History of Les Clefs d’Or

The word Concierge has an interesting etymology. One source says that it comes from the Latin expression “con servus”, meaning “fellow slave”. However, members of Les Clefs d’Or prefer the derivation of the word from 12th century French term, “Comte des Cierges”, meaning the “Count of the Candles”. These people were best informed about the organization and holding of events in palaces, and were also responsible for lighting candles and replacing those that had burnt out. Later on, the “Comte de Cierges” became responsible for the fulfilment of all wishes and needs expressed by tenants, and were also in charge of the kitchen and food preparation for their masters.

During the Middle Ages, Concierges became “caretakers”, i.e. they were in charge of government buildings, castles and châteaux. In Paris, a famous prison was given the name “Conciergerie” in honour of the guards looking after keys and allocating cells to convicts.

In the early 20th century, international tourism was undergoing a major surge, thanks especially to the boom and growing popularity of railways, and travelling from the US to Europe on transatlantic liners. This was when Swiss hotels, which were at that time the most popular hotels in Europe, decided to set up a new job position: Hall Porter. These first modern Concierges took care of everything, from horse carriages waiting for guests at railway stations, to providing a welcome hotels and the arrangement of all needs and wishes during the guests’ stay.

This trend quickly spread through Europe and Concierges became an inevitable part of the services rendered to the most exacting clientele. In October 1929, three leading Concierges met in Paris to exchange work experience and know-how. They discovered that the level of the services rendered could be much more effective if they managed to spread their cooperation through other cities and countries, to create what they called a “Concierge Network”. As a result, other European countries began setting up national branches.

With the end of World War Two, interest in these services revived. After a long time, Concierges again began to render their services to clients travelling through post-war Europe. The historic first congress was held on 25 April 1952, when representatives of 7 countries met in Cannes, France, to establish “L’Union Europeene des Porties des Grands Hotels” – UEPGH”. Ferdinand Gillet (a Concierge at the Scribe Hotel in Paris at that time) thus accomplished his ideas and efforts, and he is considered the founder and father of “Les Clefs d’Or”. Ferdinand Gillet was the association president until 1968. The second congress was held in San Remo, Italy in 1953; and it saw the adoption of the society's insignia and badge, the Golden Keys, which became internationally acknowledged and helped the clientele identify the Concierge service. It symbolizes the opening of doors.

In 1970, Israel became another association member, giving a clear signal that the organization was open to all countries worldwide, not just in Europe. During that year, UEPGH became UIPHG – “Union Internationale des Portiers des Grands Hotels”.

Today, UICH means “Union Internationale des Concierges d’Hotels” – “Les Clefs d’Or” and the title of Concierge provides assurance and strengthens the organization’s position as a society of Concierges working in international hotels.

The international association today includes 37 countries and approximately 4,700 members.
The world is divided into 6 zones:

Africa
Australia and Pacific
Central Europe
Europe
Singapore and Southeast Asia
America