Washington school teaches global etiquette for the upscale

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2007

WASHINGTON (AFP) — If you think BMW is only a classy car and five days at 5,800 dollars (4,400 euros) is a pitch for an exotic getaway, think again -- if you're a diplomat, CIA operative or a high-profile executive, it could be your ticket to success.

The formula is offered by professional etiquette coach Pamela Eyring who gives a persuasive argument that how you shake hands, raise a toast or choose a gift for your host can make or break your reputation as a player in today's global field.

For the past 18 years, her Protocol School of Washington has groomed more than 1,900 pupils with straightforward practical training beefed up by mnemonic aids like "BMW" -- for bread, meal and wine, a device to recall during the tensest million-dollar dinner deal that bread stays...