The resources listed below provide helpful information for business travelers. These links can be used for traveling abroad, hosting a foreign partner in the United States, studying another culture, or when preparing for cultural interaction. All information is sorted by topic, brief description, and then web link.

Travel Warnings - Travelers will want to find out about the latest travel warnings from the State Department before deciding whether to go abroad.

The World Factbook - This CIA resource can be used in a number of different ways. Business leaders may want to consider this information before deciding whether to enter a foreign market, for example. The CIA World Factbook can be used to determine important information such as the size of a country's market, its political risk, and other factors. This factbook can also be used to determine whether to travel to a country or not.

World Citizens Guide - American business travelers should conduct themselves in a manner that reflects well on the U.S. They should use the World Citizens Guide to learn about what foreign hosts expect of them, how foreign customs differ from our own, and then act accordingly. 

Country Studies - The Country Studies Series is a great resource to use for getting an in-depth overview of a country. It analyzes and describes the historical settings, social, economic, political, and national security systems, and institutions of countries all over the world. It also analyzes how these systems relate to one another, and describes how culture shapes them.

Business Etiquette - It goes without saying that employees should know how to conduct themselves during business in a foreign country, or when hosting an overseas partner in the United States. These Business Culture Guides provide information on the business etiquette for more than 40 countries.  

Country-Specific Holidays - The vast array of holidays around the world can potentially conflict with international meetings, travel dates, or other scheduled events. Find out if your business or travel plans will be affected by an international holiday. Search for holidays by date using the Earth Calendar.  

Electricity Outlets - Foreign countries often have electricity outlets and currents that differ from the United States. In order to see if an electronic device will work abroad, visit the Electric Current Abroad manual.

Languages - Business travelers should know something about the host country language before going abroad. The National Virtual Translation Center has a website entitled "Languages of the World" that can teach travelers a great deal about language-related topics. It offers in-depth information about languages, their origins, their difficulty level for English speakers, and also links to help travelers learn foreign languages.

Geert Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions - For a look at how a country's culture influences the way individuals act in the work environment, read about Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions. This information can give valuable insights into how to act around foreign partners, as well as explain international workplace behavior. 

International Telephone Codes – Telephone codes differ everywhere you go, so make sure you dial the right number when trying to reach an international business contact. The Library of Congress Business Reference Services website provides direct links to pages with multiple countries’ telephone codes. This webpage also includes information about international postage rates. 

Time Zones - The time difference between countries almost always takes some getting used to. Before going overseas, business travelers also find it difficult to know when to call a potential foreign partner so that it falls during acceptable calling hours. Visit Time Zone Check to find out what time zone another country is using, as well as what time of day it is.  

Currency Exchange Rates - Money will prove to be an important issue when traveling overseas. To get an idea of what the currency exchange rate is per dollar for a list of foreign currencies, visit the Federal Reserve Statistical Release on foreign exchange rates. The exchange rates update Monday through Friday, and the website even provides information on the Euro exchange rate in various countries.

*Being listed above is not an endorsement by the Salt Lake City USEAC, nor by the U.S. Government, or any listed organization and/or its products or services.

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