San Francisco, California Hotels and City Guide

San Francisco - Business Tips

Business Travel Tips

Traveling in San Francisco for business purposes is very common. San Francisco has the distinguished position of being between London and Tokyo, Seattle and San Diego and has always been a hub for financial business. Both global and domestic business sifts through the city throughout the year, and also has the privilege of handling trade and shipping. The Bay Area’s main port is in Oakland but it still contains eight other ports and includes the three major airports, allowing it to handle as much as 30% of West Coast trade.

With a long history dealing in the Gold Rush, World War II defense industries, located near the famous Silicon Valley where the worldwide technology explosion rippled through the wires, San Francisco is alive and thriving even today.

San Francisco's Industry and Economy

San Francisco’s economy attracts a number of industries, from huge financial banks such as the Pacific Exchange, to biotechnology research. Close to one-third of the biotechnology workforce is employed in San Francisco and the surrounding area. Innovation is encouraged in many sectors leading to occurrences such as the birth of new media. When the city isn’t clinking coins together in its financial centers, it relishes in new technology. Beginning in World War II, development of new and improved technology for various uses has snowballed. Stanford University researches ground-breaking ideas while other companies continue to crank out computers, scientific instruments, electronic systems, electronic equipment of all types, and more. San Francisco also houses research facilities for The National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) and Lockheed.

Tourist spending generates a staggering $6.73 billion every year, giving San Francisco the ability to claim having the largest tourist industry in the region. In fact, some say it is the backbone of San Francisco’s economy. The city is often showcased in song, films, and overall popular culture – who hasn’t seen the Golden Gate Bridge, much less heard of it? The city brings in the third-highest number of foreign tourists in the United States, with over 16 million people visiting the city in 2007 alone. It ranks in the top-ten North American locations for various conventions and conferences.

The reason you might find so many small shops and establishments is because these businesses make up 85% of the city’s enterprise. Retail chains have difficulty breaking into the area. In fact, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors have organized the planning code to limit neighborhoods these retailers can open.

It is indeed a bustling city with much going on at every moment of every day. With so much business going on, foreign, domestic, large, and small, it is almost a wonder that people have time to sit back and enjoy the city.

Business Etiquette in San Francisco

Greeting Someone in San Francisco
Shaking hands when meeting new people is the norm, though knowing which part of the city you are in can occasionally make a difference. Still, handshaking is fairly universal and you aren’t likely to offend anyone in the city by offering your hand. Politeness and avoiding racial or cultural slurs are big; San Francisco holds its head high when it comes to being an open city for anyone.

San Francisco Business Hours and Banking
As with all major cities, San Francisco's business hours vary from one industry and sector to another but in general, most office environments operate between 09.00 and 17.30, Monday to Friday. Banks tend to be open between 09.00 and 15.00, Monday to Friday with some staying open to 17.30 or 18.00 one day a week. Some of the larger banks will probably also be open on Saturday mornings.

Smoking
Smoking has been banned from most of the city. Hotels offer many non-smoking rooms, whereas restaurants, bars, and most buildings have banned smoking completely. The law passed in 1998 and has held sway ever since. Smokers will have to go outside, and even then they may have to move away from the building’s grounds in order to do so.

Drinking
You must be 21 in order to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. You must have proof of your age available to show as you will likely be asked for it at bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. By law, bars, clubs, and restaurants cannot sell alcohol after 2:00am. Do not carry open containers of alcohol on the street or in a car. Failing to do so can lead to fines from police officers.

Hotels in San Francisco, California