Les Clefs d’Or Ireland is excited to announce our 4 candidates for our Jimmy Connor Concierge of the Year Award 2019. The winner will be announced at our Gala Ball in The Midlands Park Hotel on the 22nd

 Laszlo Martin of The Marker Hotel Dublin
 Robbie Smyth of The Powerscourt Hotel, Autograph Collection in Wicklow
 Declan Mcfarlane of The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast
 Barry White of The InterContinental Dublin Hotel

This award epitomises the role of each one of our candidates who are dedicated to their profession, their guests and our society. Having been nominated by either another respected member, their General Managers, an associate member, social & professional affiliate or a national or international honorary member, they now face a rigorous written and oral test proceeding in a one to one interview with leading individuals from within the hospitality industry.

Background to the man and the award:
Jimmy Connor was a concierge at the Grand Central Hotel and then at The Europa Hotel in Belfast. For many years, Jimmy flew the flag for Les Clefs d’Or in Northern Ireland. He was Mr Concierge to the many guests who crossed the threshold of the hotels where he was Head Hall Porter. Jimmy was the embodiment of our motto in Service Through Friendship with both work colleagues, guests and Clefs d’Or colleagues alike. In February 2006 Jimmy passed away and with the blessing of Jimmy’s family, we renamed our prestigious award after him, to honour one of our finest ambassadors.

His saying “I’ll be around your way next week”.

Mr John D. Toner former Director of Hastings Hotels and former General Manager of The Slieve Donard Hotel had been the kind sponsor of our Concierge of the Year Award for many years and each year he presides over the judging panel.

The award will be once again sponsored by Enterprise Car Rental.

The executive board and all our members wish the best of luck to all the candidates.