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Country Commercial Guides FY 2000: Austria Report prepared by U.S. Embassy Vienna, released July 1999 Note*

CHAPTER IX. BUSINESS TRAVEL

A. Business Customs

Business practice and etiquette is basically the same in Austria and America; the major difference is the relative formal atmosphere in which business activities generally take place in Austria. For example, when making appointments with prospective buyers or clients, we recommend you make initial contact well in advance, either in writing or by phone, and offer to meet on the premises of the person in question. Another example of Austrian formality is the widespread use of titles, be they in the form of a university degree or a position in a firm or in the government. The most common are "Doktor" (a university degree similar to the US doctorate), "Magister" (a university degree similar to the US master of arts), and "Diplom Ingenieur" (a university degree similar to the U.S. master of science).

Correspondence and visits play a significant role in the conduct of business in Austria. Clarity and continuity in communications are very important. Prompt handling of correspondence is very much appreciated and helps to compensate for the distance between the two countries. When possible, offers and documentation should be in German, although many businesspeople can work in English. Marketing and sales policies should be oriented toward establishing lasting business relationships.

Austrians are generally well disposed toward Americans. Showing understanding for the Austrian way of doing things will prove rewarding.

U.S. business travelers are encouraged to obtain a copy of the "Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts: Guide for Business Representatives" available for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402; Tel.: (202) 512-1800; Fax: (202) 512-2250. Business travelers to Austria seeking appointments with U.S. Embassy Vienna officials should contact the Commercial Section in advance. The Commercial Section can be reached by telephone at (43 1)313 39-2243, fax at (43 1) 310 69 17 or E-mail at vienna.office.box@mail.doc.gov

B. Travel Advisory and Visas

There are no travel advisories specifically for Austria, nor are visas necessary for visits to Austria lasting less than three months. Non-EU citizens will require a residence permit for longer stays.

C. Holidays

The following holidays will be observed in Austria from October 1, 1999, to December 31, 2000:

October 26, 1999	Tuesday	National Day
November 1, 1999	Monday	All Saint's Day
December 8, 1999	Wednesday	Immaculate Conception
December 25, 1999	Saturday	Christmas Day
December 26, 1999	Sunday	St. Stephen's Day
January 1, 2000	Saturday	New Year's Day
January 6, 2000	Thursday	Epiphany
April 24, 2000	Monday	Easter
May 1, 2000	Monday	Labor Day
June 1, 2000	Thursday	Ascension Day
June 12, 2000	Monday	Whit Monday
June 22, 2000	Thursday	Corpus Christi Day
August 15, 2000	Tuesday	Assumption Day
October 26, 2000	Thursday	National Day
November 1, 2000	Wednesday	All Saint's Day
December 8, 2000	Friday	Immaculate Conception
December 25, 2000	Monday	Christmas Day
December 26, 2000	Tuesday	St. Stephen's Day

Business visitors should note that the Austrian holiday season is in July and August, and that many decision makers take extended vacations during that time -- sometimes four weeks or more. Business visits or events are not recommended during these two months. Many offices and businesses close Friday afternoons, reflecting the widely implemented 38.5 hour work week.

D. Business Infrastructure

Transportation: Direct flights connect Vienna to several U.S. cities. Austria's modern highways link most cities, and numerous border crossings into neighboring countries are easily accessible (although delays should be anticipated crossing non-EU borders). Air travel between major cities in Austria and in the region is available, and overland travel by train or bus, also to neighboring countries, is comfortable and reliable.

Taxi service is readily available, but they are generally requested by telephone or hired at designated taxi-stands. It is difficult to hail cabs in the street. Major Austrian cities have efficient public transportation systems, including buses, subways, and streetcars. Car rental agencies are located in major cities, with most major U.S. rental agencies represented.

Language & Communications: Austria's official language is German. Though many business people are able to communicate in English, the importance of German-language trade literature, catalogs, and instructions for the use and servicing of products cannot be overemphasized. The agent or local representative in Austria who has such material is in a far better competitive position than one who must show prospective customers trade literature in English.

Most larger commercial and industrial enterprises, especially those specializing in international trade, can correspond in English, French, and one or more Slavic languages, in addition to German.

Austria has efficient and reliable postal and telephone services. Fax machines are widely used; E-mail is less commonly used than in the United States, but is growing rapidly.

Accommodations and Food: Business accommodations are readily available, provided by a wide variety of hotels and guest houses throughout the country. In the tourist high seasons, there may be difficulties finding lodgings on short notice in Vienna and Salzburg. The food is excellent, with a variety to suit all tastes. Prices vary, ranging from the homey 'Gasthaus', which offers local dishes at affordable prices, to the elegant restaurants of five-star hotels. Austrian tap water is generally safe to drink; in fact, the tap water in Vienna has its sources from mountain springs and tastes delicious.

A word on entertainment in Vienna: Do not expect your contacts in Vienna to be able to easily acquire tickets to the Opera, the Spanish Riding School or the Vienna Boys Choir. These world famous institutions sell the bulk of their tickets to tour operators and it is often easier to arrange for tickets in New York or elsewhere before your arrival in Vienna. Also, check the calendar carefully, because none of these attractions performs year-round.