Getting there Berlin has three main airports, Tegel for the main scheduled flights, Schonefeld for the budget carriers and Tempelhof, which currently doesn't offer any direct flights to the UK.  Rapid expansion by EasyJet has opened up the no-frills market, and the city is now served by a variety of UK airports.

Where to stay Try the Mandala, an individual design hotel. Marks off for location, but if you don't mind being based right next to the eerily sterile Sony Center in Potsdamer Platz, then the Mandala is worth a look.

Business climate Berlin is a city in the red. Twenty per cent of Berliners are out of work, and central government refuses to help with the city's growing debt mountain of around £40bn. If it were a private company, says finance minister Gerhard Stratthaus, "it would have gone bankrupt long ago".

Ice breaker Berliners are proud of their cultural heritage. The city boasts three state opera houses, all of which are haemorrhaging cash, so if you plan to visit one, be quick about it.

Etiquette Leave room for substantial risk analysis in your pitch.

Eat like a local It may be a cliché, but Berliners eat a lot of sausages. If you're looking for a bit more variety, try Hugo's (+49 30 26 02 12 63).