Do´s & don´ts when welcoming foreign guests

Do’s & Don’ts When Welcoming Foreign Guests – A Practical Guide to Cross-Cultural Hospitality

– by Margrét Reynisdóttir

Understanding cultural differences and fostering inclusion is key to delivering world-class hospitality.
This insightful and practical guide helps you navigate cultural nuances, avoid misunderstandings, and create positive, lasting impressions with guests from all over the world.

This is a one-of-a-kind guide – there is no other book like it in the world, designed to help service staff deliver culturally aware hospitality in real-world settings.

Why This Book is a Must-Have

✔ Learn what to do (and not do!) when interacting with guests from different cultures
✔ Boost guest satisfaction with culturally sensitive communication techniques
✔ Improve reviews, build loyalty, and increase revenue through inclusion
✔ Learn through real-life hospitality examples and professional insight

What You’ll Learn from This Book

✔ Understand cultural expectations – Learn how cultural background shapes guest behaviour, preferences and reactions
✔ Communicate with cultural awareness – Avoid misunderstandings and build trust through respectful, inclusive dialogue
✔ Adapt your service approach – Discover how to meet the needs of guests from countries such as China, Japan, India, Israel, the U.S., the U.K., and Germany
✔ Anticipate guest needs – Recognise subtle cultural cues and respond proactively and professionally
✔ Improve team confidence – Strengthen staff awareness, consistency and confidence in multicultural service situations

Designed with accessibility in mind – includes dyslexia-friendly formatting.

Who Should Read This Book?

Ideal for anyone working in hospitality, tourism, or multicultural settings:

✔ Frontline staff in hotels, restaurants, tours, shops, travel agencies, car rentals, and service centres
✔ Tourism professionals seeking to deliver memorable experiences
✔ Managers and team leaders in multicultural environments
✔ Business owners looking to enhance service quality through inclusion
✔ Frequent travellers and international teams working across cultures
✔ DEI officers and HR professionals focused on belonging and equity

Endorsements from Industry Leaders

“A must-read for tourism professionals who want to understand the subtle differences that make all the difference in guest satisfaction.”
– Arnheiður Jóhannsdóttir, Managing Director, Visit North Iceland

“This is a guide for the service sector on how to communicate appropriately with foreign guests, anticipate their needs and avoid misunderstandings.”
– Jóhannes Þór Skúlason, CEO, Icelandic Travel Industry Association (SAF)

“In a frank and impartial manner, Margrét Reynisdóttir opens our eyes and gives us a new and powerful mindset. It was a joy to read this book.”
– Sigríður Snævarr, Former Icelandic Ambassador

 

Take It Further – Book + Training Courses

Want to bring this knowledge into your workplace?

Based on this book, we offer customised in-person training and digital online courses – ideal for multicultural teams, frontline staff, and tourism professionals.

✔ Tailored to your team’s specific needs – maximise your results
✔ Available in both English and Icelandic
✔ Based on real-life hospitality scenarios and guest expectations
✔ Includes a copy of the book for each participant
✔ Strengthen inclusion, professionalism, and cultural awareness in your team
✔ Led by the author, Margrét Reynisdóttir, who has spent over 20 years collecting insights, stories, research and service strategies from the frontlines of international hospitality and research

📩 Contact us for bookings or information: gerumbetur@gerumbetur.is
🌐 Explore our courses: www.gerumbetur.is

Order Your Copy Today

✔ Create unforgettable guest experiences through cultural intelligence
✔ Avoid costly mistakes and strengthen team communication
✔ Use the book as a training and development tool in your workplace

Do’s & Don’ts When Welcoming Foreign Guests – by Margrét Reynisdóttir
ISBN: 978-9935-9573-9-9
📩 Order via email: gerumbetur@gerumbetur.is