New York Corporate Dinner – What’s the Etiquette?
There are certain destinations around the world that are known as business hubs and these are often glamorous and exciting cities that every entrepreneur dreams of visiting. New York is one of the main business hubs in the world and somewhere that is known as a place where dreams are made. In addition to Wall Street, The Big Apple is a hub for many different industries and could be a superb and exciting place to host an important business meeting.
Hosting a Lunch/Dinner Meeting
If you decide to host an important business meeting in a city like New York, you do not simply hire an office somewhere. As one of the busiest and most exciting cities in the world, you should host your meeting over a business lunch or dinner and you are certainly spoiled for choice in NYC. People tend to bond over food, so a great meal could be a great way to impress, strengthen relationships and come to agreements.
Where You Should Go
Not only is New York a business hub, but it is also a food Mecca with endless choices of restaurants to choose from and this can make it hard to choose. Silverdoor, experts in New York serviced apartments, suggest a few spots that are worth looking into. These include the Michelin-starred formal French restaurant in upper-eastern Manhattan, Rainbow Room for its breathtaking views of NYC’s iconic skyline and TBar, which is an old-school American diner-style establishment located near 73rd Street.
Make a Reservation
In a city like New York, you need to make reservations if you want to get a table at one of the many top restaurants as getting turned away certainly won’t be a good look. If you are the one hosting the meeting then you should be the one to book, but if you are unfamiliar with NYC then it is perfectly reasonable to ask for restaurant suggestions, especially if you are meeting with people that know the city well.
Punctuality & Ordering
If you are the one hosting the meeting, you need to make sure that you are the first person to arrive so always give yourself plenty of time to arrive and get settled so that you can welcome them with confidence. In terms of ordering, you should never decide anything for your associates and always let them order before you. If they are unsure of what to order then you could offer a suggestion or ask a waiter what they would recommend.
Bill & Tips
If you were the one to invite others to the meeting, then you should always be the one to pick up the bill so be aware of this ahead of time. If they offer to contribute, you can counter once but if they insist on contributing then do not start a disagreement with them and instead thank them. In terms of tips, you should cover the cost and in NYC it is usually around 15-20%. How much to pay will depend on the level of service that you receive (higher-end places around 20% is the norm).
Hopefully, this post will give you a few ideas for conducting a business meeting in New York. The Big Apple is a business hub and one of the most electric cities in the world, so it can be a great place for a meeting but it is important that you know the etiquette and how to impress your guests.
