Successful Entertaining in Russia

Successful Entertaining in Russia

It is difficult to know what to expect when invited out to lunch or dinner in Russia.

The event could simply be a relationship building exercise where little if any actual business is discussed but on the other hand, you can find yourself in very detailed negotiations, with pressure being applied to complete a deal.

Whatever issues are discussed, the meal is very likely to be a fairly lavish and lengthy affair with more than enough food to keep you going for the rest of the day. Try to eat heartily and express your appreciation of the food on offer, as this reflects well on the host.

Russia has always had a reputation for being a hard drinking culture and this has traditionally been true. Many Russians insist that heavy drinking sessions at business dinners are becoming a thing of the past, but you have to expect that a good deal of strong alcohol is likely to be consumed — very often during the elaborate toasting sessions that take place. Favourite drinks are vodka and Russian champagne, although beer and wine are now more common than a few years ago.

Service charges are invariably added to the bill but it is customary to leave an additional tip of around 10%.

Author

This country-specific business culture profile was written by Keith Warburton who is the founder of the cultural awareness training consultancy Global Business Culture. 

Global Business culture is a leading training provider in the fields of cross-cultural communication and global virtual team working.  We provide training to global corporations in live classroom-based formats, through webinars and also through our cultural awareness digital learning hub, Global Business Compass.

This World Business Culture profile is designed as an introduction to business culture in Russia only and a more detailed understanding needs a more in-depth exploration which we can provide through our training and consultancy services.