A concierge is a receptionist who provides various services depending on the area of work, for example caretaking, security and tasks such as making reservations in hotels, restaurants or theatres.
The French word „concierge“ originally referred to a gatekeeper, i.e. a porter at the castle gate, or a jailer. The term is known in France as 
The name for this office was first recorded in 988. The origin of the word is unclear. The most likely derivation is thought to be from the Latin word „conservius“, which means „servant“ or „slave“. The derivation from the French term „comte des cierges“, which literally means „count of the candles“, is the nicer legend, but linguistically rather unlikely, as expensive wax candles are unlikely to have been used either in the dungeon or at the castle gate.
Today, the term concierge is used in various contexts to describe people who provide personal services, primarily of an organisational nature. The best-known concierge roles are in the luxury hotel industry and in residential complexes. However, services that are integrated into on-board computers in cars are also sometimes referred to as concierge services. One example is the BMW ConnectedDrive concierge service. Airlines also often offer concierge services.
According to a well-known stereotype from French films, the concierge in Parisian houses is usually a middle-aged, single, chatty woman who receives mail for the residents and monitors everyone entering and leaving the house. In reality, concierges in residential buildings in Europe and around the world are usually a mixture of caretakers, doormen and security guards. In poor neighbourhoods as well as in luxury apartment complexes, they ensure the safety of the residents. In luxury apartment complexes in particular, they also run errands for residents, look after pets, organise restaurant, opera or theatre reservations and take care of building maintenance. The tasks of a concierge in this field of work therefore include a whole spectrum of activities, which differs from the range of tasks in a hotel, primarily due to the additional caretaker tasks.
As already mentioned, there is also a concierge in hotels - usually in the upscale hotel industry. „Concierge“ is a synonym for „porter“ or „hotel porter“, which literally translates as doorman. The concierge's main place of work is the reception desk, and sometimes they also take on the role of receptionist. Their job at reception - or at the concierge desk - is to ensure the well-being of hotel guests. This involves providing personalised assistance from arrival to departure. This begins with the greeting and check-in of the guest. The receptionist organises the luggage carriers and valet parking for the hotel guest. As the hotel concierge, they also offer services during the guest's stay, such as restaurant reservations or car hire bookings, provide information about places of interest and, if possible, fulfil all of their guests' wishes during their trip. Discretion and management skills are essential here. The concierge in a hotel differs from the concierge in a residential complex primarily in the minor differences in their tasks due to the different context.
Certain airlines also offer concierge services. These are usually reserved for VIP travellers, Business and First Class passengers and/or Frequent Travellers. Airline concierge services are responsible for assisting travellers with all aspects of their journey. This can be, for example, reaching and checking flight connections, upgrades or last-minute hotel bookings, but also ordering a limousine service.
The concierge services offered by certain manufacturers, which can be accessed via the vehicle's on-board computer, are basically call centre agents that offer concierge-type services. This can be, for example, locating restaurants, reserving tables or similar. In this case, client and concierge never meet in person, but only by telephone.
If you want to work as a concierge, in most cases you will need to have completed training in the hotel industry. Good foreign language skills in at least two other languages are also required. Applicants should also be competent in the field of IT. In addition to common applications, this also includes working with the programmes commonly used in the hotel industry (e.g. booking systems).
In addition, great organisational skills and the ability to quickly familiarise yourself with various processes are a must. A concierge must know the check-in and check-out procedures for the rooms, take care of the room key safekeeping and keep an eye on the security of the guests. All of this requires prudence, an overview and a watchful eye.
In terms of soft skills, a high level of social competence, excellent communication skills, discretion and the talent to read the guest's or customer's every wish from their eyes are therefore required.
Physical fitness is also necessary, as the work is organised in shifts and much of the work is done standing up. A well-groomed appearance and, in many cases, an elegant demeanour are also part of the qualifications required for the job of concierge.
The salary of a concierge depends heavily on where they are employed and whether they work full-time or part-time. Equally important is the question of whether you are at the beginning of your career or already have extensive experience. As a rule, a concierge works as an employee. The minimum salary - for a full-time position - is around €33,000 per year. In upscale hotels and other positions in the luxury segment (luxury hotel or apartment complex), the salary can be up to €49,000 gross per year. Jobs as a concierge in hotels, residential complexes or other locations can be found via the usual job platforms. Jobs as a concierge are a good career option for professionals in the hotel industry who are looking for a career in the luxury segment.
Paffen Security service provides a professional Porterage and organises your reception service.
Are you interested in a complete Property protection, Site security or one Construction site security interested? As Security service in Cologne and the surrounding area, we will also be happy to provide you with professional support.
Paffen Sicherheitsdienst offers you all security services from a single source.
We would be happy to create a customised security concept for you!
