The Hotel Concierge: How to Get the Best Experience
One of the most valuable amenities offered by luxury hotels the world over is also one of the most under-used: the concierge. Sure, lots of people stop at that little desk in the lobby and ask for directions or a restaurant recommendation, but few take advantage of the full spectrum of what a good concierge can offer. Here are a few tips making the most of the experience.Choose the Right Hotel
No matter how awesome a concierge may be they can still be limited by the name they represent. The better the hotel the more effective your concierge will be at getting you impossible to land show seats or last minute reservations at the new hot spot because being an insider will only get them so far -- when push comes to shove the concierge that works for the more prestigious hotel (and therefore sends the bigger spenders) will always be the vendor's favorite. In a round-about way you get what you pay for.
Call Ahead
Before your trip even starts call ahead and share your itinerary. Concierge's are local so they can give you a heads up on any particulars about the area and help fine tune your plans in ways a regular assistant can't -- like letting you know about opportunities that require advance planning or giving you ideas for filling in free time. Calling ahead can also qualify you for special deals and discounts in some cases, and at the very least it will give the concierge a leg up on securing tough reservations.
Use Their Connections
If you're tempted to make reservations yourself remember that getting a seat at a popular restaurant or the best deal at a special event isn't simple black and white -- it's all about established relationships and mutual benefit. A local restaurant might be full to the public but somehow still have a table available for the guests of a favorite concierge, or that concierge could leverage their connections to get you better seats or VIP passes to a concert or show.
Show Your Appreciation
Although the services of a concierge are provided free of charge tips are always appreciated (for more see our article on tipping a concierge) and will let them know how much you appreciate their personal attention to detail. If cash tips aren't your style you can also send a thank you gift later, perhaps around the holidays, or write a letter to the manager of the hotel touting how great the service was.
When it comes to what a concierge can do to make your stay more enjoyable the sky's the limit, but they can't work their magic if they don't know what you need. When it comes to having the best experience with a hotel concierge communication is key, advance planning is helpful, and generous appreciation never hurts.
If you're tempted to make reservations yourself remember that getting a seat at a popular restaurant or the best deal at a special event isn't simple black and white -- it's all about established relationships and mutual benefit. A local restaurant might be full to the public but somehow still have a table available for the guests of a favorite concierge, or that concierge could leverage their connections to get you better seats or VIP passes to a concert or show.
Show Your Appreciation
Although the services of a concierge are provided free of charge tips are always appreciated (for more see our article on tipping a concierge) and will let them know how much you appreciate their personal attention to detail. If cash tips aren't your style you can also send a thank you gift later, perhaps around the holidays, or write a letter to the manager of the hotel touting how great the service was.
When it comes to what a concierge can do to make your stay more enjoyable the sky's the limit, but they can't work their magic if they don't know what you need. When it comes to having the best experience with a hotel concierge communication is key, advance planning is helpful, and generous appreciation never hurts.
