What are hotel concierge services?
Concierge services are the errands, bookings and local advice a hotel concierge handles for guests. This cheat sheet covers what a concierge does. How the role differs from the front desk is further down.
How to think about it
- Local knowledge first. A concierge gives guests information on shopping, dining, nightlife and recreation, plus directions.
- Reservations and tickets. Dinner, spa treatments, golf tee times and tickets to special events.
- Travel logistics too. Concierges book airline or train tickets, reserve rental cars and arrange shuttle service for guests.
- Meetings and errands. The role can include planning special events or meetings and picking up or delivering items for guests.
Concierge vs. front desk
| Concierge | Front desk clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Personal services for guests | Registering guests and assigning rooms |
| Bookings | Restaurants, spa, event tickets, tours, rental cars, shuttles | Making and confirming room reservations |
| Messages | May take messages | Transmits and receives messages by phone |
Questions
What does a hotel concierge do?
A concierge assists guests with personal services. That can mean taking messages, making reservations and arranging or advising on transportation, business services or entertainment.
Can a hotel concierge help with a business trip?
Yes. Arranging or advising on transportation and business services is part of the job, and so are booking train or airline tickets, reserving rental cars and planning meetings.
What do the gold keys on a concierge's lapel mean?
Crossed gold keys mark Les Clefs d'Or concierges. Les Clefs d'Or USA, the national association of professional hotel concierges, is one of 44 member countries in the Union Internationale des Concierges d'Hôtels, headquartered in Paris.
Where do you find a hotel concierge?
At a desk in the hotel lobby. Les Clefs d'Or USA says its members' desks are mostly in 4- and 5-star hotels. The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET lists apartment and office buildings as other workplaces.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine (U.S. Department of Labor), 39-6012.00 - Concierges, accessed November 2, 2026.
- O*NET OnLine (U.S. Department of Labor), 43-4081.00 - Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks, accessed November 2, 2026.
- Les Clefs d'Or USA, Les Clefs d'Or USA: The Official National Organization of Hotel Lobby Concierges, accessed November 2, 2026.
- Les Clefs d'Or USA, About Les Clefs d'Or, accessed November 2, 2026.
- Engine, Business Hotel Booking With Engine, accessed November 2, 2026.