• Physical contact

Judging by their common practices, Russians are considered a very demonstrative people, and public physical contact is common. Hugs, backslapping, kisses on the cheeks and other expansive gestures are common among friends or acquaintances and between members of the same sex.

• Proximity during verbal interaction with others

Russians stand close when talking with others. For people from Russian cultural origin short distance between people – such as 20 to 40 cm – is considered normal not only during informal, but also during formal conversations and stepping back might be considered inpolite. Hospitality staff needs to be aware of that as in some Western cultures this could feel uncomfortable.

• Face expression

As opposed to closeness when talking, Russians usually do not smile at strangers on the street, in a hotel or restaurant, in the store, or anywhere else. Smiling is generally considered to be something to be shared with a friend. “Smiling at a stranger is considered to be an “Americanism” and is assumed to be insincere.” (Makagonova 2019) Even Russian waiters and store clerks usually do not smile at the customer (who, in any other serving etiquette, should be pleased, including with a friendly smile). Hospitality staff needs to be aware of that and not think that this is because there is something wrong with the service.

• Some other gestures that might be relevant for the hospitality context (more gestures explained with pictures could be found at RP 2019):
• Flick on the neck

A very popular gesture in Russian culture. It’s performed by bending your neck to the side a little bit and flicking it with your fingers. It can be used in relation to alcochol, for example to tell you that somebody is drunk. Or, in a non-formal context – e.g. to a friend – it could mean “Let’s have a drink”.

• Tapping the neck with the hand, palm down, several times

It means “I’m fed up with this/I have had enough”. It’s used when the person is annoyed with something. The hospitality staff needs to be aware that it doesn’t mean that the person wants to cut somebody’s throat. It means a person from Russian-speaking cultural background is expressing their unsatisfaction.

• Slapping the forehead with an open palm

It doesn’t mean at all that the Russian speaker is telling the person he/she is talking to that they are stupid. This gesture means that they finally understand what you are telling them. It means “Now I get it!”.

• Fig (putting the thumb between the index finger and middle finger and forming a fist while stretching the hand forward with this fist and showing it to the other person)

It’s a very offensive gesture in Russian culture like in other Southern cultures including Mediterranean region, Bulgaria, Turkey, etc. and unlike Northern cultures where it is usually used for interaction with little kids as a game – pretending that the adult has (“stole”) the kid’s nose in his/her hand.