• It's valuable to know the concierge.hotel image by les sanders from Fotolia.com
  
  Hotels across the country are beginning to realize that concierges are wildly popular. They sit where the public can see them, and they can render services that no one else on the hotels' staffs can offer. Some concierges are mere placeholders who simply tell guests what they could get from a phone book or the Internet; but to be a good concierge, they need to know the community intimately and pass on to the guests helpful information in a friendly tone.
  
  

Choose A Hotel Wisely

• If you want to thoroughly enjoy your visit, pick a hotel based on the quality of the concierge service. Travel to a city frequently and you already know the hotels with the best concierges; however, when you are traveling there for the first time, ask your friends and associates for advice. That's particularly important if, at the last minute, you want reservations at a hard-to-get-into restaurant. A good concierge with connections will probably be successful in securing them. By the way, you might be inclined to call the restaurant yourself; let the concierge do it instead because he will have a better chance of success.
  
  

Itinerary

• Once you have made reservations at a hotel, share your itinerary with the concierge as soon as possible because she will make recommendations that will improve your stay. She probably is local so she knows the idiosyncrasies of the city better than most anyone else on the hotel's staff. In addition, she will make all of your reservations to restaurants, golf courses, venues and events and will confirm them before you arrive. If possible, contact the hotel's concierge far in advance of your visit if there are special restaurants or events you like to attend because she'll most likely need time to secure reservations or tickets.
  
  

Hotel Reservations

• If you are returning to the same hotel and you know the concierge, make your hotel reservations through him. He will know your foibles and do his best to accommodate them. Furthermore, he will be accountable for your reservation, far more than a typical staff member responsible for reservations.
  
  

Gratuity

• Most service personnel at hotels rely on tips and concierges are no exception. When you visit a particular hotel frequently, score points with the concierge by sending him an occasional gift. In addition, some people give a tip to the concierge just after they arrive in recognition of the services to be performed. Others tip the concierge at the end of their stay, particularly if they are unfamiliar with the quality of the services he performs.