Business trip to Paris, France.
Paris is the most important center of all economic activities in France and working toward being the number one financial market on the continent. With its GDP reaching billions of Euros, Paris is also sometimes considered an engine of the global economy. Whether large French firms or multinational plants, all like to keep their headquarters in the city as it is conveniently close to major banks and key ministries. Though it is not a much dominant industrial center due to which the natural beauty of the city is still bright.
The world capital of haute couture (fashion) and luxe, Paris hosts many international organizations (like UNESCO & ICC) and trade fairs. Regarded as one of the 4 major global cities, the city is crawling with world class venues with excellent infrastructure and facilities. From the long list of its fairs and shows, some are Europlast Paris, LE CUIR A PARIS and Maison & Objet.
Read more...
Even with rapidly progressing privatization, the State continues to play an important role in the city’s economy. However, in recent decades the economy is shifting towards high value-added service industries (finance, IT services, etc.) and high-tech manufacturing (electronics, optics, aerospace, etc.), while transportation and telecommunications are also rapidly growing sectors. Therefore, Paris is an important choice in the world for direct investment, foreign companies and services.
Being in control of a few social codes is essential on a business trip to Paris. Be sure to check the business etiquettes section for that.
For more in-depth information I suggest you buy and read the "Global Business Etiquettes" book.
- Communication:
Use formal names and academic titles.
Business and private are not mixed.
French are not direct, they prefer subtlety to directness, but questions can be very direct.
Learn some key phrases French.
Never interrupt somebody.
Dress formal and conservative. - Meetings and negotiations:
When making appointments use the 24-hour clock time format to avoid misunderstandings.
Be very punctual, if you suspect you will late, call and explain the situation.
Never cancel a meeting at the last minute.
Shake hands with everyone upon arriving at the meeting and leaving.
Remain standing until invited to sit down or others do so.
First appointments are more socially oriented, French would like to know you a bit better at first.
A lot of time can be spent to getting to know you before the business conversation begins.
Agenda’s are not strictly followed and a meeting can take much longer then planned.
Keep your presentation as short as possible, to the point, accurate and precise, do not exaggerate.
Follow up a meeting with a letter with all agreements outlined. - Table manners:
If unsure on how to behave, mimic the behavior of others.
Wait until you are appointed a seat.
Avoid alcohol if possible, otherwise drink little. Wineglasses will be refilled when not full, so keep some lots of wine in your glass.
If making a toast, stand up.
Put a napkin on your lap, eat not too much but finish your plate.
Keep your hands above the table when eating.
After finishing your plate lay your knife and fork parallel on your plate with the handles to the right.
Thank your host at the end of the meal.
With a GDP of approximately € 1,65 trillion, France is the world’s sixth-largest economy. It has substantial agricultural resources, a large industrial base, and a highly skilled work force. A dynamic services sector accounts for an increasingly large share of economic activity and is responsible for nearly all job creation in recent years. Real GDP increased by 0,8 percent in 2008. According to different sources, projections for 2009 GDP would show a decrease of 1 to 1,5 percent.
France is a member of the G-8, the European Union, the World Trade Organization and the OECD, confirming its status as a leading economic player in the world.
France is the second-largest trading nation in Western Europe, after Germany. France had a record-setting € 49 billion deficit in calendar year 2008. Total trade for 2008 amounted to € 772 billion, 75.0% of which was with EU-24 countries.
Government economic policy aims to promote investment and national growth in a stable fiscal and monetary environment. Creating jobs and lowering the high unemployment rate through recovery-supportive policy has been a top priority. The unemployment rate in metropolitan France slipped to just over 7% in the fourth quarter of 2008. Unemployment is expected to increase in 2009.
Despite major reform and privatization over the past 15 years, the government continues to control a large share of economic activity: Government spending, at 53 % of GDP in 2007, is among the highest in the G-7. Regulation of labor and product markets is pervasive. The government continues to own shares in corporations in a range of sectors, including banking, energy production and distribution, automobiles, transportation, and telecommunications.
| Currency | EUR |
| Time zone | GMT +1 |
| Population | 65.073.482 |
| Area | 543.965 km² |
| Population density | 115/km2 |
| GDP | € 1128,88 billion |
| GDP per capita | € 17937 |
  | Product tip: Keep an eye on the size of your trolley Many luggage stores sell suitcases described as ’carry-on’, but these suitcases are sometimes larger than the size most airlines will accept. The safe maximum size is 114 cm, in the form of a 55 x 40 x 20 cm bag. Some airlines allow up to as much as 140 cm, but most do not. Not only do luggage stores and manufacturers seldom tell you if their bag is legally sized or not, but they also frequently mis-measure their bag. Their measurements generally are for the inside of the main compartment, and assume that any external pockets are of zero thickness, rather than stuffed full of things (which can easily add another inch or more) and ignore any external framing such as wheels and carry handle (which can also add another couple of inches). |
Address
Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport
BP 20101
95711, Roissy, France
Telephone: +33(0)1 4862 2280
Fax: +33(0)1 4862 0752
www.aeroportsdeparis.fr
Airport codes
IATA airport code: CDG
ICAO airport code: LFPG
Lost property
Paris-CDG terminals 1 and 3 :
Terminal 1, level Halls 5-6 near the entrance of CDGVAL.
Open from 8h30 to 12h and from 13h to 16h30
Paris-CDG other terminals :
Shopping & services area, between the terminals A, B, C and D (near La Poste).
Open from 9h00 to 12h and from 13h to 17h30
Terminal info
The airport has three terminals which are connected by a free shuttle bus.
There are actually more terminals because terminal 2 is divided six different buildings (numbered 2A-2F). This terminal is used for European flights.
Terminal 1 is used for international flights and terminal 3 (formerly T9) is used for charter flights and budget companies.
Connectivity from the airport
Train
Thanks to the high speed train TGV and regional trains of the RER, Paris Charles de Gaulle has excellent rail connections with Paris, the rest of France, and some other European capitals. The train station can be found in terminal 2. The departure times of the trains can be found on the information board at baggage handling.
Taxi
A taxi to the centre of Paris costs about €50.00 (day rate). There is also a limousine service that can bring you to the centre of Paris at a fixed rate. These limousines can be reserved through Aéroports Limousine (tel: +33(0)1 4071 8462).
Address
Paris Orly Airport
Orly Sud 103
94396 Orly Aérogare, France
Telephone: +33(0)1 4975 1515
Fax: +33(0)1 4975 5878
www.aeroportsdeparis.fr
Airport codes
IATA airport code: ORY
ICAO airport code: LFPO
Lost Property
Paris-Orly Ouest:
Gate A, arrival level.
Open from 5h30 to 23h30
Paris-Orly Sud:
Gate G.
Open from 6h00 to 22h45
Terminal map
Connectivity from the airport
Train
There are two shuttle trains that connect the airport with Paris’s fast regional subway system (RER). The ADP shuttle train goes to Gare d’Austerlitz (RER-line C to St. Michel, Invalides and Porte Maillot). The Orlyval shuttle connects the airport with the station Antony (RER-line B to Denfert-Rochereau, St. Michel, Châtelet-les-Halles and Charles de Gaulle Airport).
Taxi
The taxis are outside the Arrivals Hall of both terminals. The rate is approximately €25.00 to the center of Paris and the trip takes approximately 30 minutes outside peak times. Limousines with a driver are available though Aéroports Limousine Service (tel: +33(0)1 4071 8462).
Keep the following tips in mind if you need to order a taxi during your business trip to Paris.
There are more than 470 taxi stands in Paris, marked by blue signs with the word TAXI written in white. They are generally located on street corners, outside railway stations and official buildings, and at airports. Take the taxi at the head of the line, and be prepared to pay the driver in cash, since credit cards and checks are rarely accepted. Taxis can also be hailed in the streets.
| Company name | Telephone number |
| Alpha Taxis | +33 1 45858585 |
| TAXIS 75 | +33 1 78 41 65 05 |
| Taxis G7 | +33 (0)1 47 39 47 39 |
| Lama Taxis | 42572126 |
| ASTC | +33 (0)1-40-90-94-07 |
In the train you can just plug in your laptop and continue working.
More info you can find on www.thalys.com and www.eurostar.com.
Cheminée Restaurant Iranien
The restaurant is open daily between 12:00h. and 23:00h.
60 bis rue des entrepreneurs
75015 paris
Tél. 01 45 79 30 89
www.restaurant-cheminee.com (Only in French)
Thai Restaurant Silk & Spice
Open since 2003 at the heart of the Montorgueil quartier in Paris, Silk & Spice revisits the flavors of the Kingdom of Siam and adds an elegant hint of modernity.
6 rue Mandar
75002 Paris
Tel: +33(0)144882191
www.silkandspice.fr
Benkay restaurant
This gourmet Japanese restaurant is located inside a hotel and it is certainly one of the best Japanese restaurants in Paris. If you are on a business trip to Paris, this is a great restaurant for entertaining your hosts.
61, quai de Grenelle
75015 Paris
+33(0)1 40 58 21 26
www.novotel.com
Tips to save money on hotel costs during your business trip to Paris.
To get the best price for a good hotel room during your business trip to Paris it's not only important to compare the prices the hotel charges for a room, but also compare the prices of the different booking agencies.
This can save you, or your company, a lot of money!
- Go to this hotel listing for Paris.
- Select the "Check-in" and "Check-out" date.
- Select filters like: "Hotel brand", "Ratings", "Location" and "Price ranges".
- Select the hotel you like.
- You will get an overview of the prices from up to 24 booking sites
- Select the best offer in the list and book the room!
We have selected the following established business hotels for your convenience:
Hilton Paris La Défense
The stylish Hilton Paris La Défense hotel sits within the Center of New Industries and Technologies, one express rail stop and 7 minutes from the Arc de Triomphe.
2 place de la Defense
CNIT - BP 210, Paris, France 92053
Tel: 33-1-4692-1010
More info about Hilton Hotel Paris La Défense
Best Western Bretagne Montparnasse
For the business traveller, the Best Western Bretagne Montparnasse Paris Hotel’s central location offers access to Paris’s commercial hub and main business locations which is very convenient during a busy business trip.
33 Rue Raymond Losserand
Paris, FR-75014
Phone: 33 1 45385259
More info about Best Western Bretagne Montparnasse
Hotel Lotti
Since the begining of the 20th century the luxury hotel Lotti in Paris is much more than a prestigious address. It is the embodiment of a sense of hospitality in a hotel where luxury blends magnificently with discretion.
7 rue de Castiglione
75001 Paris
Tél : +33 1 42 60 60 62
More info about Hotel Lotti Paris
Paris is a shopper’s dream and the haut monde will feel quite at home in the Haute Couture shops found on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne. Top quality shoes, bags, and leather goods are the province of Rue du Cherche-Midi and rue de Grenelle in the 6th. Real trend-setting fashions may be seen in the shops on Rue Etienne Marcel and Place des Victoires.
Some of the better-known galleria of Haute Couture and jewelry include Cartier, Celine, Chanel, Chaumet, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Piaget, Yves Saint Laurent, and Van Cleef & Arpels.
Unfortunately, the Champs-Elysées, in earlier days the bastion of fashion and class, has degenerated into a neon strip of fast food chains, banks, airline offices, malls, and cinemas aimed squarely at the tourists. Exceptions to this trend are the Guerlain Parfumerie, with its turn-of-the century elegance and its curved staircase, as well as the neo-classical Virgin Megastore, a mammoth retail haven for recorded music.
Les Halles offers a subterranean shopping center with more than 180 stores, connected by a maze of escalators and mall-walks guaranteed to give anyone a headache. If you can survive the nightmare, it is possible to find low-budget copies of Parisian-chic fashions and other trendy clothes here.
Montmartre is talked about by Parisians the way New Yorkers talk about the village: It’s not what it used to be, It’s like Disneyland, the artists can’t afford to live here anymore, too many tourists etc.
There is some truth these opinions, but there are two ways of approaching this incredibly unique village within the metropolis. The first is to follow the herd instinct and stampede your way up the famous hill, take a picture of yourself on the steps of the basilica, buy an overpriced crepe at the Place du Tertre, get conned into having your portrait sketched, and walk back down clutching newly bought key-rings, postcards, gaudy T-shirts feeling a little mystified about what all the fuss is about.
At the bottom of the hill is the Boulevard de Clichy which is lined with bars, kebab shops, and more sex shops and peep-shows than you can possibly pretend you are not looking at. If you think of a triangle, consider the base of it to be the section of Blvd. de Clichy and Blvd. de Rochechouart between the metro stations Blanche and Anvers. The tip of the triangle would be the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur. The area between these three points is roughly the area of interest.
Make sure your health care insurance is sufficiently covered.
Maybe this is already covered in your regular health care insurance but often you will need to cover this with the travel insurance. Also a good travel insurance should cover the costs of travel for a relative in case of seriously illness or an accident.
The business trip travel insurance should also cover the costs of search, rescue and repatriation.
When you go on business trips on a regular basis, the easiest way to get insured is with an annual multi-trip insurance.
Keep in mind that you can also use this insurance for your pleasure trips so don`t forget to include to insure your leisure activities.
| Service | Telephone |
| Medical help/SAMU: | 15 |
| Police/Police Nationale: | 17 |
| Fire & accident/Sapeurs Pompiers: | 18 |
| SOS - all services (calling from a mobile): | 112 |
There is no guarantee that any English will be spoken on any of these emergency and helpline telephone numbers.
In case of a medical emergency:
When you are in Paris and you are in need of medical help you can go to the American Hospital of Paris - 63 boulevard Victor Hugo - 92200 Neuilly-sur-SeineTelephone: 33 (0)1 46 41 25 25 - Fax: 33 (0)1 46 24 49 38
French is a descendant of the Latin language of the Roman Empire, as are national languages such as Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Romanian and minority languages ranging from Catalan to Neapolitan and many more. Its development was also influenced by the native Celtic languages of Roman Gaul and by the Germanic language of the post-Roman Frankish invaders.
In history most French refused to speak any English. Nowadays the yournger generation speaks quit good English.
Some French phrases can always come in hand....
| How are you? | Comment ça va? |
| I’m fine, thanks. And you? | Ça va bien, merci. Et vous? |
| What’s your name? | Comment est-ce que vous vous appelez? |
| My name is ... | Je m’appelle ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Je suis enchanté(e) |
| Good day | Bonjour |
| Good evening | Bonsoir |
| Good night | Bonne nuit |
| Goodbye | Au revoir / À bientôt |
| Have a nice day | Bonne journée ! |
| Bon appetit | Bon appétit ! |
| Cheers/Good health! | À votre santé ! |
| I don’t understand | Je ne comprends pas |
| Please write it down | Pourriez-vous me l’écrire ? |
| Excuse me | Excusez-moi ! |
| How much is this? | Ça coûte combien ? |
| Thank you | Merci beaucoup |
| You’re welcome | Je vous en prie |
| Where’s the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ? |
| How do you say ... in French? | Comment dit-on ... en français ? |
| Yes / No | Oui / Non |
  |   |
