Business in the Highlands: A Corporate Traveler's Guide to Antsirabe, Madagascar

Unlike Antananarivo's bustling hotel scene, Antsirabe offers a more curated selection of accommodations that cater to business travelers seeking functionality without sacrificing character. My personal favorite remains the Couleur Café, a restored colonial villa where the gardens provide natural sound insulation from the pousse-pousse (rickshaw) traffic that characterizes the city center. The property offers reliable Wi-Fi—a crucial consideration in Madagascar—and private garden spaces perfect for informal meetings.

For longer stays, consider the Hotel des Thermes, a grand colonial-era establishment that has hosted everyone from French diplomats to international mining executives. While the architecture speaks of another era, the business center has been thoughtfully modernized. I've edited rough cuts of documentary footage from their conference rooms during monsoon season downpours without a single connectivity issue—a rare luxury in Madagascar.

If your meetings require more sophisticated presentation capabilities, the Royal Palace Hotel offers the most comprehensive technical setup, including projector systems and dedicated IT support. I always pack my portable projector as backup—it's saved numerous presentations when venue technology proved incompatible with international adapters or unexpected power fluctuations occurred.

Madagascar's business culture represents a fascinating blend of French colonial influence, traditional Malagasy values, and emerging international standards. In Antsirabe specifically, I've found that understanding the nuances of fady (taboos) and hierarchical respect can make or break business relationships.

Meetings in Antsirabe operate on what I've come to call 'highland time'—more punctual than coastal Madagascar but still fluid by European or American standards. Expect a 15-30 minute grace period for arrivals, particularly for morning appointments. This isn't disrespect but rather a practical adaptation to the city's transportation rhythms and family obligations.

Business cards remain essential currency here—bring plenty and present them with both hands as a sign of respect. I've custom-designed mine with a subtle embossed pattern inspired by local zebu horn carvings, which invariably becomes a conversation starter. For extended business stays, consider having a batch printed locally with Malagasy translation on the reverse—a gesture that demonstrates commitment to the relationship.

Dress code deserves special mention: while Antsirabe's climate is cooler than much of Madagascar, formal business attire can still feel excessive. Men typically wear light suits without ties, while women opt for conservative dresses or pantsuits. I've found a lightweight blazer in natural fabrics paired with tailored pants strikes the right balance between professional presentation and practical comfort for the highland climate.

The greatest challenge for business travelers in Antsirabe remains reliable connectivity. While the situation has improved dramatically over the past decade, preparation remains essential. Most hotels advertise Wi-Fi, but bandwidth and reliability vary wildly. During my last production meeting at Hotel Royal Palace, our video conference with European investors required three backup plans.

I've developed a connectivity kit that has saved countless critical communications: a portable hotspot with a local SIM card (Telma offers the best coverage in the highlands), paired with a signal booster for rural excursions. This combination has allowed me to conduct video interviews from remote artisan workshops and upload footage from locations where even phone calls would typically fail.

For critical documents and presentations, I maintain local copies on both my laptop and tablet, never assuming cloud access will be available. The city experiences regular power fluctuations, particularly during the rainy season (November through March), so scheduling important virtual meetings during morning hours typically yields better results.

Antsirabe has several dedicated work spaces that cater to international business travelers. My preference is Café Diamant, where the baristas understand the sacred relationship between productivity and properly brewed coffee. They maintain a generator and separate business internet connection distinct from their customer Wi-Fi—access requires a minimum order and small fee, but the reliability justifies the cost during critical work periods.

The mark of a seasoned business traveler is knowing how to transform inevitable schedule gaps into opportunities for deeper cultural understanding and relationship building. Antsirabe offers rich possibilities for productive downtime that transcend typical tourist activities.

The city is renowned for its artisan workshops, particularly those specializing in zebu horn crafting, gemstone cutting, and textile production. These aren't merely tourist attractions but functioning industries that welcome professional engagement. During post-production delays on my Malagasy crafts documentary, I arranged visits to several workshops with local business contacts—experiences that evolved into valuable supply chain relationships for European design houses I later introduced to the region.

Particularly impressive is the Atelier de Corne workshop, where artisans transform zebu horns into everything from jewelry to functional homewares. The workshop manager, Jean-Pierre, offers business-focused tours that emphasize production processes and export considerations rather than the typical tourist presentation.

For those in manufacturing or sustainability sectors, the recycled paper production facility at Antaimoro Paper Factory provides fascinating insights into how traditional techniques are being adapted for modern markets. I've brought several European film production companies here to source sustainable packaging for their media materials.

These industrial visits serve multiple purposes: they provide context for understanding the regional economy, create natural opportunities for building relationships with local business leaders, and offer refreshing mental breaks from meeting rooms and digital screens. I always carry my compact camera during these excursions—its discreet profile doesn't disrupt the professional atmosphere while allowing me to document production techniques that might be relevant to future collaborations.

Antsirabe presents a unique transportation ecosystem that business travelers must adapt to quickly. The city is famous for its colorful pousse-pousse (hand-pulled rickshaws), which remain the dominant form of inner-city transportation. While these iconic vehicles might seem charming for tourism, they present practical challenges for business schedules and professional presentation.

For meetings within the central business district, pousse-pousse can actually be the most efficient option during peak traffic hours, as they navigate congested streets with remarkable agility. I recommend establishing a relationship with a specific pousse-pousse driver for the duration of your stay—most hotels can arrange this. My regular driver, Hery, has become so familiar with my filming schedule that he instinctively knows which equipment needs extra protection during Antsirabe's frequent afternoon showers.

For destinations beyond the city center or when time is critical, pre-arranged taxi services are essential. App-based ride services have limited presence here, so relationships matter. The most reliable service for business travelers is Taxi Mazana, which maintains a fleet of well-maintained vehicles and drivers with basic English proficiency. Request their business card upon arrival and schedule critical transfers at least 24 hours in advance.

For meetings that require visits to multiple sites or facilities outside the city, consider arranging a dedicated driver for the day. Expect to pay 200,000-350,000 Ariary (approximately $50-85 USD) for a full day's service with a comfortable vehicle. This investment provides not just transportation but often valuable cultural interpretation and local business insights.

During my last production visit documenting gemstone cutting workshops, our driver Rivo provided crucial introductions to workshop owners who initially seemed hesitant about camera equipment in their facilities. His local connections transformed potential obstacles into opportunities.