What does a concierge do?

What is a Concierge?

All reputable hotels, cruise ships, casinos, and resorts have a cordial, quick-thinking concierge. They are often recognized as the face of the facility they work for.

They know how to find attractions and places of interest for guests, and have a list of names and numbers that can facilitate any unique and challenging requests.

What does a Concierge do?

The beginnings of this profession can be traced back to the medieval era. French noblemen left the care of their castles and their guests in capable hands. The “keepers of the candles" were entrusted with the keys to the castle.

What modern-day concierges do depend largely on the type of facility employing them, as the needs of the clients or guests of these facilities vary. Thus, the responsibilities of those who work for a hotel varies somewhat from those who work for cruise ships, casinos, resorts, private individuals, corporations, and so on.

There are duties and responsibilities, however, which are common across the board. Foremost is attentive communication. Concierges are often the people guests and clients go to when they have concerns or needs they want met. Communication can be done in person, by phone, and online.

Another common responsibility of the concierge is being an information resource on how to enjoy the services offered by a facility, as well as those found in its surrounding areas. Concierges are expected to be able to know the best possible routes from one point to another, whether by foot, by taxi, by public transportation, or by private vehicle.

People look to a concierge to find information on events, tourist spots, destinations, and other things that they may be interested in. They can also help make appointments or assist in arranging the client's or guest’s itinerary so that they are able to make the most of their stay.

As well as being a reliable source of local information, part of the job is to be able to book guests into different events, to make reservations for them at their intended destinations, or to find and purchase tickets.

Above all, the profession needs excellent customer service skills. Talking to people and helping them is an inescapable and inherent characteristic of the job. Those who show promise in this profession are pleasant and sociable; this characteristic is natural or cultivated by those interested in working in this field.

What is the workplace of a Concierge like?

A concierge is no longer limited to hotels and resorts. They are found working on cruise ships, for travel companies, corporations, community care facilities, and even private individuals.

They sometimes work in teams headed by chief concierges. Various aspects of the job are assigned to certain team members, so the workload is distributed and easier to accomplish.

Some companies offer concierge services to private individuals and companies. This means that going into private practice, and then later owning one’s own company, is a distinct possibility.