If you are planning a business dinner you should check out our guide. It will help that everything runs smoothly and ends in success.
On the other hand, if you are going to a business dinner, you want to make a good impression.
A business dinner is a chance to strengthen the relationship with your clients. It is a perfect opportunity to welcome people no matter if they are locals or coming from other places.
A well-organized dinner party indicates positive things for your company. It is a sign that you are thoughtful, capable, and know how to manage important events.
PREPARATION and PLANING have to be done carefully, this ensures the best possible impression. A formal business dinner has different rules than the other dining out occasions.
What are the things you must consider if you are planning a business dinner?
If you are planning to throw a business dinner, you want everything to run smoothly and end in success. On the other hand, if you are going to a business dinner, you want to make a good impression.
A well-organized dinner party indicates positive things for your company. It is a sign that you are thoughtful, capable, and know how to manage important events.
Preparation and planning have to be done carefully, this ensures the best possible impression. A formal business dinner has different rules than the other dining out occasions.
There are many things you must consider if you are planning a business dinner. This may seem overwhelming. This is the reason why we chose to create a list that will help you every step of the way.
- Hire a limo
- Choose the right restaurant
- Make a reservation
- Dress appropriately
- Make good introductions
- Get everyone involved
- When to talk about business?
- Pay the bill
1. Hire a limo for a business dinner
Hiring a limo for a business dinner will set the tone for the rest of the evening. It is a status symbol that will depict you and your company as serious players.
Limousine brings an image of luxury, style, and most importantly success.
All Company executives use limousines as their means of transport.
Learn how a company executive should travel here.
As a host expecting people to come from different countries you may want to hire a limo to pick them up at the airport. The limo can get them to the hotel so that they can settle in and prepare for dinner. After that, the limo can get them to the location where your business dinner will take place.
This may seem like going a bit overboard, but actually, it isn’t. You will be spending a bit extra, but what you will get in return will be more than worth it.
Start with yourself. If you were greeted by a limo at the airport and brought to your hotel to get ready for the dinner would you have a bad or good impression of the company?
I don’t know about you, but I would have a good one.
Hire a limo for a business dinner and ensure that it starts on a good note. It will help that the dinner runs smoothly and end in success.
2. Choose the right restaurant
The choice of a restaurant plays an important role when you are organizing a business dinner. A vegan won’t feel comfortable dining in a steakhouse.
The perfect choice of a restaurant would be one that can accommodate vegetarians, people on gluten-free, or other special diets. You don’t want your guests to feel uncomfortable.
When you pick a restaurant, choose one where you can actually have a conversation with your guests. Don’t go to a crowded restaurant where all the commotion will interrupt your dinner.
Stay away from the seafood restaurants, greasy burger joints, or ramen stores. Eating meals in these restaurants can become a messy occasion with everything splattering over your business outfit.
3. Make a reservation
The last thing you want is to have to wait for a table because you didn’t make a reservation for your business dinner. Also, when you do MAKE A RESERVATION, request a table that is in the quieter part of the restaurant so that you don’t have any interruptions.
Make sure to arrive at the restaurant early. Getting there 10 to 15 minutes before everyone will allow you to ensure that the table you got is in fact in the quiet part of the restaurant. This is a perfect time to instruct restaurant staff that you will be paying for dinner.
4. You should dress appropriately for a business dinner
Dressing for a business dinner should not be any different than dressing from what you wear to the office. There are some exceptions of course. If the dinner is a more formal affair in an exclusive restaurant, you can dress up more.
5. Make good introductions
It is your job, as a host, to introduce new parties to each other. In a business dinner setting, it means that you should mention their name, position, and what they do.
In case you know a bit more about the dinner parties, you can mention it. This way you give them a conversation-starting point and making them feel more comfortable
6. Get everyone involved
To achieve this you should shake hands with everyone, if it is culturally appropriate, and smile. Make sure not to skip anyone. You should greet the boss or higher-ups as well as the people who have lower positions.
You should stand up when you are doing so. This is very important. If you are sitting down during this part of the dinner you may look and feel sloppy.
Don’t make any difference in greeting people depending on their gender. In the business setting, a firm but not grabby handshake and a smile is a norm.
7. When to talk about business?
This can be a bit tricky. In Europe, you should never talk business before dessert is served. Even if this seems absurd, because it is a business dinner, your guests may feel rushed and uncomfortable. Of course, if your guests want to talk business before the dessert, go along with their desires.
The unwritten rule is that you don’t talk about religion, sex, or politics during a business dinner. It can lead to people being offended and not wanting to have business with you. Stick to safe topics such as hobbies, interests, and of course, business.
8. Pay the bill
Once the meal is over, it is time for the bill. Most ideally you would have arranged this before the dinner started.
Give your credit card to the server before everyone arrives. Include the percentage of the tip as well. If the question of payment never arises, it will cement your reputation as a well-organized person who gets things done.
If you couldn’t get the waiter and give them your credit card beforehand when the bill arrives take it discreetly and put your credit card inside of it.
The picture of a person flashing money and counting it in front of the dinner guests is not a good one. This is the worst thing you can do.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has shown some insight and guidance into how a business dinner is organized. During such events, you want to accomplish a good connection with your business partners and show that you are a serious player.
Make sure that you are always prepared. If your guests don’t have a ride, hire a limo for them. Come to the restaurant before everyone to make sure that everything is in proper order.
As a host, you must choose a suitable restaurant that will make your guests feel comfortable. Make a reservation at the restaurant, and comes the date, dress appropriately. A host is in charge of making the introductions and keeping the conversation going.
Speaking about the conversation, in Europe, business talk is done when the dessert is served. At the end of the dinner pay the bill.
If you follow all these points, we are sure that your business dinner will turn out to be a huge success.
