How did les clefs D'Or start?

Answer 1

Long story short....Officially registered as U.I.C.H (Union Internationale des Concierge d'Hotel).

Les Clefs d'Or is an international network of men and women with common interests and goals. They have their own mystique, a combination of their expertise sources of inside information, intelligence and communication. The Organization is non-political, non-religious and definitely not a trade union of any sort but is based on friendship between members to assist international travellers and tourist.

The first such association saw the light of day on 6th Oct 1929 when 11 Concierges from the grand hotels of Paris realized that they could operate more effectively as a team than individually. If they could join forces, they felt, they could make their services more indispensable. The two oldest associations are the French and the Swedes. The Dutch chapter was founded in 1937 and other countries associations date from about the same time. Many were the result of the depression in the late twenties and early thirties. The associations were allied to help each other on unemployment, illness and adversities. There was however, no real sign of any intentional cooperation until after WW II.

On 25th April 1952, delegates from nine countries met in Cannes to hold the first congress and created L'Union Europeene des Portiers des Grands Hotel (UEPGH). Its craetion was made possible by Ferdinand Gillet, the Chef Concierge then of Hotel Scribe in Paris, the industry knows him as the 'Father of Les Clefs d'Or'.

The second congress was held in San Remo, Italy in Dec 1953, this saw the creation of the journal 'Revue Europeene' and the adoption of the society's insignia and badge, the Golden Keys. This congress held yearly in different member countries has become a major feature in the Concierge calendar as avenue to renew and make new contacts and share their experiences and ideas.

15th November 1972 at the 20th Int'l Congress in Mallorca, Spain UEPGH was changed to UIPGH, Union Internationale des Portiers des Grandes Hotels, thus making the Society of the Golden Keys a worldwide organization. The Singapore chapter was formally accepted as the 24th member country at the 34th International Congress in Tel Aviv in 1986, making it the first Asian member. On December 4th 1993, the Singapore Chapter hosted the 41 International Congress.

Today the Society's membership encompasses over 35 countries with over 5000 members.