Colin Short, former head concierge of the Lanesborough hotel, dies

27 May 2015 by
Colin Short, former head concierge of the Lanesborough hotel, dies

Colin Short, the former head concierge at the Lanesborough hotel, London, who was renowned for getting hold of tickets to sold-out shows, has died suddenly at the age of 58.

He joined the five-red-AA star, 93-bedroom hotel in 1994 and remained there until December 2013 when the property closed for an extensive renovation.

During his time at the Lanesborough, he headed a team of 60 concierges, butlers, doormen, luggage porters and drivers.

Short began his hotel career while still at school, joining the Bloomsbury Crest hotel as a luggage porter. He moved to the Stafford hotel in 1974 as concierge and two years later was promoted to head concierge.

Throughout his career, Short played an active role in the Society of Golden Keys of Great Britain, the professional association for concierges, holding the position of president from 1996 to 2000. He also worked with Les Clefs d'Or, the international association that represents concierges in nearly 50 countries, and actively campaigned on a variety of issues including financial clarity and maintaining strict criteria for membership.

Short was renowned amongst his fellow concierge colleagues - both home and abroad - and, as a result, was made an honorary life member of the Golden Keys in 2000, and won the World's Leading Concierge title in the Best of the Best Awards organised by luxury travel network Virtuoso in 2008, followed by the Lifetime Achievement award at the Annual Morris Golden Keys Concierge Awards 2010.

After winning the latter accolade, Short said: "I pride myself on being able to make every guest feel like they are in safe hands - ensuring things happen on time and every time."

Antony Lynch, head concierge of the Hilton London Kensington, and president of the Golden Keys Society, said Short had the best contacts in the industry and would go out of his way to help a colleague to find the solution to the impossible. "Colin was also a mentor to young and up-and-coming concierge and helped many of the society's members make their way in our industry. Most of all, Colin was everyone's friend, and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him."

Short is survived by his long-term partner, Debbie, and his son Philip.


Lanesborough Concierge wins Lifetime Achievement award >>

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