In this activity, a cocktail party is simulated. Individuals take on roles as representatives of three different companies that are collaborating on a business venture to develop a hotel and retail shopping complex. The companies are a hotel, a construction firm and a bank. Each has its own distinct fictional cultural background. During the social gathering, participants work to build professional connections while navigating and resolving cultural differences that could potentially hinder effective business relationships.

Learning goal
This activity has the following learning goals:

• Illustrate intercultural communication principles through practical examples, highlighting how cultural values are relative and cultural differences trigger emotional responses.
• Show that deeper cultural differences (values, attitudes, beliefs) impact business success more than surface differences (greetings, customs), though the former are often overlooked.
• Address the key question of adaptation: how managers can remain authentic to their cultural identity while respecting different cultural practices and expectations.
• Demonstrate that cultural identity is multifaceted and extends beyond just nationality.

Target audience
The activity is aimed at students in hospitality / international business.

Time
The activity lasts between 90 minutes and 2 hours.

Detailed information
For an elaborate description of the exercise please check the factsheet.

Author and affiliation
This activity was developed by the Center for Hospitality Research, Cornell University