Greece: Appointment Alert!
From ExecutivePlanet.com
Appointment Alert!
The Greeks are known for their hospitality and generosity towards guests. They are not known for their timeliness. While this is changing in the business environment – visitors to Greece should be prepared for meetings to start late and run late. It is best to be prepared and to plan accordingly. As a foreigner, you will be expected to be on time for appointments.
Traffic in Greece, Athens in particular, can be horrendous and travel time between appointments, particularly across Athens, can be long and hot as many Greek cabs do not have air conditioning. If someone is late for an appointment, traffic and parking are often offered as the reason. Parking is very difficult to find, with sidewalks often doubling as parking spaces. The new subway system, put in for the 2004 Summer Olympics, can be much faster for getting from one side of the city to another than taking a taxi.
Appointments are not always necessary. If you are in the neighborhood of a business contact, it is acceptable to stop in and see if they are available.
<google>WIKI</google>
During business meetings you will be offered a Greek coffee, often accompanied by a small sweet of some kind. A typically Greek coffee resembles an espresso and can be quite strong. For a lighter version you may be offered an “Americano” which is made in a coffee machine.
Business hours vary. Some businesses (such as shops) still keep the traditional Greek hours of 8:30-1:00 and 4:00-7:00. Most offices will work from 8:30-4:30. This will vary according to the time of year. Government offices and agencies can close at 2.30.
When writing dates, Greeks write the day first, then the month, then the year. Greece is 7 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time.
Holidays
The Greeks celebrate two national days among other holidays that are religious in nature. Independence Day is celebrated on March 25 and “Oxi” (which means No) Day is celebrated on October 28. These are both one day holidays and all businesses will be closed.
<google>WIKI</google>
Oxi Day is the day that the Greeks said no to the Italians when they wanted free passage to invade Greece in WWII. Both Oxi and Independence days are celebrated with military parades – one in Athens, the other in the second largest city – Thesolaniki which is located in the north.
Summer Holidays
It is very difficult to accomplish anything in the summer months of July and August. In August most Greeks will take a holiday and many return home to their family village or island. The city of Athens is quiet and doing business is challenging. Life returns to normal again in September. The other large holiday time is around the Orthodox Easter.
