Etiquette in Austria

Home > International Etiquette Tips  > Etiquette in Europe > Etiquette in Austria

Austria is a landlocked European country of roughly 8.5 million people.

The official language is German. Many Austrians study French and Italian and there are usually English speakers in major cities and large multinational corporations.

The government is a federal semi-presidential republic. The head of state is the Federal President, elected by popular vote. The chairman of the Federal Government is the Federal Chancellor, who is appointed by the president.

Approximately 64% of the population are Roman Catholic. The largest minority religion is Lutheran, although many other religions are practiced in Austria.

The currency is the Euro.

Entertaining Etiquette

Austrians keep a strict division between work and play. While it is okay to invite your counterpart to dinner, don’t be surprised if they decline while you are still under negotiations.

Business breakfasts are uncommon and while a typical lunch lasts 30 minutes, a business lunch may be extended.

Any invitation to dinner will likely be to a restaurant. If you are invited to someone’s home, consider it an honor. Dress well and bring a gift, preferably from your home country.

Austrians tend to be serious about coffee and wine. Good topics of conversation include Austrian culture, cuisine, history, and landscapes. While it may feel like small talk, present yourself intelligently as your competence is being judged.

Our large, non-profit educational group for marketing executives looked for someone knowledgeable on the topic of business etiquette and one name kept rising to the top, Cynthia Lett. Her talk was amazing. Since we were limited by time, she focused on the critical aspects of business interactions. Cynthia is a tremendous resource for any company or organization looking for a protocol course.

Andrew Rose

Director of Marketing and Business Development Naden/Lean, LLC

I hired Cynthia to become an etiquette consultant. She was knowledgeable on every subject and I learned quite a but about the business from her. Many years later she continues to be a resource to me.

Lisa M. Grotts

The AML Group, San Francisco, CA

I can truly say without a doubt, Cynthia Lett consistently delivers quality and professionalism as an international expert in etiquette and protocol. I highly recommend The Lett Group to anyone wanting to get the right information from the very best!

Irene Zucker

President VerbaCom® Executive Development

Cynthia Lett was the top-rated speaker at several international Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) events. She possesses vast knowledge and practical experience in international protocol and etiquette. As a speaker, Cynthia is wonderful at engaging an audience with real examples and practical tools for helping them deal with intercultural protocol and etiquette situations. I would highly recommend her for educational events for any group.

Edward Potter

Association Director Association Management Group, McLean, VA

Cynthia is one of the top business etiquette professionals in the DC area. I recommend Cynthia Lett for your business etiquette needs.

Marva Goldsmith

President & Chief Image Officer

Cynthia is the consummate etiquette and protocol professional. She founded ISPEP to develop and enhance the standards of our profession because she cares so deeply about what we do and the quality of service clients receive.

Hilka Klinkenberg

 Founder/President