It used to be that a good concierge was the
guy - or gal - who got you tickets to that must-see sold-out play
or sent you to the city's best-kept-secret of an eatery. These
days, however, the job is being fine-tuned and redefined. From soap
concierges to boot concierges, it's a brave new world at the
hotel's most frequented desk. - Becca Hensley
Eco-concierge
70 Park Avenue Hotel, New York City
Christal White sees
New York City through
emerald-colored glasses. Committed to minimizing her personal
environmental impact, she inspires others to do the same. She
encourages guests to experience the Big Green Apple with pedicabs,
directs them to lesser-known green spaces in the urban jungle, and
counsels them on how to offset their travel-related carbon
emissions.
www.70parkave.com
Cultural Concierge
Hotel Seiyo Ginza, Tokyo
Want to close the deal? Let
Hiromi
Hayashi coach you in the fine art of the Japanese business
world. She'll pass on the tools for success, including how to bow
properly, what body language to eschew, how to create Japanese
business cards, and what the rules are for exchanging them. As part
of the hotel's 24-hour concierge service, she also creates
itineraries, teaches etiquette, and helps you manage your time.
www.seiyo-ginza.com
Teen Concierge
Vail/Beaver Creek Resort Properties, Beaver
Creek, Colorado
Not your stodgy parent, cool
Sarah
Evans takes teens on personalized shopping excursions
throughout
Beaver Creek and then offers them sustenance at
teen-friendly cafés. She organizes
snowboarding lessons with the
hottest instructors, arranges fitness classes, and coordinates VIP
passes to destination events.
www.vbcrp.com
Cove-Searge
The Cove, Eleuthera, Bahamas
There's nothing fishy about
Kirk Aulin
Jr., your private sea-adventure concierge. He maps out
snorkeling trips, escorts
kayaking expeditions, spearfishes your
dinner upon request, and even kayaks with you over to Lenny
Kravitz's place.
www.thecoveeleuthera.com
Tuck-in Concierge
The Loews Regency Hotel, New York
City
Mohammed Pinto, an expert on nearby
toy stores, plays
soccer with wee guests in the hotel hallways.
More exciting than a trip to the
Empire State Building, he
entertains with bedtime stories, cookie baking in the kitchen, and
luggage-cart rides throughout the hotel.
www.loewshotels.com
Canine Concierge
The Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston
Woof! Snuggle up with
Catie Copley, the hotel’s canine ambassador, who provides dog-loving guests with vital services such as being a surrogate pet, running companion, nose licker, and cuddler. This adorable black lab has her very own set of business cards and even an e-mail address (
catie.copley@fairmont.com).
www.fairmont.comVine Vixen Concierge
Hotel Vintage Park, Seattle
Wine lady
Kelly Koon surrounds her guests with all things wine. She pours it during a complimentary daily wine hour, takes guests to area vineyards, creates private tastings, and even urges them to try skydiving tours of Washington State vineyards.
www.hotelvintagepark.comProposal Concierge
Acqualina, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
Tying the knot but need some guidance?
Samuel Garcia has the power to shut down Bal Harbour’s Harry Winston. His long list of no-fail proposal schemes reads like an epic novel. Under his tutelage, dreams are realized, romance reigns, and “I do” becomes the phrase of the day.
www.acqualinaresort.com