Elite award for concierge

One of tourism and hospitality's top awards, the Les Clefs d'Or, was awarded to Queenstown's Steve Hanrahan last week.

Mr Hanrahan, the Rees Hotel's first concierge, is the only South Islander to receive the international concierge accreditation Les Clefs d'Or (the Golden Keys) in the past six months.

He said he did not expect the award so soon as he only began his career in the hospitality industry from customer services in 2004, when he first shifted to Queenstown.

"I thought I came to Queenstown as a bit of a gamble, but it's an affirmation of what I've achieved."

The award, given to three or four people nationally each year, was presented to Mr Hanrahan by Hotel Concierge Society of New Zealand president Franz Staufer. He said it was recognised internationally. But Mr Hanrahan had no plans to take the keys offshore as he was happy to be in one of the world's busiest tourist resorts.

"How can you honestly want to live anywhere else when you're in Queenstown. I've got a lot of plans for the Rees Hotel."

He said people skills, communication and good old fashioned customer service were the keys to being an excellent concierge.

The international Concierge Society will visit Queenstown in April 2013 and Mr Hanrahan expected 300 to 600 guests for the event.