Asking for information about the visit / visitor

1. Are you Mr. Thomson?
2. Which company do you represent?
3. You must be Mr. Anderson from Sydney.
4. Yes, I am. Here's my business card.
5. Can I ask what you would like to see him about?
6. May I know what it is about?
7. I'm here to discuss our agency agreement with your manager.
8. Sorry, I'd prefer to explain that to him directly.
9. Do you have an appointment?
10. Have you got an appointment with our director?

Asking the visitor to wait

1. Would you like to take a seat?
2. If you'd like to take a seat, I'll tell him you're here.
3. Take a seat, please. I'll go to see whether our boss is in.
4. I'll see if the director is free.
5. Take a seat, please. I'll ask him to come down.
6. Take a seat, please. I'll contact the Purchasing Manager.
7. Wait a few seconds, please. I'll ring his extension.

Apologising for having kept the visitor waiting

1. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. He is in the middle of a meeting.
2. I'm sorry for the delay. Mr. Wilson is engaged now.
3. I'm sorry for the mistake. The secretary is attending a meeting.

Expressing regret when someone is not present

1. I'm afraid Mr. White can't see you today.
2. He's out.
3. The Financial Manager is ill today.
4. Mr. Waterston is in the middle of a meeting.
5. The Personnel Manager can't be contacted just now.