Queenstown's Les Clefs d'Or holders (from left) Bryan
Wilkinson, Daniel Marsh, Franz Staufer, Steve Hanrahan and
Nathan Wise. Photos by Olivia Caldwell.
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 Rees Hotel head concierge Steve Hanrahan (right)
accepts the Les Clef d'Or, hospitality's top award, from
Hotel Concierge Society of New Zealand president Franz
Staufer.
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.
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