Letter: Pamper us

Sir: Tommy Haken asks (letter, 29 January) if anyone could "seriously believe that sophisticated foreign businessmen are influenced in their commercial decisions by a few hours' pampering on a royal yacht?"

Many business decisions, here and abroad, are based upon emotions difficult to justify in logic but easily understood when status comes into it. It extends from wearing wristwatches costing several thousand pounds to buying football teams and even hot-air ballooning.

How many go to Henley each year, not to mention Ascot and Epsom. Has he never heard of corporate hospitality making "the wheels go round" and deals being made as a result?

No sir, unlike Mr Haken, a lot of us glow when properly pampered.

ROBERT VINCENT

Andover, Hampshire