How to Survive a Business Trip to Cuba

How to Survive a Business Trip to Cuba
by Matt Alderton | December 02, 2015

With travel to Cuba now legal, many Americans are anxious to do business
there. Before you get too excited about the opportunities in and around
Havana, however, consider the cautionary tale of Entrepreneur.com
contributor Ryan McMunn, founder and CEO of BRIC Language Systems.

"I went to Cuba in September on a research/business trip," McMunn says.
"But I never got to enjoy the country's glorious beaches, its
picturesque old Chevys, its friendly, exuberant people. Instead, I got
fleeced."

Their years of strained relations mean Americans and Cubans are still
largely unfamiliar to one another. And any time you're unfamiliar, you
should also be careful, according to McMunn, who says it's easy to be
taken advantage of in Cuba. To protect yourself, he advises, figure out
the currency beforehand and be prepared to barter.

"You can't use U.S. credit or debit cards in Cuba, no matter what your
bank tells you," McMunn reports. "Instead, bring enough euros or
Canadian dollars to survive your stay and make it to your meetings."

As for bartering: "Barter for cabs, meals, beers, rickshaws, whatever,"
he says. "Everyone barters in Cuba, and you need to be ruthless at it.
We drove our taxi rides down from 15 CUC to 7 CUC in four days. So,
bartering is a good skill to have, and honing it on the streets will set
you up for success in the boardroom, which may be little more than just
a dirty closet. So, get ready.

Source: How to Survive a Business Trip to Cuba: Successful Meetings -
http://www.successfulmeetings.com/Strategy/SM-How-To/How-to-Survive-a-Business-Trip-to-Cuba/