Good Lifestyle

Concierges are like fairy fairies in the hospitality industry. You can ask for the craziest query, and it's a sure bet they will be able to give you your wish. Exclusive dinner reservations? To verify. An upgrade of the suite? To verify. Private visits or help shopping? Check and check. But you have already asked how they work exactly their magic? Well, read it, because we talked to the high-end hotel concierges from around the world to discover all the secrets of the scene behind the scenes they want you to know.

Remember the company's crossed keys ofWes Anderson's Cult Classic,The Grand Budapest Hotel? Well, it's real. Golden keys, or Golden keys, are a group of most elite concierges in the world. "Concular gold keys have an integrated network and community," saysGaby Delgado, Chief concierge at theFairmont Washington, D.C., who is a member herself. "There are different forces that each office or hotel has, and when you are launched a curve, you can always count on your family" on duty "to help you."

"One of the most complete demands I received during my 43 years of work is a guest asked me to buy an antique Aston Martin DB5 and sending it to the United Arab Emirates," a declaredRobert Watson, Chief concierge at theIntercontinental willard.

"The real goal of a concierge is to cement long-term relationships with the suppliers that a guest could use," saysKyle van Leeuwen, concierge atFairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica. "This allows us to appeal to favors, whether exhausted tickets to snatch events or concerts, or make a reservation at Valentine's day up to the hottest restaurant in the city."

Directed to theslopes? There can be a ski crew for you. "You can leave their equipment with us, which will be transported to our exclusive ski concierge fair, a few steps from the mountain, which facilitates the adaptation of your equipment and move around Vail village lighter," explainsVictor Rossi, the concierge chief toSonnenalp Hotel in Vail.

Beach Bums should also check if their station has a surf concierge. "Our concierge office [atFairmont Miramar HotelIs composed of three expert surfers who can direct any traveler at secret locations that the inhabitants know, "said Van Leeuwen.

LISE LEGRANDConcierge of Champagne at theRoyal Champagne Hotel & Spa In France, can tell you everything about the history of scintillating wine. "Dom Pierre Pérignon did not really invented the champagne. In fact, he probably hated bubbles! Most people do not realize that much of his story is a myth, "she says. Another anecdote of the expert: "Pol Roger has been loved by sparkling drinkers for centuriesWinston Churchill Drank so much of their fizz they named a cuvée after him - but are often overlooked by our guests in favor of the most popular houses of Champagne. "

The golden rule to use a concierge: Ask and you will receive. "One of the best tips I can give is not to be afraid to ask," saysMayumi Sugai, a customer service representative toVivere Hotel & Resort in the Philippines. "If you want yourroom to upgrade, interrogate. If you want a free drink, ask. If you need to pull a surprise for your partner, ask. If you want a reservation in our restaurant with the best place, ask. "

"An unexpected service Our concierge team is asked all the time: tie the butterfly knot of a guest," saysBrian Thomasson, a concierge at theIntercontinental willard In Washington, D.C. "I want to be born weekly links, especially on weekends when we have weddings."

Do not count on Google to discover thebest things to doin a destination. Tap the knowledge of your concierge, which can really explain why a certain attraction or a certain activity is superior. Take, for example,Janice Dempsey, Chief concierge chief atWaldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead, whose favorite place in the city is theAtlanta History Center-A site that you may have passed if you have just navigate to Yelp or TripAdvisor.

"The Atlanta History Center provides an overview of the heritage of the American civil war at the golden age of the 1800s and the 1920s at the 1996 Summer Olympics," said Dempsey . "Recently added is cyclorama, only one of them in America. This restored circular painting represents the battle of Atlanta of July 1864."

"I like to give tips on meals andExploration of the city Based on the preferences of guests, "saysSky Wang, Supervisor of the butlerPuxuan In Beijing. It is always ready to help as it studies the profiles of guests before registration. It is therefore able to customize their journey of the second in the lobby of the hotel.

Hospitality groupOpal collection Offers a concierge program on the road. "Now today's travelers choose to take it slowly and enjoy the trip, rather than speed with a destination that feared to miss the next trip, we are proud to provide travelers with a valuable resource to help planFlorida Road Trip, "saysJenny Steffens, Concierge of the opal collection. "We will help map the best route to enjoy a romantic getaway in Clearwater Beach in chic.OPAL SANDS RESORT, then July toJupiter Beach Resort Catch a spring training game. "

"In today's age focused on social media, more people areDestinations Looking for the perfect shot of Instagram, "says W insiderRicardo Perez. "W Punta de Mita The bright, bold and colorful decoration made for a picturesque backdrop. To help our customers find the best places to increase a photo, we have recently launched the #InstagramCerge program. We provide guests with an infographic map of the property marked by most photo-photo stains based on the overall aesthetics of their account. So far, the answer was great! "

"Our concierge can secure the best restaurant reservation or organize experiences that money can not buy," saysBarry White, Chief concierge at theInterContinental Dublin. "Recently, our concierge was organized to have [the city's luxury store, Brown Thomas, to close itself for famous customers can go shopping at peace."

"Being a concierge is the best work in the world; the list of what we can do to meet the needs of our customers is endless," says ConciergeEmma Brødreskift ofBritannia In Trondheim, Norway. "We always have an adrenaline thrust out of demand" impossible "and no task is too great. For example, we have recently helped a guest to organize the emblematic Norwegian brown cheese to be exclusively imported into Kuwait."

"We always recommend our customers Explorerflights at smaller regional airports when they reserve travel, "saysErnesto Correa, concierge atCourtyard of Marriott San Francisco Downtown (who will be calledClance When he completes a $ 30 million renovation in June).

"Our hotel is located a distance from San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport, but that Oakland Airport is smaller and less fog delays, it can often Being an easier travel experience, "said Correa.

"No matter what religious holidays are celebrating, we will ensure that all traditions are maintained," says White. "Once our concierge has had a very important guest who celebrated Hanukkah and shared this information at the last minute. Our concierge is not only organized so that the candle Hanoukkah be delivered to their suite (a difficult thing in a predominantly country Catholic like Ireland!) But also organized for the guest to celebrate with a local Jewish family who are regulars in our hotel. "

Take Washington, D.C.'sCherry blossoms, for example. "The best time to see the flowers is early in the morning at sunrise," saysJeffrey Morgan, Chief concierge at theConrad Washington, D.C. "If you are a runner, take your arrival at the tidal basin or raise a scooter. Not only the sunrise behind the flowers is absolutely amazing, it is also the duration of the day the least congested, then you can walk you relatively to take in sight. "

"In the last 17 years in Halekulani, I learned to study people; there is a meaning in how someone eliminates his sunglasses and how they are placed on the counter, the style of a Aloha shirt and even the restraint of their hand while applying perfumes or cologne, saysFrank HernandezConcierge toHalekulani In Honolulu. "It may seem cliché, but be able to listen to your heart is essential. This separates a real concierge of atravel agent or reception clerk; We are trained to hear the intention in their expression. "

"When you book, always let your hotel know if you are traveling for a special opportunity like a birthday or a birthday, because according to the property, there could be special services that they can offer," saysDylan Scott, a member of the service team invited to theMIRBEAU INN & SPA In Rhinebeck, New York. For example, if you celebrate something like a honeymoon, you may find yourself with a bottle of champagne in your room!

"We can make recommendations for activities thatkids Will find interesting and fun, for restaurants of the younger mouth, and even for babysitters so that mom and dad can have an evening by themselves, "saysDiane Horton,Heritage Resort Hotels and Centers Regional Concierge.

"When you are standing as a concierge, you have to go out and experience your city so you can truly recommend where to go and what to do for guests outside the city," saysVanessa Torruellas, Guest Relations Manager and Concierge Manager at Head atIroquois New York. "This is the fun part of being a concierge - Your life is a continuous research project. There is always a new play, a bar or restaurant to discover. It is also important to create a solid network with Restaurant and owners managers so that you can continually [offer] unique experiences for your guests. "

"I think the best way for a guest to interact with a concierge is to have a conversation with respect to a specific question," saysSayaka Hishinuma, Chief concierge at theOlympic Fairmont Hotel in Seattle. "We like to engage our customers to learn more about their tastes and disgusts. Once we have gathered all the information and create a significant connection with a guest, we strive to create aExperience or adventure It's unique and personalized. So, do not ask your concierge a question, to use a conversation and they will be able to deliver something to measure and specialized for you. »

"One of the most important questions to avoid is: "What is there to do there?" SaidJohn Menne, former director of invited servicesHASBROUCK HOUSEIn Stone Ridge, New York. "You could continue forever with a ton of things that do not interest any interest in the guest. So, I usually answer with some questions about their interests. For example, do they like outdoor activities like the Hiking or snowshoeing, brewery or hiking. Tours, are they gerres or come to relax and relax with yoga and a massage? shrink to customers' interests help us plan their perfect trip. "

"Whenever someone asks me to get a taxi, I always write the taxi number. In this way, if the guest leaves something in the taxi, I'm already able to tell them the name and the specific number of the taxi to help them trace the element later, "saysJesus Braulio Zavala, a Bellman atHotel Essex in Chicago. "Similarly, if you forget a passport from the hotel and they are already at theairport, everything might not be lost. Guests should call the hotel and see if the concierge can find a way to get the passport. Concierges and Bellmen often have a known taxi driver confidence network that can help provide lost objects in a pinch. "

"Welcoming a guest back to the hotel and asking them how they enjoyed something special about their last stay allows them to feel very special," saysSusan Cotton, Director of Marketing at theCommonwealth Hotel In Boston. "Remember what type of amenity a guest loves, or even aspecific room can go a long way. "

"We often have guests who pre-plan their holidays but do not contact concierge services at their hotel," saysJose Pauco, Concierge of the head at theMilestone Hotel & Residencesin London.

Do not do that! "Always contact us at the concierge well beyond your trip. We can help check everything to check the weather forecasts of your dates of stay, to advise major events or commercial lounges of the city that could affect your visit, to Recommend which tickets you should book in advance, "adds the chief conciergeJoachim Lenk ofHotel Adlon Kempinski in Berlin.

Never to eat whether or not the dinner sweater - your concierge can easily help you make wardrobe decisions related to the weather. For example, take the concierge reviewHoon Kim ofThe silo: "Cape Town can have fairly unpredictable weather conditions, which means that living the four seasons in a day is very possible. The solution is to stay flexible and that things can always go also planned. We are here for Help in these cases, then leave the rest to us. "

"We have strong relations with the people of the community to create the best excursions of the region, a cultural experience to a complete adrenaline adventure," saidRuth Murillo, a concierge at theTabacón Thermal Resort & Spa In Costa Rica.

"Connections and relationships are essential to make the impossible possible," saysRoshid Miles, a concierge at theKimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia. "Getting this restaurant reservation could even take some begging and advocacy, but in the end when the result is a happy guest, it's worth it."

"In the city's walk, remember to look and take in all architecture and spectacular experiences," saysRommel GOPEZ, Director of Relations invited toEdison Hotel. "As a tourist, it's so easy to get lost in travel guides and books you could actually miss the charm of New York."

"I always take long joggs or other forms of exercise when I try to come back in a time zone, and it helps a lot with my time offset," saysMarcel Thoma, General manager atThe high room in Hong Kong.

"As many New Yorkers know, traffic in the city can be terrible. Although it is easy to greet a cabin or walk, depending on the traffic, it may be better to take the subway or the walk if it's a short distance, "saysNarciso Rodrígueza concierge withLowell At New York. "Working at the Lowell for 18 years, you become an expert guide of the city. With the rest of the invited service team, we are always happy to help our guests navigate the subway or provide them with directions for walking So that they can go where they go on time. "

"As long as it's legal, moral and kind, we try to ask the question:" Why can not we do it? "SaidPatrick Ritschard, Chief concierge at theFour Seasons Hotel Las Vegas.

"We are trying to continue" no "and" sorry "from our vocabulary," says Menne. "We are really ready to help with all the questions and requests, even if it requires some research and extra length."

And get more of the insider spoon, check the20 Secrets Hotel employees will not tell you.