Top concierges honoured at the Morris Golden Keys Concierge Awards

The UK's top hotel concierges were recognised at the 9th annual Morris Golden Keys Concierge Awards at the Royal Horseguards Hotel, London on 13 October.

The winner of the lifetime achievement award went to Ron Crowdy, head night concierge at Imperial Hotel's Royal National in London.

Crowdy, who has worked at Imperial Hotels for the past 42 years, told The Caterer he had seen the job change dramatically, driven mainly by technology.

"Guests use Google nowadays, so they don't have to rely on concierges for information. But it is up to us to ensure they make the right choice. In the past, we gave them the only choice," he said. "And we no longer have to check through guest registration cards, we can simply pop their name in a computer."

Crowdy added that the assimilation of head concierges into management of the hotel was a logical step forward. "Concierges have direct contact with all guests," he said.

Other winners included Paul Walsh at Thistle Marble Arch, who scooped Concierge of the year London member award; Alan McDougall, from Cameron House on Loch Lomond, who took the Concierge of the year regional member award; and Paul Whittle, Le Meridien Piccadilly, London, who won the Society of the Golden Keys Service through Friendship award.

The event, which celebrates success among the organisation's 340 members is hosted by Morris Visitor Publications (MVP) in Europe and The Society of The Golden Keys of Great Britain and the Commonwealth.