Meetings in English

it's lovely and warm. It's spring-like!
It's pouring/coming down in torrents/buckets.
It's absolutely freezing/boiling.
Useful vocabulary
    to arrive in reception: an der Rezeption ankommen
    restroom (US): Toilette
    to stretch my legs: sich die Beine vertreten
    to boil: kochen; sehr heiß sein
    slush: Schneeregen
    a sip: ein Schluck
    to cheer up: aufklaren
    to be worthwhile: sich lohnen
    Introducing oneself and others
    When you reach your destination, be sure to thank the person who has shown you the way before they go. The next step will be to introduce yourself to your host and the other meeting attendees. It is usual to shake hands as you do so.
    „How do you do?“ and „How are you?“
    „How do you do?“ is a standard phrase people use when meeting for the first time. It is very polite and more formal than „Pleased to meet you.“ Although this sounds like a question, the required response is: „How do you do?“ In the US, people meeting for the first time sometimes substitute „How do you do?“ for „How are you?“ (response: „How are you?“). This phrase is also becoming more widely used in UK business culture. The phrase „Nice to meet you“ also exists and is a little less formal than the alternatives above. „Pleased to meet you“ is more appropriate in a business setting. When people who have met on previous occasions ask „How are you?“, the usual response is: „Fine, thanks, and you?“ or, more formally, „Very well, thank you, and you?“. Americans might also reply „Good“, which may sound a little informal for speakers of UK English.
Useful phrases
How do you do? I'm Sylvia Ackermann.
How do you do, Ms Ackermann? I'm Hilary Smith.
Hello, I'm Sylvia Ackermann from DEF GmbH in Germany – pleased to meet you.
Hilary Smith. I'm pleased to meet you, Ms Ackermann.
    First name or last name?
    It is usual to give both first and last names when introducing oneself or others. However, use of first names is very widespread in English-speaking countries, even between people at different levels of seniority and people who have never met face to face. If they call you by your first name, feel free to do the same. If you use the last name, the usual form of address is Miss (for an unmarried woman or if you are unsure whether she's married or not), Mrs (for a married woman) or Mr.
    Introducing others
    There are several ways to introduce other people to one another, depending on the formality of the situation. It is useful to follow the introduction with a line about the person you are introducing. The more formal types of introduction are at the top of the following list and the least formal towards the end.
Useful phrases
Mr Stevenson, may I introduce Peter Korb? Mr Korb is Marketing Director at DEF GmbH in Munich.
Mr Stevenson, I'd like to introduce Peter Korb. Mr Korb has come from Germany to join us for today's meeting.
Michael, I'd like you to meet Peter Korb. Peter is Marketing Director at DEF GmbH.
Michael, have you met Peter Korb from DEF GmbH?
Michael, this is Peter Korb, Marketing Director at DEF in Germany.
Michael Stevenson – Peter Korb.
Michael – Peter. Peter – Michael.
    Small talk
    As is well known, it is customary for business partners in English-speaking countries to make some small talk before getting down to the business at hand. With someone you have just met for the first time, the aim of small talk is to break the ice and to find out a little about him or her from a business perspective. Generally speaking, the better you know a person, the more topics you can add to the list of small talk subjects. For people who know each other well, the weather tends to be further down the list of small talk topics.
    Examples
Example 1: small talk with someone you know well
    A: Peter, good to see you again!
    B: Same here, Jack! How has life been treating you since we last met? And how is Susanne?
    A: Thanks, Susanne is fine. We're going to have twins in July.
    B: Congratulations, that's great news.
Example 2: small talk with someone new
    A: So you also arrived from London, I heard?
    B: Yes, that's right. I flew in from Stansted this morning. Awful traffic on the M11, just one big traffic jam after the other.
    A: I know what you're talking about. I live in Cambridge and have to take the M11 every morning to go to work.
    B: Poor you! Where exactly are you based?
    A: At the Harlow office. Been there for about 18 months now.
    B: Do you happen to know Peter Brooks? From