Starwood Preferred Guest - Who employs the concierge at your favorite Starwood?

A brief article in Feb 07 Travel and Leisure (p. 119) spells out the new trend among many hotels to out-source their on-property concierge services. (Not talking about the SPG Platinum Concierges.) Among the hotel chains listed, it includes Starwood. Not good, points out the article, since this can work against the hotel guests if concierges are not operating independently.

Has anyone run into "outsourced" concierges at a Starwood property?

Has anyone run into "outsourced" concierges at a Starwood property?

Yep. The first time I learned about was last fall at a one night stay at the Sheraton Yankee Trader in FLL. The concierge was very efficient, very professional, and all around great. I noticed his Clefs d'Or pin and asked him about it.

Clefs d'Or is usually a good indication that you're dealing with a true professional. Glad to see that they can be found at a *wood.

I know this has been said many times, but...

The concierges at the Westin Maui are friendly and all, but they certainly have timeshare sales as their top priority. :td:

I also read the same article just yesterday. In Maui I noticed the Hyatt had their staff from Expedia.

A brief article in Feb 07 Travel and Leisure (p. 119) spells out the new trend among many hotels to out-source their on-property concierge services. (Not talking about the SPG Platinum Concierges.) Among the hotel chains listed, it includes Starwood. Not good, points out the article, since this can work against the hotel guests if concierges are not operating independently.

Has anyone run into "outsourced" concierges at a Starwood property?

I agree that the Clefs d'Or designation makes a difference. There are only a few thousand of these concierges in the world.

I admire their promise that they will: "accommodate every guest request so long as it is morally, legally, and humanly possible" and their professed characteristics: "motivated by a genuine desire to serve. They are prudent, patient, kind toward guests and staff alike, self-confident, tenacious, persistent, adaptable, ingenious, disciplined, and flexible" :)

In a foreign country, especially, they are an amazing asset.

Two exceptional members are Jean-Pierre Haase at Prince de Galles and Massimo Parlanti in Florence. Both have helped make our stays special.

Robin Van Kooten at the Pulitzer has also been very kind helping us to arrange our upcoming visit to Amsterdam.


I didn't read the article, but I noticed on our recent trip to the Westin Maui that the "concierge" was outsourced to Amex Travel. At the Aladdin, too, the "concierge" is outsourced.