Buzz
Every high-end hotel boasts a concierge service, a role dedicated to enhancing the guest experience. Typically, their responsibilities include handling dinner bookings, organizing transport, or offering local sightseeing recommendations.
Yet, some concierges, particularly those affiliated with the prestigious Les Clefs d’Or organization, exceed expectations. These experts are committed to meeting any demand, no matter how extraordinary, provided it adheres to ethical, legal, and practical boundaries. Consequently, they occasionally encounter peculiar, unconventional, or downright outrageous requests. If you ever need something out of the ordinary, don’t hesitate to ask the front desk.
10. A Passion for Sauce
Concierges often handle food-related requests, leveraging their expertise to recommend dining spots or even arrange meals. In one remarkable instance, Burak Ipecki, a New York concierge, orchestrated the delivery of a meal to a location in another country.
The request began when Ipecki was asked by a wealthy guest to locate and purchase a specific brand of barbecue sauce. While typically straightforward, this sauce was produced in limited quantities by a Louisiana-based company. To complicate matters, the guest wanted it shipped not to New York but to his Caribbean island residence. The sauce was essential for a garden party scheduled for the following day. Utilizing his Les Clefs d’Or network, Ipecki secured the sauce and arranged its overnight delivery across 3,200 kilometers (2,000 miles).
9. A Taste of Mother’s Milk
While providing milk is a routine task for hotel staff, Simon Thomas, the head concierge at London’s Lanesborough, once faced an extraordinary milk-related request.
Thomas was approached by a guest who requested a large quantity of mare’s milk. The guest wasn’t seeking it for personal consumption or a spa treatment but to nourish an orphaned foal. Thomas successfully sourced 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of mare’s milk and arranged its delivery to the guest’s farm.
8. A Royal Floral Welcome
While many prefer to relax during the holidays, Mary Stamm, a concierge at Dallas’s Rosewood Mansion, went above and beyond. Leveraging her Les Clefs d’Or connections, she created a Christmas miracle for a special guest.
On Christmas Eve, a monarch from a particular nation requested that his princess, staying at the Mansion, be greeted with luxurious flower arrangements. Despite most florists being closed, Stamm acquired an entire store’s stock of flowers. She then arranged for a designer to craft stunning floral displays for the princess and her entourage.
7. A Surprise Arrival
Typically, checking into a hotel involves a straightforward process: presenting ID at the front desk and receiving your room key. However, Jonathan Schmitt, a concierge in Geneva, was tasked with organizing a far more unconventional arrival. A guest expressed his wish to parachute onto Lake Geneva, directly in front of the hotel.
Schmitt immediately began preparations, meticulously studying the legal and safety protocols to ensure a smooth execution. He even reached out to Geneva’s municipal authorities to secure the required permits. Sadly, the guest’s dream of a James Bond-style entrance was dashed when the cost soared to 100,000 Swiss francs, making it unfeasible for both the guest and potential onlookers.
Despite the cancellation, Schmitt’s efforts highlight the lengths a committed concierge will go to fulfill a guest’s wishes. “We never refuse,” he remarked. “We explore every possibility and keep the guest informed.”
6. A Sweet Craving
Celebrities often make peculiar demands for their hotel stays or backstage preparations. These requests can serve as a test to ensure their contracts are meticulously followed or as a demonstration of their influence. For instance, in 1982, Van Halen famously required a bowl of M&M’s with all brown candies meticulously removed.
Montreal concierge Hugo Grand encountered the whims of the wealthy firsthand when a celebrity client made an extraordinary demand. Describing it as “one of the strangest tasks [he] ever undertook,” Grand was asked to fill the guest’s bathtub with jelly beans. The tub was so large that he had to contact nearly every candy shop in Montreal to gather enough jelly beans. After securing the orders, he dispatched the hotel’s bell staff across the city to collect them. Thankfully, no one had to sort the jelly beans by color.
5. The Feline Dilemma
For many, pets are cherished family members, and being apart from them can be distressing. This sentiment was evident when a man approached New York concierge Frederick Bigler with a heartbreaking tale about his cat. Bigler, accustomed to assisting guests in distress—even lending his own clothes during fashion crises—found this request particularly challenging.
The guest explained to Bigler that he was relocating to China and wished to bring his cat along. However, due to incomplete paperwork, he risked leaving his pet behind. Bigler took on the challenge, ensuring the cat received necessary vaccinations, handling international documentation, and rebooking flights to accommodate the feline. Miraculously, Bigler completed everything before the guest’s departure the next day. “It was a tight deadline,” Bigler recalled, “but I succeeded in reuniting the ‘family.’”
4. The Underground Citrus Trade
While concierges typically decline illegal or unethical requests, they may navigate legal gray areas if the task is feasible. One such instance involved a concierge facilitating the discreet import of fruit into Mexico.
Michael Romei, head concierge at New York’s Waldorf Astoria, was approached by a film investor guest. The guest needed authentic blood oranges for the set of the movie Blood Orange, filming in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Unfortunately, importing blood oranges into Mexico was prohibited at the time, adding complexity to the request.
However, customs regulations and international laws couldn’t deter a skilled concierge. After procuring the necessary blood oranges in New York, Romei arranged a private flight to transport them to Mexico City. He enlisted the help of a fellow Les Clefs d’Or member in Mexico to discreetly receive the contraband fruit, avoiding customs detection. Romei confirmed that the blood oranges reached the film set the following day.
3. The Restless Executive
While business travel may appear exciting, it often involves long periods of inactivity. Despite the abundance of entertainment options and smartphones, some guests still rely on hotel staff to alleviate boredom. This is a routine part of a concierge’s job. Yet, businessman Sean Fitzsimons elevated the concept of hospitality with his series of unusual demands.
After traveling biweekly from Denver to Salt Lake City for over four years, Fitzsimons began requesting quirky additions from the hotel staff to liven up his stays. His initial ask was for a hand-drawn portrait of himself to be displayed in his room. From there, his requests grew increasingly creative and unconventional.
On one occasion, he requested a pillow fort built on his bed. Another time, he asked for photos of Alfonso Ribeiro and Jeremy Jackson positioned to appear as if they were gazing at each other. He also once desired an image of a dog dressed as a ship captain. Fitzsimons noted that the staff embraced these playful tasks and often inquired about his next whimsical idea.
2. Winning Her Over
As the saying goes, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Indeed, the city is known for its over-the-top experiences. Whether planning an extravagant bachelor party, arranging childcare, or even shipping a tractor to Africa, the ever-resourceful concierge is ready to assist with even the most unusual requests.
Jered Hundley, head concierge at the Palms, is well-acquainted with the eccentricities of Las Vegas. Beyond handling requests like shipping tractors, he was once asked to help a man find an artist to create a plaster mold of his girlfriend’s body. The guest intended to fill the mold with butter to craft a sculpture. Hundley never revealed whether the guest followed through or opted for an alternative way to commemorate his girlfriend.
1. A Truly Unique Ceremony
Wedding planning can be overwhelming, which is why many couples enlist wedding planners to ensure their big day runs smoothly. Surprisingly, hotel concierges are equally adept at organizing weddings and proposals, leveraging their networks to fulfill the couple’s vision. For instance, a proposal at New York’s Muse Hotel involved transforming a room to replicate a famous scene from the TV show Friends. While the couple dined, the concierge adorned the space with “countless tea lights, red roses, rose petals, and Champagne.”
Sandra Newman, chief concierge at Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace, has orchestrated numerous romantic proposals and weddings. However, one event stands out: a “wedding” for a couple’s teddy bears. Newman recalled that over 25 bears attended, each seated by name and served a slice of pizza. “It was a solemn occasion,” Newman remarked.
