Hotel Concierges

Employers

There are approximately 7,310 hotel concierges employed in the United States. Most concierge jobs are located in large cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago; tourist-heavy areas, such as California and Florida; and the convention and entertainment mecca of Las Vegas. Employment opportunities are plentiful abroad, although European standards and training may be different from those found in the United States.

Concierges also work in other aspects of business. Besides hotels, concierges may also work in large apartment buildings and condominiums. The concierge services provided at one Chicago high-rise apartment building include taking clothes to the cleaners, watering plants, and caring for pets when occupants are out of town. Large upscale department stores offer concierge services for their shoppers, from complimentary coat and package checking to restaurant and store information and tours.

Starting Out

At most hotels, new hires are not allowed to sit at the lobby desk until they are properly trained. The first few days are spent going over the basic philosophy of being a concierge and the hotel's expectations of employees. Many concierge trainees come from other departments of the hotel, such as the front desk.

There is no typical path to this career. Some concierges have only a high school education. Being a graduate of a hotel or concierge program will, however, give you an edge in getting hired. Many schools with such programs offer job placement services. Also, check hotel industry publications as they often post employment opportunities. Les Clefs d'Or, an international association of concierges, takes great pride in the worldwide networking program it provides its members.