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	Spanish Business Travel Tips Making contact with potential business partners in a foreign country can be daunting, especially if you are unfamiliar with the culture and business etiquette. Below are some tips to help you prepare for your next trip to Spain, hopefully with the Division of International Trade on their trade mission in March of 2008. Business Customs There is no substitute for face-to-face meetings with Spanish business representatives to break into this market. Spaniards expect a personal relationship with suppliers; effective business meetings and subsequent negotiations are not only based on concrete evidence, but also on trust and personal feelings. Expect conservative buying habits. Business cards are required and should be printed in English on one side and Spanish on the other. When presented the Spanish side should be facing the recipient. Personal appearance is very important in Spanish culture. Business dress is professional, as Spaniards perceive your appearance as an indication of your professional status. Suit and tie are a must. Punctuality is imperative. While your Spanish counterpart may arrive up to 30 minutes late, foreign visitors are expected to be on time. Gifts are customary at the close of successful business negotiations. The item should be of high-quality and finely wrapped. If you are offered a gift, open it immediately and in front of the giver. Getting There When traveling to Spain, a passport is necessary, but a visa is not required for tourist or commercial stays of up to three months. Under the Schengen accord, U.S. citizens may travel without a visa between Spain and other Schengen countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden). Infrastructure Electric current in Spain is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles. Most U.S. electrical apparatus will need a transformer and plug adaptor. The U.S. and Spain are connected via a direct dial phone system. Calls home may be charged to an international phone card. Taxis are readily available in all major Spanish cities. Barcelona and Madrid also have buses and subways that provide service throughout the cities. Workdays and Holidays A typical workday in Spain lasts from 9am to 6pm Monday through Friday. Workdays adjacent to Spanish holidays and vacation periods (month of August, Christmas and Easter) are not a good time to schedule business meetings. Spanish Holidays 2008 January 1 (New Year's Day) January 6 (Epiphany) March 20 - 21 (Holy Thursday & Good Friday) May 1 (Labor Day) August 15 (Assumption) October 12 (National Day) November 1 (All Saints' Day) December 6 (Constitution Day) December 8 (Inmaculada Concecpcion) December 25 (Christmas) Join the Division of International Trade March 10-14, 2008 on our Trade Mission to Spain. Let the VEDP coordinate your travel, pre-screen your prospects, arrange networking events, and schedule your individual agenda of meetings to make the most of your investment in this exciting market. Space is limited!! Make your reservations now! DEADLINE: You can Register online for this event before January 25, 2008. Please contact Michael Howley, Mission Leader, for details: MHowley@yesvirginia.org. Click here for our Spain Trade Mission flyer: http://www.exportvirginia.org/events/Event%20Flyers/2008%20Spain%20Mission.pdf For more information on the VEDP, please visit our website at: www.ExportVirginia.org Sources / References: United States Dept. of Commerce. Country Commercial Guide: Spain 2007. http://www.buyusainfo.net/adsearch.cfm?search_type=int&loadnav=no U.S. commercial Service: http://www.buyusa.gov/spain/en/ World Trade Atlas. U.S. State Export Edition. Annual 2006. http://www.worldtradestatistics.com/state/ Communicaid. Spanish Business and Social Culture. http://www.communicaid.com/ Today Translations. Doing Business in Spain and around the World – Cultural Etiquette Articles. http://www.todaytranslations.com/