MODULE 10 BUSINESS TOPIC10.1 Travel and entertainmentVOCABULARY Business travel1 Do you agree with this view?‘I can see a trend, executives want to save costs on business travel ,and connecting people virtually is becoming moreaffordable.’2 Study the phrases in the box.What does each onemean?How is it pronounced?commute subsidised transport congestion give a lift to someone rush hour teleconferencing car share scheme travel expenses3 Which of these statements do you sympathise with?1 Spending two hours each day commuting to and fromwork really affects people’s quality of life.2 It’s fair that the company should subsidise travel forpeople who commute a long way to work.Learning Tip 3 If more people worked flexibly we could avoidcongestion and rush hours.Try to use idiomatic 4 I don’t mind giving a colleague a lift to work now andphrases when then but I couldn’t take part in a car share scheme. I expressing opinions: enjoy that hour to myself in the mornings.eg I couldn’t agree 5 Air travel is too time-consuming.Video andmore ;I’d go along teleconferencing is the only way forward.with that;Actually, 6 It’s the duty of every employee to manage their businessthat’s not the way I travel expenses as if it were their own money.see it,etc.4 Discuss the following questions.1 How do you get to work / college each day?2 Why do you use this from of transport ?3 Do you pay for your own travel?5 As the new manager of the support services atSterrman, Engineering firm, you have been asked toreduce spending on travel and entertainment .Suggest a policy to tackle each of the problems below. Current situation1 The company owns and maintains a fleet of 35company cars for the sales team.2 The company pays for business class tickets on bothlong and short flights.3 The use of expensive restaurants to entertain guestsand clients is very common.4 The company spends a lot on hiring outside rooms for meetings and conferences.Compare your answers with a partner.LISTENING A team-building day6 A lot of companies use team-building events ,such ascanoeing events,treasure hunts,company role plays,etc. But what should their aim be?Prioritise(1-7)thefollowing aims.A generally getting to know each other betterB breaking down formal barriers between managementand employeesC bringing out the best qualities in each individualD helping people to feel better about themselvesE distinguishing leaders from followersF increasing loyalty to the companyG helping to remember that there’s more to life than just work7 Is there some other benefit that hasn’t been mentioned Above?8 10.1 Your company has organised a team-building day at Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit. You have beenasked to attend a short presentation of the programme for the day. Listen and complete your notes. Use up to three words for each space.Team-building dayThe aims0 The aim is not only to have a good time .1 To learn how each individual think,functions and ______.2 This new understanding will make us_______________.The schedule3 Meet at the office at ___________________.4 The journey will take ___________________.5 For the activities we will be divided into_____________.6 At lunch there will be a surprise _________________.7 After the afternoon’s activities there will be a ________.Preparation8 Dress__________________.9 In case of cold bring a jumper or___________________.10 No mobile phones, laptops, but can bring ____________. The home of British Motor Racing9 What do you think the activities at the circuit will be exactly? GRAMMAR Future forms1 Look at the verb forms in these sentences(1-6).WhatForm is used to express the following about the future? Future formsa an offerb a decision already takenc an arrangementd a schedulee a general predictionf a confident prediction1 The day will begin with a working breakfast at eighto’clock after which delegates will have 30 minutes offree time before the first seminar at 10 o’clock.2 We’re not going to have a Christmas party this year;instead we are going to give the money we would havespent to a charity.3 She’s not easy to convince,is she?I can see this is goingto be a very long discussion.4 Don’t worry, I’ll take the laptop with me.That’s one less thing for you to remember.5 I’m meeting him at his office at 6.30 and then we’reeating at a Greek restaurant in the city center.6 I think he’ll find it difficult to adapt to his new role,because he’s used to being independent.Learning Tip 2 You colleague has written this email for an agent in Note the use of the Djakarta.Before you send it, she has asked you to putpresent when two verbs she’s not sure about in the most natural form.Clauses about thefuture are connected Dear Jimwith when or another Thank you for your email, asking about our plans fortime phrase. next year.I will see him.I will I (0) will do my best to explain the situation.give him yourmessage.__When I I agree that this year has been disappointing,but we see him, I’ll give him expect that sales (1)________(pick up)next year.The your message. result of our marketing meeting last week is that we (2) __________(launch) the new version of the DCT10 inAsia next spring. From the feedback we’ve had in Europe,I’m sure it (3) _______(be) a great success.The International Gas Industry Trade Fair (4)_______(take place)in Singapore next March.I (5)______(fly)out there with Jane on 16 March and I hope to have acouple of days extra to see some agents, but I (6)_____(call) you when I (7)_______(have) my exact schedule,so that we can arrange to meet.In the meantime,let me know if you(8)_______(visit) theUK any time soon. Then we can arrange to meet for ameal and a chat.Best wishesSarahREADING Events management3 Do you think being responsible for organising corporate events, Sponsorship,parties and team-building events in a dream job?Why?/Why not?4 Read the article from a business magazine about organisingcorporate events.● Choose the best sentence from those below(A-H) to fill each ofthe gaps in the test.● Do not use any letter more than once.● There is an example at the beginning(0)HOW TO MANAGE AN EVENTHow would be an events organiser?On the face of it ,playing ‘my genial host’ to a group of freeloading clients doesn’t seem too arduous a task. But the amount of stress experienced in getting ready for it and the real and ever-present danger of something going horribly wrong make it a job only for those with nerves of steel. (0)E The list is endless.Corporate hospitality events should be an opportunity to relax with your customers and get away from business,but instead they actually expose a company to close scrutiny by its most valued audience and leave a lasting impression in their minds .Done well ,the client is left with the image of a creative ,fun and professional organisation. (1)______Worse still ,you might offend:the company who arranged a James Bond theme night that started with a group of international guests being greeted by bikini-clad ‘Bond girls’should have known better.The first consideration is what the aim of the event is :to launch a new product ,to develop awareness of the company’s mission, to build relationships with new clients or just to thank existing ones for their continued custom .(2)_______For the latter you won’t necessarily have to spend excessively to get it right ,but you will have to think about what will make the event memorable. Audience participation is generally a good way to achieve this ,for example giving a theme to the event ,such as a 1970s disco or a Hawaiian evening.(3)________It may also put some under pressure ,making them feel that they will have to dance like John Travolta or to rely more on their wallet than their imagination to make their costume.(4)__________An alternative is simply to give them a treat by taking them to a show orsporting event and afterwards for a meal where they can relax and chat .(5)________ The advantage of these is that the clients are more likely to look forward to it and to share the good news with others in the wider world who may also have an interest in the event .(6)________In addition ,anything that goes wrong at the events is likely to reflect badly on the main organiser and not your company.A This will get the participants more involved and help to ‘break the ice ’ if peopledon’t know each other well,but be careful.B An example of this would be a golf tournament or a football match.C The first two are more like presentations and will mean putting on a show toImpress.D Staff parties,on the other hand ,are much less stressful because the consequencesof failure are not so damaging.E A speaker may not turn up ,a piece of vital equipment may fail ,the invitation mayGive the wrong date.F Done badly ,the company may end up looking cheesy ,disorganised or evenCheap.G The result is good publicity and an enhanced image for the company.H The balance is a difficult one and it all depends on the skill of the organiser in theplanning and publicizing of the event ,so the guests feel at ease. VOCABULARY Go and get1 Complete the following sentences using the correct form ofeither go or get.0 There is always a danger that something will go wrong on theday.1 I have a lot of things to ______ready before the party tomorrow.2 The key to a successful event is to _________all the participants involved.3 I can’t do 13 July, I am afraid --it’s the day my brother is ______ married4 Don’t worry.Everything is _________according to plan.5 Can you call them please?I’ve tried to convince them, but I’mnot ________anywhere.6 The budget for this event is out of control. The company will_________bankrupt at this rate.7 The boss will _______ crazy if the funds out you’ve taken hisparking space.8 Everything went smoothly ,except for the three people who ____ lost on their way from the airport.2 Choose four of the above phrases with go or get and writesentences of your own.READING Planning a corporate event3 You work for Vermillion Events Management, whichspecialises in organising conferences and corporate events.You receive the following letter . Read it and with your partneragree an outline plan for the event using the framework given on page 101.CATHSTONE● ● ● ●DESIHNERS OF FINE JEWELLERYDear sir / madamCathstone will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in business this November and would like to organise a suitable event toCommemorate the occasion. Your company was recommended to me by a colleague.In case you have not heard of us,Cathstone is Asia’s leadingjewellery designer and wholesaler.We supply prestige jewellers in major cities across the world.Attending the event will be the senior management team(30people) and about 200 of our key clients and supplies withtheir husbands,wives or partners.I don’t need to stress to you the importance of putting on a good show ,but we leave it to you to come up with a proposal for what the theme and venue might be .We have set aside a reasonablebudget for the event,but of course we are not handing you ablank cheque !Please submit a rough estimate of cost with your proposal .I look forward to hearing from you.Your faithfullyMartha LoraxMartha LoraxCommunications DirectorOutline proposal for corporate event1 Company _______________________________________2 Purpose of event ___________________________________3 Venue____________________________________________4 Theme ___________________________________________5 Speakers/Guests___________________________________6 Activities_________________________________________7 Food and drink____________________________________8 Promotional literature /gifts__________________________9 Approx. cost per head_______________________________ SPEAKINGExam successPractice making briefnotes that you canRefer to when giving ashort speech orcontributing at ameeting.Making a pitch4 You have been invited to pitch for the customer event atCathstone .Divide yourself into pairs of events managers and a panel of a Ca thstone managers.Read the instructions belowand then act out the meeting.Events managersPresent your ideas for the event to the Cathstone panel.Divide the presentation into two parts so that each person has equal opportunity to speak .Be prepared to answer questions afterwards.PanelFirst discuss together what you are looking for .Then listen to two or three pitches by different event management companies. After each pitch ,ask questions.At the end decide who is the winner and be prepared to give our reasons.。
