There is an interesting etymology to the word concierge. One school of thought suggests that the Latin root is conservus, or fellow slave. Les Clefs d’Or members, however, prefer the Old French derivation that can be traced back to feudal times. The comte des cierges, or keeper of the candles, needed to know where all the functions in the palace would take place; as they were in charge of maintaining the candles for each event. Over time, the comte des cierges became the person in charge of catering to every whim and desire of a palace’s visiting nobility.

In the Middle Ages, the concierges were the “keepers of the keys” at noted government buildings and castles. There is even a famous prison in Paris named The Conciergerie in honor of the warden who kept the keys and assigned cells to the inmates.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the international tourism industry experienced a tremendous boom, in large part due to the increasing popularity of rail and steamship travel. Switzerland’s “grand hotels,” in working to satisfy the needs of these travelers, created the “Hall Porter” position. These first-ever modern concierges were responsible for everything from meeting the guests at the station in a horse-drawn carriage to assisting them with every detail of their stay.

With time, these Swiss concierges relocated to other cities throughout Europe as a means to stay at the constant disposal of their traveling clientele. In October 1929, three of the more prominent concierges met in Paris to exchange service tips and ideas. They found that, together, they could more effectively network and enhance guest services throughout their cities. As a result, many European countries created national concierge “societies.”

The end of World War II sparked a renewed interest in the need for these societies. Concierges throughout Europe created a chain of mutual assistance and friendship to help smooth the journeys of their clients who were traveling in post-war Europe. On April 25, 1952, delegates from seven European nations met in Cannes to hold the first ever “Congress” and create “L’Union Europeene des Portiers des Grands Hotels (UEPGH). Ferdinand Gillet (then concierge at the Hotel Scribe, Paris) masterminded this effort and is considered the “father of Les Clefs d’Or.” Mr. Gillet served as president of this association until 1968.