Emporium Hotel South Bank is one of Australia’s most celebrated boutique properties, set in the lush tropical South Bank precinct with Brisbane River and City views and welcoming distinguished guests, including prime ministers, world leaders, sporting and entertainment celebrities, and visitors seeking a five-star experience.
In recognition of Emporium Hotel South Bank’s outstanding service reputation, Chief Concierge Jimmy Barker has been awarded membership to Les Clefs d’Or Australia, a mark of excellence in the hospitality industry.
Known for his impeccable service standards, Barker has been awarded the highest concierge honour, Les Clefs d’Or, which translates as “The Golden Keys”.
Les Clefs d’Or is an international association of concierge professionals who are recognised by distinctive crossed golden keys worn on their lapels, symbolising the highest standard of service excellence and local expertise in the hospitality industry.
As one of only 50 concierges in Australia and approximately 4,000 worldwide invited to join Les Clefs d’Or, Barker is the youngest person in the nation to attain the accolade and his dedication to the craft is immeasurable.
He started at Emporium Hotels as a porter, progressing to concierge and Chief Concierge and displaying impressive dedication to his role.
Brisbane-born Barker’s interest in hospitality was piqued at age 13 when he met the Chief Concierge at the Savoy Hotel in London, fuelling a dream to one day hold the Golden Keys himself.
Leading a dynamic team of concierges at Emporium Hotels has proved invaluable to Barker, who said he was extremely proud to hold this internationally recognised symbol of excellence in service and looked forward to mentoring the next generation of concierges and tourism professionals.
“Holding the Golden Keys is not only an honour but gives me a network of the world’s best concierges, allowing me to offer my hotel guests access to some of the best concierge practice,” he said.
“I hope to redefine the embodiment of what ‘concierge’ means and set the foundations for a stronger network across Brisbane, leading the way for more Golden Keys in Australia.”
Of the distinguished accolade and recognition of the hotel’s exemplary service, Emporium Hotel South Bank General Manager Julie Manega commented: “Jimmy’s dedication to excellence and passion for hospitality is an inspiration for the entire team at Emporium Hotel South Bank and we are thrilled to see Jimmy attain Les Clefs d’Or, the world’s most coveted hospitality industry award.”
