Concierge attends international congress

April 11 2007

Media Release from Sofitel Queenstown

Sofitel Queenstown Concierge attends international congress

The Head Concierge of the five-star Sofitel Queenstown has returned to New Zealand bursting with enthusiasm and ideas after attending the week-long 54th international Les Clefs D’Or Congress in Vienna.

Bryan Wilkinson was the only South Island concierge to attend the prestigious annual event in late March, which attracted 538 concierges from 40 countries to the European capital.

Bryan is one of the southernmost professional concierges in the world and was previously concierge at world-renowned The Connaught in London. Les Clefs D’Or or the ‘Golden Keys’, are the society’s trademark crossed-key lapel pins and are a symbol of opening doors for a concierge’s clients.

“The congress was a great investment in terms of the contacts I made with concierges from all around the world, seminars and workshops about the future of the society, about education of concierges, and about advanced technology that’s now available to help us provide an even better service for guests,” he said.

“The society has been going for more than 50 years and there was a lot of discussion about whether we are a society of the future and not just the past.

“But you only had to look around you at the congress to see a lot of young people, a good mix of men and women, and everyone was unanimous that we are changing with the times.”

A report to the congress from the Australia/Oceania Zone, which includes New Zealand, noted that New Zealand has recorded ‘significant growth’ in concierge numbers and currently has 19 members, up from 14 at the same stage last year.

“I was one of five New Zealand concierges to attend the event which is more than a quarter of our country’s membership, a huge achievement,” said Mr Wilkinson.

But in one of the most beautiful cities in the world the seminar could not be all work and no play – the concierges were treated to a performance by the world-renowned Vienna Boys Choir at the Vienna City Hall, to a night at the theatre and to dinners and functions in places such as the Hofburg Palace, a former residence of the Emperor Franz Joseph.

ENDS

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