Hotel LeVeque - Flipbook - Page 31
Up Close & Personal
With Claire Thrasher
Fr o n t O f f i c e M a n a g e r a t H o t e l Le Ve q u e
When did you decide to become a
concierge and when did you start?
Though I only recently joined the
hotel business in 2020, I have always
gravitated toward careers in which
you can make people’s day in very
nuanced ways. Whether it be hotel
concierge services or other areas
of operation, it’s amazing just how
impactful I, and others in my field,
can be.
What does your job entail, and can
you describe a normal day for us?
Our hotel creates experiences
Exactly Like Nothing Else, a
characteristic of the Autograph
Collection, so that even the everyday
activities are delivered in a way that
guests will not forget. While I might
assist guests by recommending
local dining and activities, arranging
transportation, or even shining a pair
of shoes, guests are often looking to
share their thoughts and experiences
with a trusted individual who will
listen and empathize. Creating those
interpersonal connections is truly the
spirit of concierge.
What is the advantage of speaking
to a concierge over searching
the internet?
A concierge is in the unique position
to support local businesses and
help guests experience locality in a
way that Internet searches cannot
capture. Concierges often have a
network of businesses or individuals
to whom they can refer hotel guests
which typically allows for last minute
reservations or priority seating at
select locations.
What do you enjoy most about
being a concierge?
Creating a connection with a guest
who comes back to the hotel over
and over again is one of my favorite
aspects of the job. I have reached
a point of knowing that when Mr.
X comes back every Monday, he
is going to want a new restaurant
recommendation, so I have a list in
my back pocket, and I cross off each
location as I share it with him. I also
know that Mr. Y’s favorite wine is
the Tuscan red and I will have it in his
room before he even checks in.
What are the biggest challenges
that you face and what is the most
satisfying or unusual things you
have done for a guest?
It can be a challenge when a guest
calls you at 12pm on a Saturday and
needs a reservation for 12 people
at 7:00pm that same night. This is
where our local network is really
helpful though; we can call our top
three favorite local restaurants and
see who wants the extra business
tonight. On the more unusual side,
I have been asked to watch
someone’s dog while they attended
a wedding, which made for an
entertaining night and a good story.
What places do you
generally recommend?
As I mentioned before, a concierge
can tap into local businesses in a way
that OpenTable cannot. Because our
guests at Hotel LeVeque are
individualists who appreciate
precision and craft, I like to
recommend a shop or restaurant
that puts the work into crafting great
products and great experiences…
But I won’t give away all my secret
spots; you will just have to visit our
hotel to hear them all.
THE PRESTIGE | HOTEL LEVEQUE
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