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Singapore is built, located, designed and customised to facilitate
the activities of commerce, trade and finance.
From the moment you buckle the seatbelt within the unrivalled comforts
of your Singapore Airlines plane, to when you land in the award-winning
Changi Airport, to the time you wrap up your ran-without-a-snitch
business conference - all your business needs will be met, and more.
How to get there
Singapore, being a thriving financial centre for the region,
is connected to the rest of the world by most international airlines.
By air, travel from Australia is about a six- to seven-hour flight,
while from India or China it's at least four hours. From Europe
at least 13 hours, while visitors from the US need approximately
24 hours.
The country's only airport, the Changi International, has been
the recipient of prestigious awards year after year from business
travel magazines. Going through customs, getting your luggage
and hopping into a cab usually takes no more than thirty minutes.
With lots of duty-free shopping, and an MRT linking the airport
to the city centre under construction, the airport is the last
word in convenience.
Where to stay
A question answered for the most part by your business needs.
For those who wish to be in close proximity to the airport, check
into Le Meridien Changi. Alternatively, stay near the Central
Business District - where there's much more happening after-hours.
All the good hotels here offer impeccable business services, such
as computers, internet connection, faxes, special seminar rooms
and lunch and dinner reception packages.
Hotels right in the middle of the business district, near the
financial hub of Raffles Place and Shenton Way, are the Westin
Stamford and the elegant and historic Raffles Hotel. Nearby, right
next to Suntec City (Singapore's "vertical Sillicon Valley")
and the Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre,
are a group of ultra-modern, ultra-luxurious hotels - the Ritz-Carlton,
the Conrad, the Pan Pacific, the Marina Mandarin and the Oriental.
You may also choose to stay along or near the perenially popular
Orchard Road, where there are lots of handy eating places, bars
and shopping centres. There's the Marriot, the Mandarin, the Shangri-La,
the Meritus Negara, the Regent, the Fours Seasons, to name a few.
RECOMMENDED BUSINESS HOTELS
How to get about
If you need to travel moderately long distances in a short amount
of time, taxis are the most convenient. You'll see that there
are loads of taxis in Singapore; generally you can hail a cab
at convenient spots by the road, but in the busier parts in town
you will have to get into designated queues. If you're in a real
hurry, and the queues are long (a common occurrence during peak
commuting hours), you can call for a taxi, at an extra charge.
Taking a taxi, while more expensive than riding on the bus or
MRT, is still moderately cheap compared to cities like London
or New York. Take note, however, of the extra charges that are
levied during the morning and evening rush hours, when you get
into the Central Business District, or when you travel after midnight
- the amount you have to pay may be significantly more than the
amount on the taxi meter.
Sometimes, during rush hour, taking the MRT could actually be
the quckest way to get to your destination. Singapore's Mass Rapid
Transit will help you avoid the long queues, the traffic jams
and the busy dial tone you get when you call the taxi company.
What to wear
Business wear in Singapore is generally more casual than that
in Tokyo or Hong Kong. Because of the climate, men avoid wearing
coats or jackets, and three-piece suits are almost unheard of.
It's accepted to just wear a shirt, tie and pants for most business
occasions. The dress code for women is usually a smart suit -
though again, there's rarely a need to look too formal.
What language to speak
English, being the official language, is widely spoken and is
definitely the language of commerce. Some foreigners however have
trouble grappling with Singlish - what the locals affectionately
call the unique mesh of English, Malay and Chinese that is spoken
here. It helps if you can pick up a few Mandarin, Malay or even
Singlish phrases. The effort will warm you to most Singaporeans
immediately.
What business customs to learn
Singapore has become highly Westernised, so there are few antiquated
business customs or traditions to observe. Exceptions are to always
present your business cards with both hands and avoid having your
business cards in black - that's an inauspicious colour to the
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