On a late summer Vancouver evening on September 7, MyVanCity.ca had the pleasure of sharing a wonderful evening aboard the MV Britannia from Harbour Cruises in Coal Harbour.
From the warm welcome with a personal photo and walk up the gangplank to the delicate rose presented as we left, the evening provided a great setting and amazing food and beverages from the best in Vancouver.
The sponsors were BC Les Clefs d’Or and the goal was to raise money for BC Hospitality Foundation and Dreams Take Flight but they were also celebrating 40 years of Les Clefs d’Or Canada!
To mark this special birthday, we were asked to dress the way we would have 40 years ago. Psychedelic colours, big hair, bell bottoms, and minis were dragged out of the closet and the evening was a blast from the past!
The food was gourmet and provided by the best of Vancouver restaurants.
This evening and all the amazing people involved, led me to think how important a job they all do to make our times out so great.
Have you had that special evening, day, or vacation?
What made it so special?
It could be the company, the locale, but usually in the background it is being helped by the perfect staff member at the restaurant, hotel or venue.
The difference is being greeted with a genuine smile, accommodating reception, considerate housekeeping, and helpful advice from the concierge.
These wonderful supportive people are usually part of an organization called BC Les Clefs d’Or.
You can recognize Clefs d’Or concierges by the keys they display on the lapels of their uniforms. These crossed gold keys are more than just the symbol of the organization — they are the symbol of guaranteed, quality service.
Les Clefs d’Or is an international network of men and women with common interests and goals. They have their own mystique, a combination of their expertise sources of inside information, intelligence and communication. The Organization is non-political, non-religious and definitely not a trade union of any sort but is based on friendship between members to assist international travellers and tourists.
The mission of Les Clefs d’Or states “concierges are motivated by a genuine desire to serve. They are prudent, patient, kind toward guests and staff alike, self-confident, tenacious, persistent, adaptable, ingenious, disciplined, and flexible.”
The BC Les Clefs d’Or is an organization that represents Hotel Concierges. “We facilitate the exchange of ideas between Members. We work together to better serve our valued hotel guests. Our Motto: “In Service through Friendship.” “
As British Columbia and Vancouver become top international tourist destinations, the people that meet and greet those tourists are crucial to the long term success of the industry. People remember great service because they know they enjoyed the experience.
BC Hospitality Foundation is the industry’s charity, providing financial support for the hospitality community for health-related issues and scholarship programmes. One of the organizations supported is “Dreams Take Flight”, a national non-profit organization provides the trip of a lifetime to medically, mentally, physically, socially or emotionally challenged children. With the aid of the Air Canada Foundation, BCHF helps make dreams a reality for special kids across British Columbia.BCHF believes they can make a major difference in these children’s lives by opening a window of possibilities without limitations.
By the end of this year, Dreams Take Flight will have taken more than 25,000 children to the happiest place on earth – Disneyland. There they experience the wonder of friendship and magic. Our goal is to help them forget their troubles for one incredible day and to provide them with a lifetime of memories.
To build the Foundation’s assets, BC Les Clefs d’or hold a number of fund raising events that not only raise the needed funds but also provides a venue to share enjoyable time and locations.
photo credit: Judy Robb and Sylvia Pritchard
Good read Sylvia. Sounds like you had a blast.