Austria
Business meetings are almost invariably formal affairs in Austria. A working knowledge of German will be very advantageous. First names are generally not used when being introduced, but after the initial meeting first names are often used. Handshaking is normal when saying hello and goodbye. It is considered impolite to enter an office or restaurant or without saying Guten Tag or, more usually, Grüss Gott; similarly, to leave without saying Auf Wiedersehen can cause offence. Social pleasantries and some exchange of small talk are appreciated. If invited out to dinner, flowers should be brought for the hostess.
Correspondence and visits play a significant role in the conduct of business in Austria. Clarity and continuity in communications is very important. Prompt handling of correspondence is very much appreciated and helps to compensate for the distance between the two countries. When possible, offers and documentation should be in German, although many businesspeople can work in English. Marketing and sales policies should be oriented toward establishing lasting business relationships. Office hours are 0800-1230 and 1330-1730 Monday to Friday
Austria has a low crime rate, and violent crime is rare. Nevertheless, there has been an increase in personal property thefts, which many locals attribute to the influx of illegal aliens from Eastern Europe. Pickpockets and purse-snatchers often operate where tourists tend to gather. Some of the spots where such crimes are most frequently reported include Vienna’s two largest train stations, the plaza around St. Stephan’s Cathedral and the nearby pedestrian shopping areas (in Vienna’s First District).
There are a wide variety of hotels available throughout Austria from international class luxury hotels to small bed-and breakfasts. It is advisable to make inquiries and reservations well in advance (especially for July, August, Christmas and Easter). Room reservations are binding for the hotelkeeper and for the guest or travel agency. Payment may often be required if reserved rooms are not utilized.
Austria has a modern telecommunications system and full telephone IDD service is widely available. The country code is 43 and the outgoing international code is 00. International calls can be made from pay phones with four coin slots. Post office hours: generally 0800-1200 and 1400-1700/1800 Monday to Friday, but main post offices and those at major railway stations are open for 24 hours, seven days a week, including public holidays.
Electricity is 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round 2-pin European plugs are standard.
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin European plugs are standard.
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Viennese cuisine is strongly influenced by southeast European cuisine, notably that of Hungary, Serbia, Romania and Dalmatia. Austrian desserts and cake are particularly renowned.
Things to know: The main meal of the day is lunch. All restaurants have waiter service. Generally the strict registration laws mean that the quality of the wine will be fully reflected in its price. Most bars or coffee houses have waiter service and bills are settled with the arrival of drinks. National specialties:
• Wiener Schnitzel is a traditional dish of breadcrumbed
and fried veal escalope.
• Tafelspitz is the most famous food, regarded as Austria’s ‘national dish’ and consists simply of boiled beef.
• Calf’s liver with herbs in butter (Geröstete Leber).
• Goulash, which is made of beef, pepper, paprika and onion.
• Kaiserschmarrn (dessert of shredded pancake and stewed fruit).
• Palatschinken (Austrian pancakes).
• Powidl is a plum stew.
• Apfelstrudel. the classic pudding.
• Cheese Danish, which is sweet and stuffed with raisins.
• Various types of smoked and cured pork.
• Dumplings (Knödel) with sauce.
• Mehlspeisen is the national term for cakes and puddings. There are around 60 varieties of Torte, which is often consumed with coffee. National drinks:
• Local wines (often served in open carafes) are excellent and cheap: most of the wines are white and Riesling and Veltliner are particularly well-regarded.
• Obstler is a drink found in most German-speaking countries, and is made by distilling various fruits. It is usually very strong, and widely drunk as it is cheap and well flavored.
Legal drinking age: 16 (for beer and wine); 18 (for spirits). There are no national licensing laws in Austria, but each region has local police closing hours. Tipping:
Widespread, but large amounts are not expected. On restaurant bills, a service charge of 10 to 15 per cent is included, but it is usual to leave a further 5 per cent. Attendants at theaters, cloakrooms or petrol pumps, expect to be tipped €0.15-0.25. Railway and airports have fixed charges for portering. Taxi drivers expect €0.25-0.50 for a short trip and 10 per cent for a longer one.Nightlife
Viennese nightlife offers something for every taste: opera, theater and cabaret as well as numerous discos, bars and nightclubs. There are cinemas of all types, some of them of architectural interest, showing films in different languages. A good way to spend a summer evening is in one of the beer gardens found all over Austria. The wine-growing area around Vienna features wine gardens (Heurigen) where visitors can sample local wines in an open-air setting.
