Business Events: A Poised Plus-One for the Company Dinner

The most common settings are dinners with clients or colleagues, networking receptions and the social evenings attached to trade fairs at the RAI or conferences around the Zuidas. Some guests book for a gala dinner in a historic venue on the canals, others for a relaxed team outing where a partner would normally be welcome. As a rule of thumb, if the invitation says plus one, a companion fits naturally.

A short briefing makes a real difference. Describe the occasion, what to wear, the sort of guests expected and the way you intend to present your companion, whether simply by her first name, as a friend, or in whatever way feels comfortable. If there are topics best avoided, or a colleague who adores sailing and would love to talk about it, mention that too.

Your companion arrives in good time, dressed appropriately, from a cocktail dress to an evening gown. She is attentive without being intrusive, steps back when business conversations begin and steps forward when a lull needs filling. Afterwards she can accompany you back to the hotel or leave directly from the venue, whichever you prefer.

• The type of event, the venue and the dress code
• How you would like her to be introduced
• The start time and how long you expect to stay

Karolina is poised, discreet and witty, a pianist and opera lover with a sleek minimalist style that looks right in any boardroom or ballroom. Violetta, at 30, is elegant, confident and a little mysterious, and her love of bookshops and stand-up comedy gives her an easy line of conversation with almost anyone. Karolina and Violetta are also among our tall companions, and both wear evening dress with natural ease.

Margo is refined and calm, with a knowledge of contemporary art that shines at gallery openings and sponsor dinners. Danielle is sophisticated and magnetic, glad to talk about classic cinema, poetry or the museum on tomorrow's agenda.

The value of a good plus-one is often invisible. She remembers names you were introduced to ten minutes ago, keeps a quiet colleague company while you speak to the host, and knows when to excuse herself so a business conversation can continue in private. She reads the room: lively at a networking drink, measured at a formal dinner, warm but never overfamiliar. Our companions speak English, so international events feel natural, and if you would rather she avoided work topics entirely, she will happily talk about art, travel or the city instead.

The business district at the Zuidas is the obvious base, with its tower hotels, restaurants near the station and the RAI a short walk away. Formal dinners often move into the canal ring of Amsterdam Centrum, where historic buildings host receptions and private dining rooms. For conferences held in other Dutch cities, see our travel companion experience.

Business settings call for a particular kind of tact. Your companion never mentions how you met, never hands out contact details and never draws attention to the arrangement. What she offers is confident, warm social company, entirely non-explicit, that lets you enjoy the evening and present yourself well. Timing and meeting point are settled in advance, so on the night the only thing left is to walk in together.