BACKGROUND

Corporate hospitality is a fabulous way to win favor with clients. It helps to build strong relationships with new and potential clients as well as nurtures and cultivates a long and healthy relationship with existing clients. A corporate hospitality event is the perfect occasion to launch a new product. However, it is not all about winning new businesses. Corporate hospitality is used as a reward for loyal staff, a means of persuading new customers or a method of cementing relationships with existing clients. It can supply clients with the very best VIP experiences, allowing access to corporate hospitality at premium level sporting events throughout the world.

The corporate-hospitality club asked three entertainment experts some questions. Put four of these questions in the appropriate places.

[WORDS & EXPRESSIONS]

budget

n. the amount of money that a person, organisation, or country has available to spend on 预算

e.g. The hospital obviously needs to balance the budget each year. 

director 

n. company’s most senior managers, who meet regularly to make important decisions about how it will be run 主管

e.g. As I am a creative director, I had the opportunity to do so.

genuine 

adj. of people and things that are exactly what they appear to be, and are not false or an imitation 真正的

e.g. He is an inspiration and a genuine hero.

glamour

n. the quality of being more attractive, exciting, or interesting 魅力

e.g. Real style, prestige, glamour or luxury rather than pretense.

high-profile 

adj. attracting a lot of attention or publicity 高调的，引人注目的

e.g. If you are looking to increase your exposure so you can land a new high-profile job, then seek out the places where people in power hang.

logistics 

n. the detailed planning and organisation of any large complex operation 后勤；物流

e.g. The skills and logistics of getting such a big show on the road pose enormous practical problems.

mingle 

v. to move around and talk to people at a party 交际

e.g. Guests mingle while enjoying cake, punch and other treats.

 one-off 

adj. of happening only once 一次性的

e.g. If a country grabs this one-off chance for productivity gains and investment, economic growth can jump by as much as a third.

rugby 

n. a form of football played with an oval ball 橄榄球

e.g. Yet they also have a penchant for sports that promote superstars and breed controversy, both on and off the field. With its emphasis on teamwork and fair play, rugby doesn't quite fit that pattern.

spectacular 

adj. impressive, grand, or dramatic 壮观的，盛大的

e.g. The breathtaking sight of these spectacular waterfalls has to be seen from the air to view its glory.

venue 

n. the place where event or activity will happen 举办场所

e.g. The International Convention Centre is the venue for a three-day arts festival.

home ground

n. a sports team’s own playing field, as opposed to that of other teams 主场场地

e.g. Today the Rasunda is the home ground of Swedish top-flight club AIK Solna and also stages derby matches involving other Stockholm sides.

BACKGROUND

Bob Sherwood, London and south-east correspondent, wrote this article in January 18, 2011. The UK Bribery Act was passed by royal assent on April 8, 2010 and came into force in January 2011. The main purpose of the bill is to list various crimes related to anti bribery. For example, large-scale transactions between Glaxo SmithKline (“GSK”), a British multinational pharmaceutical company, and Chinese enterprises have been investigated by local law enforcement agencies in the UK. At the same time, there are a large number of local law firms providing professional advice on how to comply with the UK anti bribery law.

Bribery law threat to business hospitality

Businesses are reviewing their corporate hospitality plans as they are worried that some forms of hospitality could be illegal under new UK bribery laws. Lawyers say they have been asked by companies who fear that they may have to cancel bigger hospitality events after the Bribery Act comes into force. Many City institutions consider luxury entertaining, which can include international, flights and free tickets to sporting events, as a normal part of business.

Stephen Morrall, corporate partner at Dawsons Solicitors, said: ‘We have talked to a lot of people about this. They are very worried and they should be worried. People are asking whether they should be holding corporate entertainment events.’

Two UK banks said they were looking at how entertaining would be affected by the legislation. Some lawyers are advising that breaking the law could depend on the type of hospitality. So, for example, offering lunch at a Twickenham rugby match may be fine, but flying clients to Australia to watch cricket could be risky. ‘Until clear guidelines are published, people should be very careful about any lavish form of entertainment, because there’s clearly a risk that an offence could be Committed,’ added Mr Morrall.

Gary Miller, fraud specialist at lawyers Mishcon de Reya, believed many companies were unnecessarily worried and executives needed only to take a ‘comnionsense’ approach to hospitality. If they had always offered hospitality as routine then it was unlikely to attract attention, he suggested, but entertaining clients at a sensitive time, such as when a contract was due for renewal, would be riskier.

[ WORDS & EXPRESSIONS]

bribery

n. the act of offering someone money or something valuable in order to persuade them to do something for you 贿赂

e.g. He was jailed on charges of bribery.

hospitality business

the manner in which somebody is greeted in business 商务接待

e.g. Especially when it comes to the international hospitality business, culture is a serious fact to consider in order to survive in the market.

client 

n. a person or company that receives a service from them in return for payment 客户

e.g. The agency invoices the client who then pays the full amount to the agency.

commit 

v. to do something wrong or illegal 犯（罪）

e.g. This is a man who has committed murder.

commonsense

adj. exhibiting native good judgment 常识的

e.g. It is commonsense that language is the principal means by which our social lives are conducted.

fraud

n. the crime of gaining money or financial benefits by a trick or by lying 诈骗罪

e.g. Other charges include fraud and illegal appropriation of land.

institution

n. a large important organisation such as a university, bank 机构

e.g. One of our contributions as a global institution is to ensure that the world understands that and takes action accordingly.

legislation 

n. the act of making or enacting laws 立法

e.g. The House and Senate are to begin soon hashing out an agreement for sanctions legislation.

lavish

n. large in amount, and usually costing a lot of money 耗资巨大的，挥霍的

e.g. Critics attack his lavish spending and flamboyant style.

offence 

n. a crime that breaks a particular law and requires a particular punishment 犯罪行为

e.g. New legislation makes it an offence to carry guns.

review 

v. to consider it carefully to see what is wrong with it or how it could be improved 审查，评审

e.g. The president reviewed the situation with his cabinet yesterday.

renewal 

n. an official increase in the period of time for which contract remains valid 合同（有效期的）延长

e.g. His contract came up for renewal.

risky 

adj. involving the possibility of something bad happening 有危险的，有风险的

e.g. It was a risky operation, but might buy more time.

rugby 

n. a form of football played with an oval ball 橄榄球

e.g. In September and October Christchurch is scheduled to host several games of the Rugby World Cup, promising to be the biggest international event New Zealand has hosted.