The concierges at the Grand Hotel Europe, Ksenia Bobrikova and Irada Agalarova, received golden keys at the annual meeting of members of the Russian branch of Les Clefs d’Or Union Internationale des Concierges d’Hotels.
The hotel’s entrance into this prestigious organization will enable it to efficiently share experience with colleagues in the hospitality industry around the world, and will take the hotel’s work to a new level. On the jacket lapels of every member of Les Clefs d’Or organisation are two crossed golden keys, which represent the concierge’s ability to open any doors for a guest. The golden keys are a symbol not only of quality service, but also of the responsibility that comes with membership of Les Clefs d’Or association.
The history of the organisation dates back to October 6, 1929, when 11 concierges from Paris hotels decided to create an International Union of Concierges based on the friendship, partnership and enthusiasm of its participants. Today, the union comprises about 3,000 concierges from more than 50 countries around the world.
The head of the Grand Hotel Europe’s concierge service, Ksenia Bobrikova, and the administrator of the hotel’s tourism services department, Irada Agalarova, were presented with golden keys and became members of the world renowned organisation at the annual meeting of members of the Russian branch of the union. According to the rules of the Clefs d’Or association, a concierge is eligible to receive golden keys after five years of working in a hotel, at least two of which must be spent working as a concierge. Apart from Ksenia and Irada, there are only two other golden key holders in St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg is the cultural capital of Russia and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The Grand Hotel Europe is located right in the centre of the city, in the so-called “golden triangle,” among all the main sights of the city on the Neva. The experienced staff of the Grand Hotel Europe’s concierge service are always pleased to give guests professional recommendations and help them with any wish during their stay at the hotel, guiding them through the impressive range of spectacular sights on offer in St. Petersburg.
Concierge service staff can organise a romantic boat trip along the rivers and canals of St. Petersburg on the hotel’s own private boat, the Katarina, an exclusive visit to the Hermitage’s Diamond Room, or tickets to Maestro Valery Gergiev’s Mariinsky opera ball. As well as recommendations on what to do and see in St. Petersburg, the Grand Hotel Europe’s concierges help to fulfil a diverse variety of individual requests. It is not unknown for these modest members of staff to perform true miracles — getting hold of the necessary documents or other items before seemingly impossible deadlines, rescuing multi-million dollar deals, and simply knowing how to help make people happy.
For further information, please contact:
Irina Khlopova
Public Relations Manager
Grand Hotel Europe
Tel.: +7 (812) 329 66 08
E-mail: irina.khlopova@grandhoteleurope.com
