Thank you for the invitation to visit your company

Other similar phases: I was very pleased to receive your invitation.

Thanks for inviting me. Thanks for the invite (Informal)

I look forward to your confirmation. OR Could you please confirm this? Can you confirm as soon as possible?

I am writing to confirm details of your visit to our company next week.

See you on Friday. (Informal ending to an email confirming a planned meeting /visit). A more formal ending would be: I look forward to meeting you on Friday.

Travel arrangements.

Here are some notes

I’ve put together the following itinerary. The agent has changed the itinerary. I’ve fixed the itinerary for our Japan trip.

Departure from Milan at 11:05 on flight BA68, arriving Manchester at ….

Note the following prepositions of place and time about arrangements.

The plane departs from Paris at 8:00

I am travelling on Flight KLM646 to Osaka.

The Lufthansa flight leaves London at 7:30 on Wednesday morning and there is a return flight on Thursday evening at 17:00.

The train arrives at 18:00.

The conference starts at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Coaches leave the airport every thirty minutes.

We are leaving at midday.

I arrive at Terminal 3 at 19:00

Pick up by company car at 8:00. Also: An airport pick-up can be arranged. I’ll pick you up at the station.

I’m going to Paris in the morning.

I’m meeting the Finance Director at 2 p.m.

I’m catching the early train.

Making a booking

I’m booking the KLM’s flight today.

Shall I reserve you a seat on the same flights? Let me know if this suits you.

Confirming a reservation

I am writing to confirm the reservation, made by phone this morning, for two single rooms at the Hotel Sorbonne on May 24, for Ms. Scheele and Mr. Moure.

I’m writing to change my reservation.

I am afraid I have to cancel my reservation.

Can I check my reservation?

Warm up

Discuss these questions with a partner.

1. How often do you travel by air, rail, road and sea?

2. Do you enjoy travelling? What don’t you like about it?

3. Put the following in order of importance to you when you travel.

Comfort

safety

price

reliability

speed

You may need the following words and phrases:

What I really like/don’t like is the way airlines/railways… treat people, good/poor quality of food, I prefer…, I like … but I don’t enjoy being in railway stations… There are no enough baggage trolleys, it’s really inconvenient. Departure board is full of flight delays and cancellations. I must be really unlucky because I seem always to be a victim of lost or delayed luggage. What I really hate is jet lag as I often travel a lot on business. My last overseas business trip was a nightmare from start to finish. My choice of air/rail/road/sea is dictated by convenience. Well-trained, energetic staff. I use business/economy class. To get special treatment. The attitude of crew and staff. I usually book myself into a small hotel, called…The hotel is within walking distance of the conference centre/sea/trading centre… The food and service are good, so I can’t complain.

Dealing with problems

Some useful phrases

I am sorry to say that we may not be able to meet the agreed schedule.

I am/I was sorry to hear about it. I am sorry to tell/inform you that…. (here to meet means to keep to).

We will fall behind schedule …

We will miss the deadline

You assured us that this schedule was guaranteed … You promised us that you would keep to the schedule.

Unacceptable services

We are very unhappy with the level of service …

Some strong complaints:

We were very dissatisfied with … Your level of service is unsatisfactory. These delays are totally unacceptable.

The sales department rarely answer the phone.

The goods never arrive on time.

We often need to remind you.

I was very sorry to hear about the problems you have experienced.

I expect to receive the report by the end of this week.

I’m hoping to receive the order by Wednesday.

I expect to hear from you tomorrow.

We apologize for any misunderstanding caused by the information on our website. We do try to keep our website up-to-date and I have discussed this matter with our website manager.

I sincerely apologize for … My sincere apologies.

I regret that we cannot deliver goods on Sundays.

I am afraid we can’t accept …