In Mid 1990's there are more international class hotels being open in Malaysia. In the same period of time, more and more hotel started to recruit Concierge in their hotel. Wtih appointment of Country Representative, Timothy Gan, the Chef Concierge at the Regent Hotel Kuala Lumpur together with his counterpart from various hotels, they formed a committee in the vision of setting up Concierge Association-Les Clefs d'Or Society (Malaysia Chapter).

The organization is non-political and non-religious, and not a trade union of any sort, but based on friendship between members to assist international travellers and tourist. The principal objective of the society is to gather, exchange experience and knowledge on the Concierge profession. By third quarter of 1995, the founding committee drafted the society's Bilaws and approved by the government. Malaysia Chapter of Les Clefs d'Or (Society of the Golden Key). The Historical moment for Malaysian Concierge finally came when we were accepted as the 34th member country of U.I.C.H at the 45th International Congress of Union Internatinale des Concierges d'Hotel (Les Clefs d'Or) at Budapest, Hungary November 1997.

An Introduction to the "Little Known Profession - Les Concierge"

Long a tradition with Grand European hotels, the concierge has become established in many well know hotels where Excellence and Service are the key words of commitment.

The word Concierge is itself of obscure parentage. One source says that it comes from the Latin expression 'con servus', meaning 'fellow slave, another derivation is 'con serviens', the present participle of the verb 'to serve'.

Apparently, the French picked up the word form one or the other of these Latin verbs, rendering it, 'Concierge' in old French. Yet another source say the 12th century French term, 'Comte des Cierges', Count of Candles, a formal title given to a Royal Officer working for the Palace Conciergerie and having great responsibilities. Later the title was extended to the Concierges of Royal or baronial houses.

But… what exactly is a Concierge?

The Concierge has been described by seasoned travellers as 'part man Friday, part Sancho Panza with a goodly amount of Merlin and Houdini thrown in'. Whatever the ingredients, he, and now more increasingly she, will do anything humanly possible to achieve guest satisfaction.Together with his team of assistants and uniformed services staff, he has but one objective…

TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE TO HIS HOTEL GUESTS.