Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is set to welcome the world’s most influential hotel concierges to Dubai for the 63rd Les Clefs d’Or UICH International Congress, taking place from 10-15 April. 
This year’s congress marks the first time the event will take place in Dubai and will be hosted in the world’s tallest hotel, the JW Marriott Marquis. This year’s theme revolves around: ‘The Future is Here’, and the five-day event will see more than 750 concierges from all over the world immerse themselves in a series of meetings, educational programmes and networking opportunities.
Speaking on behalf of Dubai Tourism, Ibrahim Yaqoot, executive director – corporate support division, said: “Knowing that hotel concierges have a huge influence over travellers they come in contact with, it is undeniable that the concierges in Dubai have always played a huge role in the tourism industry. We are very proud to host this impressive group of concierge professionals at the UICH International Congress this year. As a vibrant tourism hub, Dubai continues to effectively blend an international outlook with its authentic Emirati culture, making it one of the world’s most appealing destinations. We therefore look forward to providing our guests the opportunity to experience Dubai as a leading tourist hotspot, in addition to the Les Clefs d’Or event.”
Congress attendees will be part of a number of sessions that address various existing and future industry trends, as well as global challenges and opportunities for the concierge profession. The closing ceremony gala, taking place at Atlantis, The Palm, will see Dubai Tourism announce the winner of the UAE Concierge of the Year Award, as well as the prestigious Andy Pongco Award, which recognises and encourages young Congress members to become active participants in the Les Clefs D’or global network.
Ahead of the event, Abey Sam, national president Les Clefs d’Or UAE, said: “It is an exciting time for our society as we continue to grow and adapt, remaining always agile, motivated and responsive. Our society is confronting a time of many changes and we’re meeting these changes during a time of larger nation-wide and global change.”
The conference aims to provide a platform for hotels in Dubai and the UAE to showcase their level of service and professionalism for both business and leisure tourism in front of a captive audience. Yaqoot commented: “Hotels are a key aspect of Dubai’s overall tourism offering, and we appreciate the commitment of Les Clefs d’Or towards maintaining high standards of service to ensure guest satisfaction. We are confident that this congress will further enhance Dubai’s hospitality service, and further showcase the city on the global stage.”
Clefs d’Or (Golden Key) Concierges – recognised by the crossed golden keys emblem worn on the lapels of their uniforms – are considered experts in their field and models for service excellence. The objective of the group is to establish and promote high professional and ethical standards among concierges at hotels around the world, with millions of discerning hotel guests relying on their advice and guidance. The society of Golden Keys UAE is an affiliate of Clefs d’Or, and is an association of professional concierges of hotels and resort hotels in the UAE and wider GCC.
