Beyond offering guests a friendly greeting and tips on the area, a concierge follows ancient tradition by aiming to fulfill any guest requests that are legally, ethically and morally feasible.
The word "concierge" is derived form the French term "comte des cierges" meaning "keeper of the candles." Keepers were required to stay abreast on all the events going on in the palace and maintain candles for them. As the years progressed, the person occupying this role was the gatekeeper, or keeper of the key, responsible for greeting guests and attending to their needs.
At the beginning of the 20th century, European hotels employed concierges to keep track of their guests' needs. They began meeting and networking in order to improve their services and eventually developed Les Clefs d’Or, the international association of professional hotel concierges.
As a member of Les Clefs d'Or, I wear a gold key on my lapel. The gold key signifies that the wearer is a professionally trained concierge who has built up the skills and contacts to open doors for guests throughout the city.
Not all concierges are members of Les Clefs d’Or. We must obtain five years experience as concierges, acquire sponsors, and pass rigorous testing. I am the only Les Clefs d’Or concierge in the Radisson chain in the U.S. But don’t worry... I'll still let you in on where you can find the best hot dog in Chicago!
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5 comments:
Verne - Anything going on in the city for St Patricks Day?
Can a concierge get good deals on tickets for events such as shows or sporting events?
Why yes Diane, there's lots going on for St. Patrick's Day! In addition to dyeing the Chicago River green and the St. Patrick's day parade, as I mentioned in a previous post, Chicago is so Irish (Mayor Daly just won his re-election) we have two St. Patrick's day parades!
On Saturday, March 11th, we have the Southside Irish Parade , which is always lots of fun and low-key. On Sunday, March 12th is the "official" parade, with every Chicago politician vying for a spot upfront with "da mare."
Last but not least, we are offering an overnight package that includes a British Ale Flight from our "Elephant and Castle" Pub and Restaurant. Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's weekend, so you will always have someone to celebrate with at the Radisson Chicago Hotel and Suites.
Carol, we can certainly get tickets for many shows and sporting events, but depending on the popularity of an event, a "good deal" may be hard to come by. Tickets for Chicago Cubs games and the musical "Wicked," for example, are in their own category.
What I like to do is talk with the guest, see what type of event they are interested in, and I will do my utmost best to satisfy their request. I may have to contact a ticket broker if an event is sold out. I have always been very satisfied with the results I get from a broker. It may cost a bit more, but it is certainly worth it!
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