Originally Posted by
tfar
My polite question would get the desired results without them even thinking the question is demeaning in Europe.
No it wouldn't. You may get your taxi but you would be confirming stereotypes by the way you asked.
The proposed technique might not lead to an offer for help but just to an answer telling you what is the best way to get a taxi without actually offering you any help.
If someone tells me how to get a taxi, that's good enough for me.
I can see the American visitor standing there thinking "Duh!".
Again, living up to a stereotype.
As for who to ask. Of course, it is better to ask the business partner, then the lobby attendant and only ask the security as a last resort.
I don't understand this. Would that mean that you have tried asking the business partner and the lobby attendant already and been refused?
But the lobby attendant should really be able to do that and I see that as a classic job for a lobby attendant. I mean, ...? (excuse my language), what else is a lobby attendant there for than customer service?
That's the kind of attitude that might come between you and your European taxi. So often in these situations, it's the way you handle them that makes the difference.