner.
• If you are hosting a meal at a restaurant, it's a good idea to pay the bill in advance. This guideline is especially important if you are a woman, since your male guests may resist allowing you to pick up the tab.
• If you are invited to a Venezuelan home, consider it a rare honor. Moreover, ensure that you bring a gift.
• When dining, the host and hostess are customarily seated at opposite ends of the table. Two senior executives should sit facing each other.
• Follow Venezuelan business etiquette and offer a toast by lifting your glass and saying "Salud!" or "To Your Health."
• During all meals, the "continental" style of dining is a must: the knife stays in the right hand and the fork remains positioned in the left. These utensils are never switched.
• Ensure that you write a thank-you note following any social gathering where you were a guest. Thank-you letters can be very helpful in solidifying rapport.

Public Conduct

• A firm, assured, handshake is the customary greeting on all occasions.
• During the handshake, state your full name; the Venezuelan will then reciprocate by doing the same.
• Once you establish a closer acquaintance with certain people, you may receive an "abrazo", a hug that involves a squeeze of the arm, and sometimes even a kiss on the cheek.
• Be sensitive to the fact that Venezuelans tend to stand extremely close to others. The best policy is to respect this practice and accept that it is the cultural norm. Moreover, attempting to move away will be perceived only as a cold rejection.
• Point with your entire hand, rather than just your index finger.

Tipping:

• It is unnecessary to tip taxi drivers. You should, however, leave the equivalent of a few dollars if they have performed a special service for you, such as helping you with your luggage.
• The equivalent of $1 per bag is a sufficient tip for porters and skycaps.
• Restaurants usually include a 10% service charge in the bill. If the service was exceptional, however, ensure that you leave an additional 5%.

Content by www.MercaTrade.com

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