Ann Marie Sabath is founder of Cincinnati-based At Ease, Inc . and author of Business Etiquette as well as four other books on the subject of domestic and international etiquette. John Zamoiski is CEO of Vertical Mix Marketing and a former chairman of the board for the Promotion Marketing Association. On the order of apologizing, you should first acknowledge the faux pas in writing to let that person know that you're sincere. Secondly, if a gift is sent, it should display thoughtfulness before monetary value. Anything too extravagant might be seen as bribery.
Extravagance is both bad manners and bad strategy in business.
It's not necessarily the quick fix that we would try to do for an upset guest. That will hopefully leave a very positive image, or turn something bad into an opportunity for something really good. You'll not only be remembered, but that apology will go a long way. And you will be assured of doing the politically correct thing. The best case scenario is that the gift may help you get back where you started, meaning that you and the client still have a relationship.