HISTORIA INTERNACIONAL
Con raices que datan desde 1929, Les Clefs d'Or fue oficialmente fundada en Francia en 1952 como una organización sin fines de lucro basada en dos pilares: Servicio y Amistad.
1800s - 1930s
Los Primeros Años
1800s - 1900s
El Encargado
El título comunmente utilizado, especialmente en Francia, era "Portier" o "Portero" en Español. Durante los siglos 19 y 20, el Conserje era, y aún lo es, el título utilizado para el encargado de un edificio.
El portero se convirtió en el centro más importante para las relaciones con los huéspedes y el servicio al cliente en muchos hoteles de lujo. Fue durante este tiempo que el rol del Conserje fue creado en varios de los grandes hoteles de Paris y de Europa Occidental. Esta fue la primera vez que un rol fue creado especificamente para asistir a los huespedes con sus requerimientos en ciudades las cuales no les eran familiares.
El Conserje rapidamente se convirtió en un servicio esencil y muy popular en los hoteles de lujo.
1920s
Orígenes del presente de Les Clefs d'Or
A mediados de los años 20 un grupo de Conserjes de varios hoteles de Paris
****During the mid 1920s there was a group of Concierges from various hotels in Paris (including one from Algeria) who were trying to organise themselves with the guidance of Mr Pierre Quentin from the Hotel Ambassador. The hotel opened in 1928 and played host to a ceremony in the honour of Charles Lindbergh’s cross Atlantic journey in 1927. The following year Paris welcomed landmark hotels like Hotel Lancaster, The Prince de Galles, and the George V.
On 26 October 1929 Mr. Quentin sent an invitation to 20 prominent Concierges throughout Paris to dine at Restaurant Noël Peters in the hopes of strengthening the bond among them. The restaurant was located across the street from his hotel, in the Passage des Princes. With 11 in attendance, this dinner marks the first instance of professional hotel Concierges meeting as a group.
Within 4 weeks the new association was ratified at the first ever General Assembly with more than 75 delegates present. Mr. Pierre Quentin was elected the first President of Les Clefs d’Or on 27 November 1929, a post he held for three years.****
Within 4 weeks the new association was ratified at the first ever General Assembly with more than 75 delegates present. Mr. Pierre Quentin was elected the first President of Les Clefs d’Or on 27 November 1929, a post he held for three years.
1930s
Orígenes del presente de Les Clefs d'Or
****Pierre Quentin’s presidency of Les Clefs d’Or was followed by François Dechaume who was elected in 1932 and remained until the war. Mr. Dechaume was among the 11 who created the association. Sadly, there was no activity during the war as all the hotels, especially in Paris, were occupied by the Germans.****
Oficina General
1936
****The headquarters of Les Clefs d’Or moved to its present location at 12 rue Cambon in Paris.****
1940s - 1970
La Evolución y Expansión: Parte I
UNION EUROPÉENNE DES PORTIERS DES GRANDS HÔTELS - UEPGH
1946
Post 2da Guerra Mundial
After World War II, Mr. Ferdinand Gillet, originally from Switzerland and the former Vice President to Mr. Dechaume succeeded him as the new president of the organisation. Mr. Gillet started his Concierge career in Paris as a Night Concierge at Hotel du Rhin in 1920.
The origins of present day Les Clefs d’Or as an international organisation has traditionally been credited to him as during his presidency, Ferdinand Gillet travelled extensively throughout Europe to seek and find other hotel Concierges.
1952
El Primer Congreso Internacional
After much communication and several smaller meetings (including the initial multi-national meeting that took place in 1951 in Sierres, Switzerland) the gathering of the first six member sections on the historic date of April 25, 1952 at The Carlton Hotel in Cannes took place. This was the birth of Union Européenne des Portiers des Grands Hôtels “Les Clefs d'Or”, the international network as we know it today and the very first multi-national Congress.
Representatives from the French organisation were joined by prominent concierges from Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain and Ireland. Belgium and Denmark were observing countries and Spain was an invited guest.
This allowed each country represented to go back and form a formal organisation in their respective regions based on the French model.
The members in Morocco, being a French protectorate at the time, although outside of mainland Europe, were regarded as French members.
1952
Mr. F. Gillet
Mr. F. Gillet from France became the first president of the organisation. Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Switzerland became the first member sections.
1957
1957
Austria
Austria joined the organization as member section.
Suecia
Sweden joined the organization as member section.
1960
Irlanda y Paises Bajos
Ireland (originally with Great Britain) and the Netherlands joined the organization as member sections.
1962
Noruega y España
Norway and Spain joined the organization as member sections.
1964
Marruecos
Morocco joined the organization as a member section.
1965
Grecia
Greece joined the organization as a member section.
1968
Mr T. Godde
Mr T. Godde from Germany became the president of the organisation.
1969
Mr O. Wirth
Mr. O. Wirth from Switzerland became the interim president of the organization after the passing of Mr Godde.
1970 - 1998
La Evolución y Expansión: Parte II
UNION EUROPÉENNE DES PORTIERS DES GRANDS HÔTELS - UEPGH
In 1970 in St. Moritz with the addition of Israel, UEPGH Les Clefs d’Or (Union Européenne des Portiers des Grands Hôtels "Les Clefs d'Or") changed its name to UIPGH Les Clefs d’Or (Union Internationale des Portiers des Grands Hôtels "Les Clefs d'Or") to accommodate the organisation to reflect its growth and presence outside of Europe.
St. Moritz
1970
Mr. O. Wirth from Switzerland became the president of the organization.
Mr O. Wirth
1970
The United States of America was accepted and brought with it the first female member concierge – Ms. Holly Stiel from San Francisco.
Mr S. Giarola from Italy became the president of the organisation.
Ms. Holly Stiel
1978
The United States of America was accepted and brought with it the first female member concierge – Ms. Holly Stiel from San Francisco.
Mr S. Giarola from Italy became the president of the organisation.
Ms. Holly Stiel
1978
The United States of America was accepted and brought with it the first female member concierge – Ms. Holly Stiel from San Francisco.
Mr S. Giarola from Italy became the president of the organisation.
Ms. Holly Stiel
1978
1976
Canada
Canada was admitted as the 18th member section and the first country that took UIPGH Les Clefs d’Or to the next continent.
Mr. J. Gillet from France became the president of the organisation.
1980
Finland
Finland joined the organization as a member section.
1981
Australia
Australia was accepted as a member section and this paved the way for Asia to join the UIPGH Les Clefs d’Or family.
Hong Kong and Hungary were accepted as a member sections.
Mr. J.M. Bautista from Spain became the president of the organisation.
Hong Kong and Hungary
1985
Mr A. Schneider
1981
Mr. A. Schneider from Austria became the president of the organisation.
Mr. A. Schneider from Austria became the president of the organisation.
