After World War II

After World War II, Mr. Ferdinand Gillet, originally from Switzerland and the former Vice President to Mr. Dechaume, succeeded him as the new president of the association. Mr. Gillet started his concierge career in Paris as a Night Concierge at Hotel du Rhin in 1920.

The origins of present day Les Clefs d’Or as an international association have traditionally been credited to him, as during his presidency, Ferdinand Gillet travelled extensively throughout Europe to seek and find other hotel concierges.

The First International Congress

After much communication and several smaller meetings (including the initial multi-national meeting that took place in 1951 in Sierres, Switzerland), the gathering of the first six member sections took place on the historic date of April 25, 1952, at The Carlton Hotel in Cannes. This event gave birth to the Union Européenne des Portiers des Grands Hôtels “Les Clefs d'Or,” the international network as we know it today, and it was the very first multinational Congress.

Representatives from the French organisation were joined by prominent concierges from Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain and Ireland. Belgium and Denmark were observing countries, and Spain was an invited guest.

After the congress, each country represented was encouraged to go back and form a formal organisation in their respective regions based on the French model. The members in Morocco, being a French protectorate at the time, although outside of mainland Europe were regarded as French members.

Mr. Ferdinand Gillet

Mr. Ferdinand Gillet (France) became the president of the association.

Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Switzerland

Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Switzerland became the first member sections.

Austria

Austria joined the organization as member section.

Sweden

Sweden joined the organization as member section.

Ireland and the Netherlands

Ireland (originally with Great Britain) and Netherlands joined the organization as member sections.

Norway and Spain

Norway and Spain joined the organization as member sections.

Morocco

Morocco joined the organization as a member section.

Greece

Greece (Hellas) joined the organization as a member section.

Expansion of UIPGH Les Clefs d'Or

In 1967 the 15th International Congress was held in Athens. At this time Les Clefs d'Or membership had expanded to 2000 members and the association had grown to 16 countries (member sections).

Mr. Théodor Godde

Mr Théodor Godde (Germany) became the president of the association.

Mr. Oskar Wirth

Mr. Oskar Wirth (Switzerland) became the interim president of the association after the passing of Mr. Godde.

Les Clefs d'Or Expands Outside of Europe

In 1970 in St. Moritz, with the addition of Israel, UEPGH Les Clefs d’Or (Union Européenne des Portiers des Grands Hôtels "Les Clefs d'Or") changed its name to UIPGH Les Clefs d’Or (Union Internationale des Portiers des Grands Hôtels "Les Clefs d'Or") to accommodate the organisation to reflect its growth and presence outside of Europe.

Mr. Oskar Wirth

Mr. Oskar Wirth (Switzerland) became the president of the association.

Mr. Robert Burdeyron

Mr. Robert Burdeyron (Great Britain) became the president of the association.

Portugal

Portugal joined the organization as a member section.

Mr. Alfredo Molero

Mr. Alfredo Molero (Spain) became the president of the association.

Mr. Jean Gillet

Mr. Jean Gillet (France) became the president of the association.

Canada

Canada joined the organization as a member section.

Les Clefs d'Or Expands to the Americas

Canada's became the 18th member section and the first country to bring UIPGH Les Clefs d'Or to the Americas.

Mr. Spartaco Giarola

Mr. Spartaco Giarola (Italy) became the president of the association.

Ms. Holly Stiel

Ms. Holly Stiel from San Francisco was admitted as the first female member concierge.

United States of America

The United States of America joined the organization as a member section.

Finland

Finland joined the organization as a member section.

Australia

Australia joined the organization as a member section.

Les Clefs d'Or Begins Planning for an Expansion into Asia

Australia's acceptance heralded a new era paving the way for Asia to join the UIPGH Les Clefs d'Or family.

Mr. Adolf Schneider

Mr. Adolph Schneider (Austria) became the president of the organisation.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong joined the association as a member section.

Les Clefs d'Or Expands into Asia

Hong Kong becomes the first member section from Asia to join UIPGH Les Clefs d'Or.

Mr. Jose-Maria Bautista

Mr. Jose-Maria Bautista (Spain) became the president of the association.

Hungary

Hungary was accepted as a member section, bringing the total number of sections to 23.

Mr. Albert Ostertag

Mr. Albert Ostertag (Switzerland) became the president of the association.

Singapore

Singapore was accepted as a member section.

Mr. André Damonté

Mr. André Damonté (Great Britain) became the president of the association.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg was accepted as a member section.

The Paris Office

Under the leadership of French President Pierre Porte, 12 rue Cambon is purchased outright on July 17.

Romania

Romania was accepted as a member section.

Mr. Walter Freytag

Mr. Walter Freytag (Germany) became the president of the association.

Czech Republic

Czech Republic was accepted as a member section.

Brazil

Brazil became the first South American member country.

Mr. Adolfo Lodigiani

Mr. Adolfo Lodigiani (Italy) became the president of the association.

Philippines

Philippines was accepted as a member section.

New Zealand

New Zealand was accepted as a member section.

Mr. Tony Facciolo

Mr. Tony Facciolo OAM (Australia) became the president of the association.

Mexico and China

Mexico and China were both accepted as a member sections bringing the total number of sections to 30.

Mr. Andras Gunst

Mr. Andras Gunst from Hungary became the president of the association.

Japan and Malaysia

Japan and Malaysia were both accepted as a member sections.

UICH

In 1998, the association officially became UICH (Union Internationale des Concierges d'Hôtels "Les Clefs d'Or") to emphasise the word concierge and to further reinforce that Les Clefs d'Or is an association of hotel concierges.

Mrs. Marjorie Silverman

A newly restructured UICH welcomed its first female president, Mrs. Marjorie Silverman from the USA section. Mrs. Silverman rewrote the statutes and gave birth to the famous Article IV.

Mr. Aldo Giacomello

Mr. Aldo Giacomello (Switzerland) became the president of the association.

Russia

The international expansion of the association continued with Russia.

Mr. Jean-Claude Elgaire

Mr. Jean-Claude Elgaire (France) became the president of the association.

Taiwan and Turkey

Turkey and Chinese Taipei joined as member sections.

Mr. Denis T. C. O’Brien

Mr. Denis O’Brien (Ireland) became the president of the association.

Thailand

Thailand joined as member section.

South Korea

South Korea joined as member section.

Mr. Roger Bastoni

Mr. Roger Bastoni (France) became the president of the association.

Argentina

Argentina became the next member section from South America.

Les Clefs d'Or Award Launches

The Les Clefs d’Or® Award was first established at the 55th Les Clefs d’Or International Congress in Denmark, 2008 and aims to recognise and encourage young members to become active participants in our global network.

It was named for a few years as the “Andy Pongco Award” to honour the memory Andy Pongco, and was then each year dedicated to iconic figures that have been great contributors in the history of our association; Ms Marjorie Silverman, Mr Andre Damonte, Mr Pierre Quentin and Mr Tony Facciolo.

The award is managed by the Les Clefs d'Or Award Committee which comprises five members including one member of the Executive Committee, one member of the Conseil des Sages and the winner of the previous year's competition. Two other committee members are also nominated to complete the committee.

Mr. Robert Watson

Mr. Robert Watson (United States of America) became the president of the association.

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates joined as member section.

Mrs. Virginia Casale

Mrs. Virginia Casale (Canada) became the second female president of the association.

India

India joined as member section and becomes the 40th section of Les Clefs d'Or.

Poland

Poland joined as member section.

Mr. Emmanuel Vrettos

Mr. Emmanuel Vrettos (Hellas) became the president of the association.

Qatar and Macau

Qatar and Macau joined as member sections.

Mr. Colin Toomey

Mr. Colin Toomey (Australia) became the president of the association.

The Creation of Working Committees

With the expansion of Les Clefs d'Or several working committees begin to be formed in order to meet the needs of a growing association.

4000 Members

Les Clefs d'Or membership reaches the 4,000 mark globally with members reaching in over 80 countries and 536 destinations reaching six continents around the globe.

Mr. Simon Thomas

Mr. Simon Thomas (Great Britain) became the president of the association.

Indonesia

Indonesia joined as member section.

Mr. Roderick Levejac

Mr. Roderick Levejac (France) became the president of the association.

Mr. Anders Ølsted Jensen

Mr. Anders Ølsted Jensen (Denmark) became the president of the association. For the first time in the association's history, the elections and the General Assembly was held virtually due to the CoronaVirus Pandemic.

Mr. Randy V. Santos

Mr. Randy Santos (Qatar) became the president of the association.