Hosting Diplomatic Receptions

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Hosting Diplomatic Receptions

• By
• Lilian Acom

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Purposes of Entertaining Diplomats

• To obtain opinions and information from local
  residents and from other diplomats
• To make friends that may prove useful
• To enable heads and senior members of missions
  informally to sound out members of the ministry
  of foreign affairs
• To improve the public image of their country
• To enable wives to meet and make friends with
  other wives

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Seating

• Selected date preferably one that does not
  coincide with a national day or local religious
  festivals.
• Especially for official receptions,before
  invitations are despatched, a seating plan is
  worked out.
• Have a guest list and select guests that are not
  likely to clash
• Customs and practices of various communities
  should be taken in to consideration.

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Seating ( Continued .. )

• Invitations
• Normally sent two or three weeks before the
  event
• Can be by sending printed fill in invitations
• Can be informal by phone through secretaries
• If in honour of someone, add the persons name on
  the invitation

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Types of Diplomatic Receptions

• Dinner
• Guests are welcomed by host and hostess
• When dinner is ready the hostess will lead the
  guests to table
• During the meal, it would appropriate for the
  host to say a few words of welcome and for the
  senior to reply
• Dinners are usually offered to honour
  presidents,members of government or members of
  diplomatic corps.

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Types of Diplomatic Receptions ( Continued .. )

• Buffets
• most popular in recent times
• Provides an opportunity to offer a variety of
  dishes to meet various taste and dietary
  restrictions
• Can be formal or informal
• Enables host and hostess to move more effectively
  among their guests.

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Types of Diplomatic Receptions ( Continued .. )

• Lunch
• Invitation, and other arrangements are the same
  as for diner
• General atmosphere less formal
• Guests normally invited at 1oclock for 115 and
  leave between 215 and 230
• Cocktails
• Normally given in honour of someone
• Generally hosted from 600p.m till 800p.m
• Cocktail buffets state beginning time and not the
  ending

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Types of Diplomatic Receptions ( Continued .. )

• Coffee
• Simple and fairly formal
• Enables wives to meet
• Can either be in the morning or evening
• Tea
• Tend to be formal
• Invitation cards are normally given
• Last approximately from 400 p.m to 500 p.m

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Types of Diplomatic Receptions ( Continued .. )

• Vin dHonneur
• Honour an individual or group of people
• Both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks are
  served
• Quiet formal
• Usually lasts for an hour
• Balls and Dances
• Can either be dinner or supper dance
• Not popular today but can be a charity ball or a
  ball commemorating a historic event

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Courtesy

• Introducing People
• A gentleman is normally presented to a lady
• A junior is always presented to a senior
• When introducing two people,must be by name and
  say what they do.
• Visiting Cards
• Performs functions on behalf of of owner
• May be delivered personally or by post or by
  chauffeur
• May convey specific message such as
• P.M Pour Memoire      P.P- Pour Presentation
• P.m-pour memoire
• P.r-pour remercier       P.p- pour
  presentation

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Wines and Liquors

• Part of the tradition of diplomatic receptions in
  many countries
• French and German wines are most popular
• Normally three categories
• Table wine
• Fortified wines
• Spiced wines
• Liquors
• Taken after a meal
• Mostly have a brandy base

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General Observations

• For Moslems and people of Judaic faith,pork and
  its products are un acceptable.
• Be very observant and find out about local
  customs
• Enquire about dietary restrictions.i.e
  vegetarians

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Role of Guest and Conclusion

• Dont bring a friend without first asking hostess
• Dont be standoffish
• Dont over stay your welcome
• Always say goodbye to your host and hostess.
• To conclude, diplomatic receptions are basically
  there to make contacts thus improve international
  relationships.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Serres.J,1992, Manuel Pratique de Protocole,
  Courbevoie, edition de la biévre.
• R.G.Feltham, Diplomatic Hand book, 7 edition.
• Gandoiun.J,1998, Guide du protocole et des
  usages, Paris editions stock.
• Tuckerman N and N.Dunnann, 1995, The Amy
  Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette, Newyork,
  Doubleday.