Etiquette in Hungary

Hungary is a landlocked nation in Central Europe with a population of almost 10 million people.

Most citizens speak Hungarian, however you may also hear German, Slovak, Croatian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Serbian and Slovenian.

Hungary has been a democratic parliamentary republic since 1989. A President is elected every five years, although the powers of this position are mostly ceremonial. The President nominates a Prime Minister who is elected by parliament to head the executive branch.

Approximately 40% of the Hungarians identify as Catholics, while more than 15% identify as non-religious. Other widely represented religions include Calvinism and Lutheran.

The currency used in Hungary is the Forint, denoted by ‘Ft’. The Hungarian government has announced intentions to adopt the Euro, however, the changeover has not yet taken place.

Dining & Entertaining Etiquette

Hungarians are famous for their incredible hospitality. Regardless of who is hosting a meal, you will have to fight with your Hungarian counterparts to pay the bill.

Deals in Hungary happen over time, and usually will not be finalized without a decent amount of eating, drinking, and entertainment. However, it is important to note that when conducting business in Hungary, don’t expect to do so over a meal. Hungarians consider meals a social occasion. Dinners can last especially long, as restaurants often provide a full night of music or entertainment.

Once a contract is signed, consider throwing a cocktail party at a prestigious hotel to mark the occasion.

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