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Concierges' Corner Our thanks to Zobeida Barrera, Concierge at the Buganvillias Sheraton. fall-winter/2000 The profession of hotel concierge has its hectic, even frenzied moments. The next time you require some small service that won't take but a few minutes, keep in the back of your mind that your concierge may be having a day with tasks springing up like these: •  Answer the phone in a friendly manner while another is ringing and someone at the desk wants information. Get a babysitter in the next five minutes. •  Locate two suitcases lost somewhere on the itinerary Paris-New York-Mexico City-Puerto Vallarta. •  Find 12 red roses, and three blue carnations. •  Locate the stuffed bear of the little girl in 1502. •  Make sure the champagne has been sent to the honeymoon suite, and that the limousine is on time for Mr. Johnson's tour. •  Reserve the best table in a fashionable restaurant for the VIP in suite 2302; and through it all keep smiling, look self-confident and behave with charm and style even though you have only ten minutes to accomplish all of this. Puerto Vallarta's friendly concierges continue a tradition of helpfulness dating from the 18th century. The modern society of hotel concierges was established in 1929 when eleven concierges from the best hotels in Paris united to make their job easier through teamwork. Their motto: "In service through friendship" characterizes the helpful way in which they meet the needs of even their most demanding guests. In 1974 the association was named Union Internationale Les Clefs d'Or (Gold Keys International Association) and today its members identify themselves by wearing a gold key pin. The position of concierge came to America in 1975 when the Four Seasons hotel in Toronto inaugurated this service. The Fairmont hotel in San Francisco followed suit. Mexico was the fourth American country to be accepted in this group, and its first local association was formed right here in Puerto Vallarta.

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