A contemporary butler in Aspen

We hear that you landed a position in Aspen, Colorado! Congratulations! What are you doing there?
I am currently working on a 1-year rotation program at the St. Regis Hotel in Colorado, USA. Under the Butler Services Area, I work in the Front Office Department and rotate through different specialties gaining experience in each one.

I work on a team that takes care of the VIPs from the moment they arrive to the airport all the way to their departure from the hotel. Our role is to provide an exclusive and luxurious experience for our guests who come to us with high expectations – we take care of every single request (and make it look easy!).

When we think of the word butler, often a stuffy or serious image comes to mind. Is this stereotype still justified or do you bring a more modern twist to your role?
Stuffy and serious is definitely out of date today and not at all the way we treat our guests. Each butler is different, but the goal is to make the guest feel as comfortable as possible and enjoy their stay from start to finish. With professionalism and 5-star service as the constant, my approach is to get to know the guest at every chance and tailor my service to their individual needs.

What is the most outrageous request that you have received?
We organize a complimentary driver service in town. Once we received a call from a woman looking to be picked up from directly across the street (and it wasn’t even wintertime!). We obviously went – no questions asked!

What is the best part about working in Aspen – the world famous ski resort?
Aspen actually reminds me a lot of Montreux in terms of the quaintness of the town and access to extraordinary nature at your doorstep. But the best part has to be the fact that I can wake up to fresh powder, get out my snowboard for a few hours and still make it to work for my afternoon shift.

What skill did you learn at Hotel Institute Montreux that has been the most helpful in your current role?
Through my marketing specialization I developed my team working skills which is something I apply every day. In this business, you are only as good as your team and we support each other in every way.

Secondly, my specialization (and specifically my internship report) has opened up opportunities to get involved with the marketing department at the hotel which is something I am very interested in exploring further for my future. It was actually the Marketing Manager that nominated me as Employee of the Month this August!

What skill did you learn during this traineeship that you didn’t have before?
Snowboarding ;)

You were already studying hospitality in Peru, why did you decide to transfer in the middle of your studies to Hotel Institute Montreux?
I decided to transfer to HIM because I was after an international career. I knew that if I stayed in Peru, I could already foresee how my career would unfold and to be honest, I wanted more!

 

“I went to Switzerland to learn from the best and be among the best and it’s the best decision I ever made. The world is now truly in front of me. To me, a career in hospitality offers the opportunity to craft and live any life you can dream of.”

 

You moved from one end of the world to another when you left Peru. What did you learn from leaving your comfort zone?
I believe that in life, it’s not about simply finding your role but rather creating and constantly improving it. And for true growth to take place, it’s necessary to move around and leave the places where you feel too comfortable. Each place is another opportunity for a new and better you.

 

“When I left home I thought it would be difficult and I would miss my family, but in fact I ended up being part of an entire new one.”