Before the foreign guest arrives, you should reserve a room at a hotel for him. Usually the hotel must be comfortable, air-conditioned and the most important is that each room must be equipped with a private bathroom, because western guests usually insist on having a shower every day.
When the foreign guest arrives, you can either meet him at the airport or at the train station in person or send a representative to meet him. Never let him go to your unit by himself.
外宾到达时,你可以亲自到机场或车站去接他,或者派人去接。不要让他自已到你们单位去。
Upon the arrival, foreigners usually like to go to their hotel rooms immediately. On the way to the hotel, you can have some casual and friendly talks with him, but you should never try to get down to business right away. Note: But you should never try to get down to business right away.
At the hotel, help him to go through formalities and tell him about the next day's program.
在宾馆里,要帮助他办理住宿手续,并告诉他第二天的安排。
Usually you should let the guest walk on the right. It is polite for you to open the door for him and let him go through the door first. It is offending to call a young lady "madam", and you should not ask her about her age, salary, and some other private matters. You can’t smoke unless you are permitted. Make sure that you’re clean and tidy. On a formal diplomatic occation, it is best to dress in black or blue.
Don’t be humble or pushy, but show respect for him and his customs. You must be punctual and keep your promise. When shaking hands, you can use a little strength, but not too tightly. You should always use “please”, “thanks” in your talks. Get ready to help your guest whenever he has troubles.