SWITZERLAND
Business/social hints
Appointments: must be made in advance.
Attire for business meetings: men should wear a suit and tie, women a two-piece suit or equivalent and hosiery.
Etiquette: it is polite to shake hands on meeting and taking leave.
Language: all executives are bilingual or trilingual, many speak English.
Laws: by law a 15% service charge is included in restaurants, hotels and taxis. The minimum drinking age is 16 (beer, wine & cider), and 18 (spirits, liquers).
Invitations: Be punctual and dress as for business meetings.
Local time: GMT+2 (from 25 Oct to 27 Mar GMT+1).
Capital: Berne.
Language: German, French, Italian and Romansh.
Electricity: 220VAC50Hz.
Int. direct dialling code: 41.
Driving: national licence required. Minimum driving age 18.
Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF 1 = 100 Centimes).
Notes: CHF: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000.
Coins:CHF:1; 2; 5. Centimes: 5; 10; 20; 50.
Business hours
Banks: 8.30am-4.30pm Monday-Friday.
Offices: 8am-12pm and 1.30pm-6.30pm Monday-Friday.
Shops: 8am-12pm and 1.30pm-6.30pm Monday-Friday, 8am-12pm and 1.30-4pmSaturday.
Emergency Services
Police: 117, Fire: 118, Ambulance: 144.
Health
Compulsory vaccinations:None.
Weather
Switzerland has a wide variety of weather conditions due to its great range of altitude. High in the Alps the peaks remain snow covered throughout the year. Lower peaks have quite warm summers, although this is the wettest season, and snow is common during winter months. Weather at all times can be changeable but is most likely to be settled mid-winter rather than mid-summer
Zurich Temp C Humidity % Rain
Max Min am pm (mm)
January 2 -3 90 76 74
February 6 -2 89 66 70
March 10 1 85 58 64
April 14 4 82 56 76
May 20 8 81 58 102
June 23 12 79 57 130
July 23 13 81 58 135
August 24 13 84 56 124
September 21 10 90 62 102
October 14 6 92 70 77
November 7 2 92 78 73
December 3 -2 90 73 64
Geneva International GVA
Postal address: Case Postale 100, 1215 Geneva 15.
Telephone: +41 22 717 71 11 (Airport Management), 717 71 03 (Information 8am-6pm).
Fax: +41 22 798 43 77.
Transportation to city centre: bus: service 110 operates 5.35am-0.09am every 10mins, fare CHF 2.20, journey time 20mins. Helicopter: Swift Copters tel 717-83-83. Train: to Cornavin RRStation operates 5.39am-11.36pm every 10mins, fare CHF 7.60, journey time 7mins. Taxi: fare CHF 25-30, journey time 10-15mins.
Airport departure tax: none.
Flight information: tel 15715 00, available 24hrs.
Business facilities: Sky com tel 788 14 30, fax 788 14 31, 7.30am-8pm Mon-Fri in restaurants building on 1st floor main terminal. Facilities include eight private offices with PC, fax and modem, 11 fully equipped meeting and conference rooms seating up to 70 persons and catering, secretarial and translation services.
Passport and visas
Required.
Customs
Import allowances:
Alcohol and tobacco for persons of 17 years of age or older:
Residents of European countries: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grammes of tobacco, two litres of alcohol up to 15% vol and one litre over 15% vol.