I have been blessed with seventeen years
in this profession. Almost two decades filled with interesting stories, thrilling requests, cool coworkers and best of all, thousands of wonderful tenants.
“This meeting of the Philadelphia Hotel
Concierge Association is now called to order.”
Bonnie Jessup* was seated at the head of a long and imposing polished oak board- room table that resided within a regal meeting space on the first floor of one of the city’s top hotels. The chief concierge, she presided over the gathering of four- teen or so colleagues, two from her own property along with other ambassadors from several different sites.
The woman had a noble air about her; graceful and delicate movements; and long straight black hair that beheld a vibrant exotic sheen. It cascaded over slim shoulders and down the lapels of her wrinkle-free gray hotel uniform. Gold crossed keys gleamed from the left breast of her jacket.
Dark unblinking eyes were lidded, and they regarded those who sat before her with an unemotional gaze across that long table.
To Bonnie’s right sat Paul Erich*, his Germanic countenance topped with a salt-and-pepper buzz cut, his piercing blue eyes regarded us in a similar, almost dismissive fashion.
And to her left, shifting with nervous energy was Kylie Kline*. In her early- twenties, Kylie was a junior to her cohorts by ten years. Wearing a short pixie cut and craning a long, swan like neck, her brown eyes continually darted nervously around the room.
“Let us begin,” Bonnie’s voice coolly whis- pered. We quickly quieted down.
I gazed around the boardroom at the other concierges who were present, sev- eral hailing from other nearby hotels, two
of us who were corporate concierges, and one lone residential concierge sit- ting within our midst.
My mind rewound the words Bonnie had just stated a few moments before: “This meeting of the Philadelphia Hotel Concierge Association.”
It then reflected on the sign outside the door indicating the group meeting inside. I hadn’t quite caught the implica- tions of that sign’s meaning when I arrived. It read how Bonnie had just phrased it: Philadelphia Hotel Concierge Association.
Uh-oh. We had gathered to formulate a plan of action.
Although there had been, up until that point a citywide concierge association, ours had been an informal (non-incorpo- rated) one; more of a social network that met every few months or so. The con- cept then was to create a viable, working association run by active participants.
As the dialogue continued, I sat as I usu- ally did, quietly, listening more than par- ticipating.
I was very shy back then, not looking to appear grandstanding or even have any kind of focus of attention come my way. That all changed the moment Bonnie stated matter-of-factly, “
...and this new association shall be comprised of all the hotel concierges in our region.”
“What about other types of concierges?” Elise, the solo residential concierge inquired.
“No! Hotels-only,” Paul snapped back. “But why?”
Bonnie calmly chimed in, “Because hotel concierges are the only real concierges. They are the only ones who matter.
These other types,” - her nose wrinkled as if she smelled something unpleasant - “these corporate, residential, medical, retail concierges, well, they may carry the title,” she scoffed and Kylie glared at me, “but they’re certainly not really a concierge.”
I sat up straight. “Those are fightin’ words,” I thought to myself.
From that moment on, I did everything I could to make my colleagues under- stand that even though we were different from the traditional concierge, non-hotel professionals still upheld the position.
It all began right then and there - “We have just as much a right to be a part of this organization as you do.” - my life changing over the course of a simple meeting.
“How can you say that?” Paul asked while glowering at me.
“Look at your own position, Paul. Seventy years ago there was no such thing as a hotel concierge. Your job was born from the keys-keepers in manor houses and apartment buildings. These were residen- tial concierges. It’s all about evolving. Your job evolved from those positions, just as my job evolved from the hotel world.”
The others at the table leaned in to listen intently. I continued. “Hell, if you really want to split hairs, Elise as a residential concierge has as much if not more of a right to be a part of this group than you do. After all, her position has been around a lot longer than yours, by a cou- ple hundred years.”
Most of the others in the room nodded in agreement. Paul and Kylie looked as if they were about to pounce on me. Bonnie simply stared through those lid- ded eyes.
Mid-Atlantic EVENTS Magazine 79
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