subject: Thomas Wolfe: America's First Concierge [print this page] Thomas Wolfe: America's First Concierge Thomas Wolfe: America's First Concierge
Although the profession of the modern concierge dates back to the 1800s, in the 1900s concierges were only present in Europe due to their French origins. It was not until the 1970s that the concierge profession found its way to the United States. Thomas Wolfe, is widely recognized as one of the first concierges in America. having worked in Europe for many years, he eventually took up a position with the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco in 1974 and also went on to found Les Clefs d'Or in The United States (he founded the original West Coast chapter). Having studied at the hands of some of Europe's best concierges, Wolfe introduced his traditional European training and combined with a ''can do'' attitude, was able to offer the best of both continents to the hotel guests he served.
As a child, Wolfe travelled extensively with his family and very quickly became interested in luxury hotels, their ambiance, beauty, and the level of service they offered their guests. Although originally born in New York, Wolfe traveled to Europe shortly after his graduation from the American University in Washington D.C. Drawing on a culinary background, he took his first job was as chef de reception at The Ritz in London. It was here in Europe that Wolfe learned the gracious art of European hospitality and service and learnt of the importance of a seasoned concierge. His adoration for the concierge profession guided his ambitions to become a concierge but he realized the importance of training and experience.
In 1970, Wolfe embarked on his dreams and began an apprenticeship with The Savoy Management Group at the exclusive Hotel Lancaster in Paris. After four years of exhaustive training and experience, Wolfe returned to the United States and began his American concierge career as the country's first concierge at The Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Wolfe proceeded to work with The Fairmont Hotel Company from 1974 to 1981. Having previously worked in Europe, Wolfe had a unique opportunity to use his knowledge to educate the public on what was expected of a great concierge and to adapt his European teachings to essentially build the American concierge industry.
Following his time at the Fairmont, Wolfe went on to become resident manager for The Boca Beach Club, part of The Boca Raton Hotel & Club in Florida. After his time in Florida, Wolfe again returned to San Francisco in 1982 and took on the position of chief concierge at the Hotel Meridien (now Argent Hotel). News of Wolfe's success reached far and wide and he soon found himself in Japan, pioneering the industry as the first concierge in Japan. Wolfe spent time from 1985 to 1989, serving as the chief concierge and director of international guest relations at The New Otani Hotel and Tower in Tokyo.
A world renowned figure, in 1989, Ivana Trump persuaded Wolfe to come back to the United States as executive chief concierge and director of guest services at New York's famed Plaza Hotel. Wolfe took the assignment for another four years and then returned to Asia to work as group concierge consultant for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. Despite his international success, Wolfe soon became home sick and returned once more to The Fairmont San Francisco where he has remained since 1995. A truly remarkable man, and one that has changed the concierge industry in a remarkable number of ways, Thomas Wolfe, America's first concierge will be remembered as an integral pioneer of this industry for decades to come.
