Dear Members, Dear Friends

I wish to covey to everyone my very best wishes for 2011!

In the past few months, many Sections have experienced everything from an upturn in business to the unforseen natural disasters like the floods in Australia and Brazil. In times like these, must always remember to show our continued support to all our Members.

Autumn has been most eventful. In October, the Executive Committee, together with Zone Directors and Committee de Sages, held the annual Face to Face meeting which was graciously hosted by the Dubai Members of the UAE Section. I was able to experience first-hand the Capital City of the UAE, Abu Dhabi, met with members of the local Tourism Office and had site visits to many of our Members' hotels. The International Herald Tribune was a great partner for the events of such a busy week and we share many great memories of Dubai's Burj Khalifa and the exhilarating sand-dune evening under the stars. Thank you to our UAE Members for the wonderful hospitality you have shown us.

In late November, I had the heartfelt honour of attending a Memorial Service for Andras Gunst, our dear friend and Member of our Committee de Sages. Andras was the cornerstone of our Hungarian Section and Founding Member of Les Clef d'Or Hungary. His sudden passing was an unexpected shock and very difficult for all of us and his family. I must thank Tamas Ungar, Hungarian President, along with the Members of LCD Hungary, for organizing a beautiful and reverent tribute to Andras which celebrated his many life achievements. Andras is sadly missed and will ever live in our hearts.

In early December, I was delighted to join Aldo Giacomello, Claudio Caser, John Sun Dong and the Members of LCD China for the celebration of the 15th Anniversary of Les Clefs d'Or China in Chongqing. It was a wonderful week and we had an amazing visit to the geological wonders of the Three Natural Bridges in Wulong County. Prior to our arrival, we had the pleasure of spending an amazing evening in Hong Kong with Fred Lui, President of the Hong Kong Section and his Executive Board of Directors. Thank you again, Fred, for such great reception and sumptuous meal.

Whilst in Chongqing, I had the opportunity to meet with the local Minister of Tourism and also members of the local Press who showed great interest in Les Clefs d’Or and the professionalism that we represent. A big “Thank You” goes to Daniela Cerboni from American Express for her continued support of this Meeting and the many other American Express sponsored meetings during 2010. We are indeed grateful for Daniela's generosity and enthusiasm for our Association..

I wish you all the best and I am looking forward to seeing you at our next International Congress in the great City of Toronto in April 2011. The Congress Programs and Workshops are insightful and promise to be of great professional benefit to us all. See you there!

Very best personal regards,

Robert Watson
International President

Very Dear Friends,

Fall is just around the corner and for many of us time to put our head down and confront ourselves with the intense activities of our respective hotels ...

I hope that you have all read my previous message concerning the "Rules and Regulations" for the next Andy Pongco award due to be held in Hangzhou, China, site of our next International Congress. I shall be visiting the site in early November but, in order to give you as many infrormations as possible on "How to register" I am copying you of my correspondance with the Chinese Organising Body".

You have now the contact for all informations that you may need.

A reminder about fees:

• Euros 900 per person single + 5%
• Euros 800 per person double + 5%

At the present time there are no Post Congress pre organised ... (to come in the near future).

I strongly recommend you to verify with your National authorities for the eventual need of an entry visa.

I look forward to see as many of you as possible in March 2009 in China.

All my very best wishes to you all.

Roger BASTONI

"To Register to the 56th UICH Congress: "

Please click on

www.lesclefsdorchina.com/index/AnnualMeeting/Eng/index.html

The Andy Pongco Award, rules and regulations ...

Needless to remind you that during our last international congress in Copenhagen we introduced the 1st  "Andy Pongco Award". Eight different nationalities youngsters competed in a fierce but very friendly manner to try and become our first winner. The price for the winner being an invitation to participate at our next International Congress as a guest (registration and air fares) of UICH.

Mrs Daniela Cerboni of American Express very generously proposed to sponsor this first edition. Mr Tony Chan from Chinese Taipee was the winner and will participate at the Handzhou congress, thanks to the generosity of American Express.
In China , during our next International Congress the "Andy Pongco Award" 2nd edition will take place. It is the intention of all of us at "UICH" to have as many countries presenting  capable young profiles as possible. We intend to see this friendly challenge to go on for many years to come and therefore help us detect the elite of tomorrows Concierge Clefs d'Or.

In order to give everyone a chance to participate let us remind you of the obligations for entry ...

The candidate must be:

• a "Clefs d'Or" member
• under 35 years of age
• participating at his very first international congress
• sponsored by his/her member section
• at least bilingual

The candidates for this 2nd edition will be facing a panel of experts, will have to answer a questionnaire full of various questions (geography, history, test on language spoken, general knowledge etc...) but also will be tested on their UICH history knowledge. Personal presentation and personality will also be vital in the claim to become the winner of this second edition.

We invite National Presidents to start looking for their perfect profile and therefore stand a good chance to win the prize for their country. Despite competition and in the true spirit of "Les Clefs d'Or", U.I.C.H. will make sure that this competition remains a friendly one.

I wish all the lucky one an excellent summer and to the less fortunate one's a mild winter

Roger BASTONI

Greetings from the Land of the Rising Sun!  On behalf of Les Clefs d'Or Japan I am pleased to inform you all that we, Les Clefs d'Or Japan, will celebrate this year our 10th Anniversary as a chapter.

Our association became member country of the U.I.C.H (Union Internationale des Concierges d’Hotels “Les Clefs d’Or”) in November 1997 in Budapest, Hungary.

Welcome Cocktail Reception & Gala Dinner will take place on December 12th, at Le Meridien  Grand  Pacific Tokyo

Best Regards,
Philippe Muller
President, Les Clefs d'Or Japan
"Service Through Friendship"

aridus e lasso veniebat anhelitus ore, metaque erat longe: tum denique de tribus unum fetibus arboreis proles Neptunia misit. obstipuit virgo nitidique cupidine pomi declinat cursus aurumque volubile tollit; praeterit Hippomenes: resonant spectacula plausu. illa moram celeri cessataque tempora cursu corrigit atque iterum iuvenem post terga relinquit: et rursus pomi iactu remorata secundi consequitur transitque virum.

pars ultima cursus restabat; 'nunc' inquit 'ades, dea muneris auctor!'inque latus campi, quo tardius illa rediret, decit ab obliquo nitidum iuvenaliter aurum. an peteret, virgo visa est dubitare: coegi tollere et adieci sublato pondera malo inpediique oneris pariter gravitate moraque, neve meus sermo cursu sit tardior ipso, praeterita est virgo: duxit sua praemia victor.

Download the Concierge School brochure here ...

Website of the Lycée Hôtelier d'Occitanie de Toulouse

Dear All,

It is with a heavy and saddened heart that I announce the passing of our dear friend and colleague...1st International Vice President, Andy Pongco, earlier today at around 0130H the 26th of February 2007 in the grace of our Lord God where he succumbed to a stroke due to multiple complications brought about by his illnness.

A great and honorable man, a father, an ally and a mentor to all of us...indeed another great loss to the society.

On behalf of the officers and members of Les Clefs d'Or Philippines, I encourage each one to join us in offering fervent prayers and sympathy to the eternal repose of Andy's soul as he journey towards the Kingdom of our Father and to appease the lives of his bereaved family and love ones.

I thank you all,

Sam L. Soriano
Head Concierge
Edsa Shangri-La, Manila
President, Les Clefs d'Or Philippines

1 Garden Way, Ortigas Center
Mandaluyong City, 1650 Philippines

Tel: (632) 633-8888 local 4
Fax: (632) 632-9094