Andy Pongco Award 2011

Anabella Peling, Concierge at the Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires, wins the fourth Andy Pongco Award in Toronto. Anabella receives the prize from Virginia Casale and Marjorie Silverman and declares to be very proud to be the first woman to win this high recognition. 

Four Seasons Hotel - Buenos Aires, Argentina

Andy Pongco Award 2009

Four Seasons Hotel George V - Paris, France

Andy Pongco Award 2008

The Sheraton Hsinchu Hotel - Taipei, Chinese Taipei

Andy Pongco Award 2010

Head Concierge
The Savoy
Strand
London WC2R 0EU
www.fairmont.com/savoy

Phone: +44 (0)20 7420 2470
Fax: +44 (0)20 7420 2398
ben.malpass@fairmont.com

Ben Malpass appears in "The Affluent Traveler" (Winter-Spring 2011)

The Andy Pongco Award was established at the 55th International Congress in Denmark 2008 to honor the memory of Andy Pongco, an international honorary president, by recognizing and encouraging young members to become active participants in our global network. The prize for the recipient of the award is an invitation to the next International Congress of UICH (registration and airfare included). Each year the award is sponsored by a different partner: American Express, Elite Rent a Car, Concierge Assistant, Lucien Barriere Majestic Cannes. It is the intention of all of us at "UICH" to encourage as many countries as possible to present profiles of capable young members. We intend to see this friendly challenge continue for many years to come and therefore, enable us to detect the elite of tomorrow’s Clefs d’Or Concierges . In order for all countries to participate on an equal basis, please note the candidate qualification requirements and the rules of entry.

 
The candidate must be:

• a "Clefs d'Or" member
• Under 35 years of age
• Participating at his/her very first international congress
• Nominated by his/her member section
• Fluent in English
• Must have the title "Concierge" and a hotel issued business card

(Application must include a scanned copy of the candidate's business card. Candidates will also be required to present business card at the personal interview).

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 at their concierge desks. They will write a few essays on their interest in the profession as well as their aspirations, and finally at the congress, they will have an interview with members of the Andy Pongco Committee in which personal presentation will be a vital component in the finl outcome of this friendly contest.

2011 Winner : Anabella Peling, Four Seasons, Buenos Aires
2010 Winner : Ben Malpass, The Cavendish, London
2009 Winner : Christophe Caron, Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris
2008 Winner : Tony Chang, The Sheraton Hsinchu Hotel, Taipei