The word “concierge” originates from the French term “comte des cierges” or “keeper of the candles.” This term referred to the servant in medieval times who attended to the needs of visiting nobility at castles and manors.
The concierge’s responsibilities included lighting their way with candles, tending to their accommodations, and ensuring their comfort during their stay. Over time, the role of the concierge evolved to encompass various duties in hotels, apartment buildings, and other establishments, focusing on assisting guests and residents with various tasks and requests to enhance their experience and convenience.
Today, a concierge typically serves as a resource for information, assistance, and recommendations for guests in hotels, residents in apartment buildings, or visitors in various other settings.
Stephen is a hospitality professional from Johannesburg South Africa. His career started with THF hotels in the UK and subsequently with the Southern Sun Hotel group in Johannesburg. Stephen’s first steps into entrepreneurship was Hickmore Recruitment / CareerMap, a leading supplier of Senior and Exec recruitment services. Stephen was a founder of Pple Hospitality (formerly HSC) the largest Hospitality Industry full-service outsourced staffing company in South Africa. In March 2020 Stephen became a director and owner of the Swiss Hotel School South Africa, which is now his full time endeavour. Stephen writes for a number of publications on food and hospitality industry matters, trends and opinions.
