After World War II

After World War II, Mr. Ferdinand Gillet, originally from Switzerland and the former Vice President to Mr. Dechaume succeeded him as the new president of the organisation. Mr. Gillet started his Concierge career in Paris as a Night Concierge at Hotel du Rhin in 1920.

The origins of present day Les Clefs d’Or as an international organisation has traditionally been credited to him as during his presidency, Ferdinand Gillet travelled extensively throughout Europe to seek and find other hotel Concierges.

The First International Congress

After much communication and several smaller meetings (including the initial multi-national meeting that took place in 1951 in Sierres, Switzerland) the gathering of the first six member sections on the historic date of April 25, 1952 at The Carlton Hotel in Cannes took place. This was the birth of Union Européenne des Portiers des Grands Hôtels “Les Clefs d'Or”, the international network as we know it today and the very first multi-national Congress.

Representatives from the French organisation were joined by prominent concierges from Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain and Ireland. Belgium and Denmark were observing countries and Spain was an invited guest.

This allowed each country represented to go back and form a formal organisation in their respective regions based on the French model.

The members in Morocco, being a French protectorate at the time, although outside of mainland Europe, were regarded as French members.

Mr. F. Gillet

Mr. F. Gillet from France became the first president of the organisation. Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Switzerland became the first member sections.

Austria

Austria joined the organization as member section.

Sweden

Sweden joined the organization as member section.

Ireland and the Netherlands

Ireland (originally with Great Britain) and the Netherlands joined the organization as member sections.

Norway and Spain

Norway and Spain joined the organization as member sections.

Morocco

Morocco joined the organization as a member section.

Greece

Greece joined the organization as a member section.

Mr T. Godde

Mr T. Godde from Germany became the president of the organisation.

Mr O. Wirth

Mr. O. Wirth from Switzerland became the interim president of the organization after the passing of Mr Godde.

St. Moritz

In 1970 in St. Moritz with the addition of Israel, UEPGH Les Clefs d’Or (Union Européenne des Portiers des Grands Hôtels "Les Clefs d'Or") changed its name to UIPGH Les Clefs d’Or (Union Internationale des Portiers des Grands Hôtels "Les Clefs d'Or") to accommodate the organisation to reflect its growth and presence outside of Europe.

Mr O. Wirth

Mr. O. Wirth from Switzerland became the president of the organization.

Mr R. Burdeyron

Mr. R. Burdeyron from Great Britain became the president of the organisation. Portugal joined the organization as a member section.

Mr A. Molero

Mr. A. Molero from Spain became the president of the organisation.

Canada

Canada was admitted as the 18th member section and the first country that took UIPGH Les Clefs d’Or to the next continent.

Mr. J. Gillet from France became the president of the organisation.

Ms. Holly Stiel

The United States of America was accepted and brought with it the first female member concierge – Ms. Holly Stiel from San Francisco.

Mr S. Giarola from Italy became the president of the organisation.

Finland

Finland joined the organization as a member section.

Australia

Australia was accepted as a member section and this paved the way for Asia to join the UIPGH Les Clefs d’Or family.

Mr A. Schneider

Mr. A. Schneider from Austria became the president of the organisation.

Hong Kong and Hungary

Hong Kong and Hungary were accepted as a member sections.

Mr. J.M. Bautista from Spain became the president of the organisation.

Singapore

Singapore was accepted as a member section.

Mr. A. Ostertag from Switzerland became the president of the organisation.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg was accepted as a member section.

Mr. A. Damonte from Great Britain became the president of the organisation.

Romania

Romania was accepted as a member section.

Czech Republic

Czech Republic was accepted as a member section.

Mr. W. Freytag from Germany became the president of the organisation.

Brazil

Brazil became the first South American member section.

Philippines

Philippines was accepted as a member section.

Mr A. Lodigiani from Italy became the president of the organisation.

New Zealand

New Zealand was accepted as a member section.

Mr T. Facciolo

Mr T. Facciolo OAM from Australia became the president of the organisation.

Japan and Malaysia

With the approval of Japan and Malaysia, the total number of member countries became 32.

Mr A. Gunst from Hungary became the president of the organisation.

UICH

In 1998, the organisation officially became the UICH (Union Internationale des Concierges d'Hôtels "Les Clefs d'Or") to emphasise the word concierge and to further reinforce that the organisation is an association of hotel concierges.

Newly restructured UICH

The newly restructured UICH welcomed its first female president, Mrs Marjorie Silverman from the US section.

International Expansion

The international expansion of the organisation continued with Russia.

Mr. A. Giacomello from Switzerland became the president of the organisation.

Taiwan and Turkey

Taiwan and Turkey joined as member sections.

Mr. J.C. Elgaire from France became the president of the organisation.

Thailand

Thailand joined as member section.

Mr D. O’Brien from Ireland became the president of the organisation.

Korea

Korea joined as member section.

France

Mr R. Bastoni from France became the president of the organisation.

Argentina

Argentina became the next member section from South America.

Les Clefs d’Or Award launched as “Andy Pongco Award” to honour the memory Andy Pongco. The award aims to encourage young members to become active participants in our global network and to recognize the elite's of tomorrow’s Les Clefs d’Or Concierge.

The prize for the recipient of the Award is an invitation to the next Les Clefs d’Or International Congress (registration and airfare included). All countries are encouraged to nominate a young member. The candidates will complete an open book written exam on the history of Les Clefs d’Or, geography and general hotel knowledge to assess the skills they use everyday while working at their Concierge Desk and assisting guests. They will write an essays on their interest in the profession and their aspirations. At the congress, the candidate will have an interview with members of the Award Committee. The candidates' personal presentation will play a major part in the final outcome of this friendly contest. Cheng from Chinese Taipei became the first ever recipient of the "Andy Pongco Award."

United States of America

Mr R. Watson from United States of America became the president of the organisation.

Christophe Caron from France (currently member of Great Britain section) became the recipient of the Les Clefs d’Or Award.

United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates became a member.

Ben Malpass from Great Britain became the recipient of the Les Clefs d’Or Award.

India

India joined as member section.

Mrs V. Casale from Canada became the second female president of the organisation.

Anabella Peling from Argentina became the recipient of the Les Clefs d’Or Award.

Poland

Poland joined as member section.

Matthew Wu from Canada became the recipient of the Les Clefs d’Or Award.

Greece

Mr E. Vrettos from Greece became the president of the organisation.

Anna Endrihovskaia from Russia became the recipient of the Les Clefs d’Or Award.

Qatar and Macau

Qatar and Macau joined as member sections.

James Elliot from Great Britain became the recipient of the Les Clefs d’Or Award.

Australia

Mr C. Toomey from Australia became the president of the organisation.

Sarah Dandashy from United States of America became the recipient of the Les Clefs d’Or Award.

France

Harold Exbrayat from France became the recipient of the Les Clefs d’Or Award.

The associations membership reaches the 4000 mark globally with members in 80 countries and 536 locations.

Mr. S. Thomas from Great Britain became the president of the organisation.

Jessica Gorman from United States of America became the recipient of the Les Clefs d’Or Award.