Hotels for Managers and Why Concierges are Lobby-Kings

To follow up on a certain action of The Wall Street Journal in 10 top hotels in Brussels, I visited the hotels 'incognito' between 05 and 10 AM. In the hotels where the action was not executed properly, I had to cue, with all the guests checking out, to be able to speak to the concierge.

For those not familiar with hotel management: concierges are lobby-kings. Whatever the hotel management decides during day-time, the concierge exercises his right to do whatever he pleases when it pleases him, as long as it is during the mysterious hours between 4 and 8 AM when the world awakens. During break of dawn a concierge reigns over the lobby as if it were his kingdom. That is why concierges have business cards that look smarter than the cards of their hotel managers. If you ever want to organize a high profile event in a 4 or 5 star hotel, first become good friends with the concierge.

(from top left to bottom right: Newspaper selection at Crowne Plaza Brussels-Europa , Hotel Astoria Brussels, Thon Hotel Brussels City Centre, Rocco Forte Amigo Hotel , Brussels Marriott Hotel, Crowne Plaza Brussels-Europa )