Bonding Over Vice: Hostess Clubs in Asia
While the age of entertaining clients at adult establishments has passed in the U.K., the U.S. and Europe, the practice is still thriving in Asia and is often a crucial part of doing business.
Asia has a long way to go before women in the corporate world will be treated as equals, as long as going to hostess clubs remains an important part of doing business in Asia, news wire «Bloomberg» reports.
The practice is still an important part of doing business in many countries in the region, and women in banks and investment firms often have to join their male colleagues for such entertainment sessions or entertain clients at such places or risk missing out on networking opportunities or deals, Bloomberg reports.
Also known as karaoke bars or KTVs, hostess clubs provide venues for businessmen to conduct deals and entertain clients in a more «relaxed» environment, with alcohol, karaoke and women thrown into the mix.
Expense Items
The tab, which often runs into the thousands of dollars, is usually expensed to the company. Some bars even provide receipts to make the purchases seem like they are from bakeries or snack shops, Bloomberg reported.
Such bars thrive in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong. In China, despite being illegal, such bars continue to openly conduct business. Of the five countries, prostitution is legal in only Singapore and Hong Kong, though hostesses at such bars often perform sexual services for an additional fee, the publication said.
Career Advancement
The publication said junior staff compared the experience to «hazing», and that women had to embrace the culture for the sake of their careers. The scene is an opportunity for colleagues and business partners to evaluate each others’ qualities and worthiness as business partners from their interactions with the hostesses.
«Pretty much going to hostess clubs is like a tourist destination when our clients and investors come to town. It’s like if you don’t take them there, you haven’t paid your respects to your guests,» a 27-year-old woman working at a startup in Shanghai was quoted as saying.
