Earlier this month I had the honour of being invited to the Les Clefs D’Or Tourism Gala held at the Vancouver Club. Such a joyous occasion and a privilege to be there to help honour those concierge that received their golden keys for the first time and also to honour those with lengthy service. One concierge, Bertine Hage was being honoured for her thirty years of service with the Four Seasons Hotel. It was an exciting evening.
Ms. Melany Bautista (Fairmont Gold Supervisor, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver) (receiving her keys) from Ms. Andrea Torrance – Vice President Operations Support, Americas, for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts & Mr. Darren Klingbeil, Fairmont Gold Manager, Fairmont Hotel VancouverMs. Salima Jiwam (Concierge, Fairmont Waterfront Hotel- receiving keys) from Mr. Don Mooney- right , Vice Director of Les Clefs d’Or Canada, left Mr. Dillon Carfoot Regional Director for Les Clefs d’Or British Columbia, behind Mr. Ken Flores , General Manager at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel.Ms. Jesi Russell (Chef Concierge, Fairmont Waterfront Hotel – receiving keys) from (right) Mr. Ken Flores – GM, Fairmont Waterfront Hotel and Mr. Don Mooney, Vice Director of Les Clefs d’Or CanadaMr. Curtis Slade (Concierge, Wedgewood Hotel) from Mr. Glenn Eleiter(left), Hotel Manager, Wedgewood Hotel and Mr. Don Mooney- right , Vice Director of Les Clefs d’Or CanadaMs. Sue Yoon recieving keys from Mr. Don Mooney- right , Vice Director of Les Clefs d’Or Canada and Mr. Brad Simmons, Director of Sales and Marketing, Rosewood Hotel Georgia.
Did you ever wish you had someone to direct you and steer you in the right direction? Your wish can come true when you are staying at a quality hotel staffed by a member of Les Clefs D’Or.
Les Clefs D’Or is a society of hotel concierge. Members of the society provide excellence in service, and so much more to enhance your hotel stay. Being a member means that a concierge has ultimate knowledge of their community and can anticipate the needs of their guests.
Les Clefs D’Or is an international organization, a Golden Key International Honour Society, and a professional association of hotel concierges. Membership means service through friendship and signifies the values of cooperation and communication.
This is what Les Clefs D’Or of Canada says about their members:
“They must have a pleasant and welcoming appearance, good grooming habits, excellent sight and hearing, and absolute integrity. It is important that a concierge be in good health and physically fit, with an ability not only to stand for a considerably long period of time, but also to get around actively when conditions require it.
The Clefs d’Or concierges of large hotels are always dressed neatly with the greatest attention to detail. Their clothes reflect the fact that they work for important establishments. Personal cleanliness must, of course, be impeccable. In short, the most successful concierges will be those of cheerful aspect and smart appearance, those motivated by a genuine desire to serve the public. They should never present a frown to the public but always try to appear agreeable, leaving their problems away from work.
Among their intellectual qualifications, concierges should have the gift of good observation and a keen sense of humour. They should have a logical mind with an ability to discern priorities and a very keen memory.
The characteristics of a good Clefs d’Or concierge include not only vitality and perseverance, but also prudence, patience, kindness toward junior staff, self-confidence, initiative, the ability to adapt quickly to different situations, a sense of discipline, the ability to give orders, to understand, to motivate others, tact, flexibility, leadership and the ability to work well under pressure.”
In addition to all the professional activities and knowledge that a Les Clefs D’Or concierge must possess there is the personal side and the generous community service that is a part of the requirements to becoming a “golden key”. Each concierge must have a minimum of five years hotel experience and be employed as a full time concierge in a hotel for a minimum of two years.
I think we can all appreciate the time and effort that goes into becoming a member of Les Clefs D’Or and keep in mind that their commitment goes beyond the job to include their local community and service to others.
Les Clefs D’Or’s major fundraising event for the past five years is the Charity Boat Cruise, TheCruise raises money for Dreams take Flight and BC Hospitality Foundation. This year alone over $10,000 was raised.
Les Clefs D’Or participate in the Terry Fox run every year and have raised over $6000 each year. They also volunteer for the TIP golf tournament, where the funds raised are given as scholarships to hospitality students that have been performing well and come recommended by the teachers in their school.
I think we can all appreciate the time and effort that goes into becoming a member of Les Clefs D’Or and keep in mind that their commitment goes beyond the job to include their local community and service to others.
Thank you to all of you who go out of your way to make your guests feel pampered and contribute so much to a positive experience when we travel.
from left Mr. Dillon Carfoot Regional Director for Les Clefs d’Or British Columbia, Ms. Bertine Hage, Chef Concierge at the Four Seasons Hotel (honored for 30 years of service with Les Clefs d’Or) and Mr. Don Mooney , Vice Director of Les Clefs d’Or Canada
from left Ms. Sheron Empey (received certificate of excellence , Concierge – Four Seasons Hotel, Ms Ms. Bertine Hage, Chef Concierge at the Four Seasons Hotel, Martin Sinclair, GM Four Seasons Hotel.
from left Mr. Dillon Carfoot Regional Director for Les Clefs d’Or British Columbia, Ms. Shelley Hayashi Concierge, Pan Pacific Hotel (received Certificate of excellence) Mr. Don Mooney , Vice Director of Les Clefs d’Or Canada
from Left Ms. Jesi Russell – Chef Concierge, Mr. Robert James, Concierge and Ms. Salima Jiwan, Concierge (all from Fairmont Waterfront Hotel)from left Ms. Andrea Torrance – Vice President Operations Support, Americas, for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Mr. Mark Finn, Concierge Fairmont Pacific Rim and Mr. Matthew Scott, Chef Concierge Fairmont Pacific Rimfrom left Mr. Steve Bickerdicke (Honorary member for Les Clefs d’Or), Ms. Ivonne Mayne, Concierge, Fairmont Pacific Rim, Ms. Marie Claire, Prestige Maps, Ms. Bertine Hage, Chef Concierge Four Seasons Hotel, Mr. Curtis Slade, concierge Wedgwood Hotel, Ms. Sue Yoon, Concierge, Rosewood Hotel Georgiafrom Left Mr. Michael Pye, General Manager – Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Mr. Kevin Kelleher, Director of Rooms, Mr. Mark Warwin, Director of Operations, Ms. Melany Bautista, Fairmont Gold Supervisor, Ms. Yuki Fournier, Fairmont Gold Supervisor, Mr. David Reid, Concierge , Ms. Debbie Wild, Concierge, Mr. Darren Klingbeil, Fairmont Gold Manager. All from Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
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Amazing article! Thank you so much