Business trip to Warsaw, Poland.
Warsaw is home to many national institutions and government agencies and also to many domestic and international companies. Foreign investors financial participation in the city’s development was estimated in 2002 at over 650 million Euro. Warsaw produces 12% of Poland’s national income which, per capita, is estimated at around 302% of the Polish average. The nominal GDP per capita in Warsaw was about € 15.900 in 2005.
Warsaw leads the region of Central Europe in foreign investment and in 2006, GDP growth met expectations with a level of 6%. It also has one of the fastest growing economies, with GDP growth at 6,5% in 2007 and 6% in the first quarter of this year.
Coinciding with this the unemployment rate is one of the lowest in Poland, not exceeding 3%, according to the official figures. The city itself collects around 8.740.882.000 złotys (€ 1.971.331.078) in taxes and direct government grants.
Read more...After World War II Warsaw underwent a major reconstruction. The communist authorities decided that the city would become a major industrial centre. Many large factories were built in the city and its environment. The largest were the Huta Warszawa Steel Works and two large car factories.
From the time the communist economy deteriorated, these factories lost importance and most of them went bankrupt after 1989. Today, the Arcelor Warszawa Steel Mill (formerly Huta Warszawa) is the only major factory remaining. Also the FSO car factory produces cars mostly for export.
The number of state-owned enterprises continues to lower while the number of companies operating with foreign capital grows. The largest foreign investors are Daewoo, Coca-Cola Amatil and Metro AG. Warsaw has the largest percentage of electronics and high-tech industry in Poland and the growing consumer market greatly supports the development of the food-processing industry.
For more in-depth information I suggest you buy and read the "Global Business Etiquettes" book.
- Communication:
Use formal names, professional and academic titles. Titles are important!
Poles are direct but diplomatic.
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.
A lot of time is spent to getting to know you before the business conversation begins.
Agenda’s are not strictly followed and can change just before the meeting starts.
First appointments are more socially oriented, Poles would like to know you a bit better at first.
Keep your presentation as short as possible, to the point, accurate and precise, do not exaggerate.
Follow up a meeting with a letter or email 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. This is easier said then done. In every toast you are expected to empty your Wodka glass.
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.
Poland constitutes a market of just over of 38 million people located in the heart of central Europe, sharing borders with both “new” EU and “old” EU-15 countries and markets to the East with countries like Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Poland’s integration into the European Union (EU) has been a gradual process.
The developments in the Polish economy from the time Poland entered to the European Union were influenced to a large extent by institutional and regulatory reforms undertaken. Adoption of EU legislation allowed Poland to reform the way in which its economy is regulated and restrict government intervention in the private sector. Adaptations in areas such as financial markets, company and competition law, accounting, and intellectual property rights have created a better business environment and have greatly led to economic growth.
Poland plans to eventually adopt the Euro within the next few years which will give a boost to the integration process. The country’s entrance to the Schengen free transit zone in 2007 eliminated all remaining border checks along its intra-EU frontiers. Poland is also an operative member of the NATO, upgrading its armed forces accordingly and taking part in joint peacekeeping activities in the region and elsewhere in the world. As of the end of 2008, Poland has ended military deployment in Iraq, but is maintaining its more recent deployment of troops in Afghanistan.
Poland’s GDP growth rate slowed somewhat in 2008 to a rate of just under 5% as compared to the robust 6,7% growth rate for 2007. Recent GDP projections for 2009 have been revised downward to about 2%. Even this more moderate prediction, however, provides some optimism when compared to the mainly negative GDP forecasts for the majority of the European Union’s 27 member states. The EU Commission recently issued a revised economic forecast showing European Union gross domestic product would contract by 1.8% in 2009.
The global economic recession has ultimately slowed Poland’s 17 straight years of economic expansion. Their rosy economic recent history was fueled by high export output, individual consumption and increased business investment. In 2009 exports from Poland slowed down but economic growth was still achieved. Individual consumption will probably remain stable due to the relatively low unemployment rate and continued business investment.
Some facts:| Currency | Zloty (PLN) |
| Time zone | GMT +1 |
| Population | 38.130.302 |
| Area | 312.679 km2 |
| Population density | 122/km2 |
| GDP | € 407.010.000.000 |
| GDP/per capita | € 10.559 |
  | 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
Port Lotniczy im. Fryderyka Chopina
Ulica Zwirki í Wigury 1
00 906 Warszawa
Poland
Telephone: +48(0)22 650 1000
Fax: +48(0)22 650 3981
Email: pr@polish-airports.com
www.lotnisko-chopina.pl
Airport codes
IATA airport code: WAW
ICAO airport code: EPWA
Lost property
If on the arrival in Warsaw you realise that your baggage is lost, you should report it at one of the lost baggage offices in the Arrival Hall of Terminal 1:
Warsaw Airport Services (WAS), for the following airlines: British Airways, KLM, EL AL, Sund’or, Alitalia, Swiss, Iberia,,Vueling, SAS, Finnair, Jet Air, AirBaltic, AirFrance, Wizz, Nerwegian, Germanwings, Corendon Airlines, Jet 4 You, Flystar Astreus, Bulgarian Air Charter, Cabo Verde Airlines, Aer Lingus, Eurocypria, Danube Wings/VIP Wings, Travel Service/Smart Wings, Tunisair, Lotus Air, Ukraine International, Sky Airlines, Freebird Airlines, Onurair.
Telephone: +48 22 650 43 85
LOT Services (LS), for the following airlines: Aegan, Aeroflot, Aerosvit, Air Cairo, Air Memphies, Adria Airways, AMC Aviation, Atlas Blue, Aurela, Austrian Airlines, Balkan Holidays, Belavia, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Czech Airlines, Koral Blue, LOT, Lufthansa, Malev, Nouvelair, SATA International, Sprintair, Sun Express, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines.
Telephone: +48 22 650 41 22
Terminal map
Connectivity from the airport
Bus
Between the terminal and the parking garage there is a bus station, bus lines 175 and 188 go to the center of Warsaw, excluding the train station and the old city, travel time is approximately 30 minutes. There are express buses from Intercity Polski Express to more than 30 destinations in Poland.
Taxi
Taxis are in front of the Arrivals Hall. In the Hall you are frequently approached by unofficial tax drivers, the airport warns against going with them. There are three taxi companies that may take passengers to and from the airport: Merc Taxi (tel: +48(0)22 677 77 77), MPT Radio Taxi (tel: +48(0)22 9191) and Sawa Taxi (tel: +48(0)22 644 44 44).
Keep the following tips in mind if you need to order a taxi during your business trip to Warsaw.
It is advisable to book a taxi by telephone, or to ask the price first if you hail it in the street.
Maximum Taxi prices:
Initial charge - 6 PLN
Day rate - 3 PLN/km
Night and holiday rate - 4,50 PLN/km
Day suburban rate - 6 PLN/km
Night suburban and holiday rate - 7 PLN/km
1 hour stopover - 40 PLN
| Company name | Phone number |
| Bayer Taxi | 0 22 196 96 |
| Euro Lux Taxi | 0 22 196 62 |
| Halo Taxi | 0 22 196 23 |
| Nowa Taxi | 0 22 196 87 |
| Tele Taxi | 0 22 196 27 |
Boathouse
Even though it is a 10 minute drive from City Center, sitting in our summer garden, surrounded with greenery, delecting dishes from our Mediterranean menu, you will understand why Boathouse is known as Warsaw’s greatest escape.
Wal Miedzeszynski 389A, Warsaw
Tel: (022) 616 3223
www.boathouse.pl
Dom Polski Restaurant
Located on the other side of the Vistula in Saska Kepa, this restaurant, set in a large house, serves refined Polish food in a more formal setting, perfect for a group of visitors. Reservations suggested. If you are on a business trip to Warsaw, this is a great restaurant for entertaining your hosts.
Ulica Francuska 11, Warsaw
Tel: +48 (022) 616 - 24 - 32
www.restauracjadompolski.pl
The Oriental Restaurant
This place serves generous portions of some of the best Asian food in Warsaw. Try the exquisite, subtle soups or the Sunday-morning brunch (a fresh buffet of Thai and other Asian dishes). Open Monday and Saturday for dinner only, Tuesday-Friday for lunch and dinner.
Ulica Prusa 2
Warsaw, Poland
Phone: 22-657-6100
www.sheraton.pl
Tips to save money on hotel costs during your business trip to Warsaw.
To get the best price for a good hotel room during your business trip to Warsaw 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 Warsaw.
- 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:
Sheraton Warsaw Hotel
Located in the heart of the city, Warsaw’s finest luxury property is the first hotel on the historic Plac Trzech Krzyży (Three Cross Square), which is close to the Polish Parliament, the diplomatic district, the enchanting Łazienki Park, and fabulous cafés and bars of Warsaw. The hotel has a decent fitness center and six places to dine and drink either formally or casually which is very convenient during a busy business trip.
Ul. B. Prusa
00 493 Warsaw
Tel: (48)(22) 450 6100
More info about Sheraton Warsaw Hotel
Radissson SAS Hotel
Radissson SAS is ideally located in the heart of Warsaw, steps away from Palace of Culture and Science, historic Old Town and the Royal Castle, just 6 km away from the airport and 500 m from Central Railway Station.
Ulica Grzybowska 24
Tel: (022) 321 8888
More info about Radissson SAS Centrum Hotel
Le Royal Meridien Bristol
Situated on Warsaw’s fashionable “Royal Route,” the road that leads through the historical area of the city, Le Méridien Bristol, Warsaw overlooks the Presidential Palace and neighbours some of the capital city’s finest architecture, including magnificent palaces, churches, and statues.
Ulica Krakowskie Przedmiescie 42/44
Tel: (022) 551 1000.
More info about Le Royal Meridien Bristol Hotel
Probably the best spot in Warsaw for souvenir shopping is in the Old Town, among the artists’ stalls and colourful facades. The Cepelia stores are really worth a visit for Polish handiwork such as lace, dolls, amber and silver jewelery and leather goods. Here you will find the perfect gifts for your loved ones when your return from a business trip to Warsaw.
To pick up some splendid Boleslawiec pottery, visit the outlet on Ulica Marszałkowska 99/101. Desa Unicum shops specialize in art and antiques and a common sence shopper can pick up some choice pieces here; the most centrally localted store is at Old Town Square 4/6.
The main shopping streets are the beautifully restored Ulica Chmielna, elegant Nowy Świat, Ulica Marszalkowska and Aleje Jerozolimskie.
When you have some time left to see the city, I would suggest the following sight:
Wilanów Palace
Opening hours: Palace open Mon, Wed and Sat 0930-1830, Tues, Thurs and Fri 0930-1630, Sun 1030-1830 (May-mid Sep); Mon and Wed-Sat 0930-1630, Sun 1030-1630 (mid Sep-May); park open daily 0900 until sunset.
In the mid 1600s, King Jan III Sobieski ordered Augustyn Locci to build the baroque palace and garden of Wilanów as his summer residence. You find here Also the Muzeum Plakatu w Wilanowie (Poster Museum at Wilanow).
Entrance to the palace requires a guide, for a group of one to 35 people, although the park is open to unaccompanied visitors.
Ulica Wiertnicza 1, Warsaw
Tel: (022) 842 8101
www.wilanow-palac.art.pl
Free admission to the park; there is a charge for Palace on the Water and for the Orangerie. In the Lazienki Park you can find the Palac Na Wyspie (Palace on the Water) which is best viewed from near the monument to Jan Sobiewski, on the bridge where Ulica Agrykola crosses the water, Zamek Ujazdowski (Ujazdowski Castle) now houses the Centre of Contemporary Art, Palac Belweder (Belvedere Palace). On warm summer days, rowing boats offer short cruises around the park’s lake. Cycling is banned in the park. If you have enough time for sightseeing during your business trip to Warsaw and the weather allows it, I would recommended you to visit the park.
Opening hours: Most museums are open Tues-Sun 9:00-16:00; park open daily from 8:00 until sunset.
Agrykola 1, Warsaw<, Tel: (022) 625 7944
www.lazienki-krolewskie.pl (Website is not yet available in English)
Palace of Culture
Poles either love it or hate it. To others it is a building that is just enormous. It just is a spectacular structure and offers the best view in Warsaw. The towering Palace was built in the 1950’s as a gift from Stalin to the Polish nation and stands 234 metres high with 3.288 rooms including three theatres, a swimming pool, a museum and a congress hall for 3.000 people.
Plac Defilad
Warszawa 00-110 Poland
+48 22 9431 (Tourist Information)
Open Hours: 9:00-18:00 daily
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.
From fixed phones:
999: Ambulance
998: Fire Brigade
997: Police
981: Road Assistance
986: Municipal Police
Using mobile phones: remember to dial the local code before the number, for example:22 - 997 to call the police in Warsaw. Emergency calls from phone boxes are free of charge.
If you do not know the local code, dial the general emergency number for mobile phones: 112. The operator will request the appropriate emergency unit.
We recommend using direct emergency numbers in the case of danger (997, 999, 998) because in some areas the general emergency number (112) still does not work properly.
For English-speaking medical help, consult the American or British Embassy. They keep lists of doctors who can assist foreigners, and they will also have information on private medical clinics for foreigners.
Polish is a West Slavic language and the official language of Poland. Its written standard is the Polish alphabet which corresponds basically to the Latin alphabet with a few additions. Polish-speakers use the language in a uniform manner throughout most of Poland.
Despite the pressure of non-Polish administrations in Poland which often have attempted to suppress the Polish language, a rich literature has developed over the centuries and the language is currently the largest in terms of speakers of the West Slavic group. It is also the second most spoken Slavic language, after Russian.
Although in business people speak English, some Latvian phrases can always come in hand....
| How are you? | Jak się Pan(i) miewa? |
| I’m fine, thanks. And you? | Bardzo dobrze, dziękuję. A Pan(i)? |
| My name is ... | Nazywam się ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Miło mi Pan(i)ą poznać |
| Good morning | Dzień dobry |
| Good afternoon | Dzień dobry |
| Good evening | Dobry wieczór |
| Good night | Dobranoc |
| Goodbye | Do widzenia |
| Have a nice day | Miłego dnia! |
| I don’t understand | Nie rozumiem |
| Please write it down | Czy mógłby Pan(i) to napisać? |
| Excuse me/Sorry | Przepraszam! |
| How much is this? | Ile to kosztuje? |
| Thank you | Dziękuję |
| Where’s the toilet? | Gdzie jest toaleta? |
| How do you say ... in Polish? | Jak się mówi...po polsku? |
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www.legendsbar.pl
Regards
Graham Roose