This is not a goodbye… for two truisms come to mind when I sit down to write this last edition of the Modern Butlers’ Journal: Without change, life would be boring; and the more things change, the more they stay the same. The fact is that the Journal has been published without break for 15 years, well into the age where quick and easy-to-assimilate information delivered on smartphones and social media has become…

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No mentions of note about butlers in the media this month, but a noteworthy web site has appeared from Mr. Jim Grise, well worth a read…

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Serveral letters from our readers this month!

“I still had this [encouraging Chairman’s message about dealing with hostile environments] in my inbox and I am so glad that I did, as I needed it today! Thank you for all of the invaluable insight and advice you share with us.” AH; Ed: So glad it proved useful—and you are welcome;

“I returned from a 6-month contract on a cruise ship and currently…

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Proper etiquette at the kitchen table for staff meals was covered in the last issue, and the book then swings into 22 pages of how staff should behave toward each other, as well as with family and guests. The advice begins with sentiments that we would find most acceptable today, and which are most timely as we enter the holiday season of good cheer: “The more you endeavour to promote the happiness of those around you, the more you will secure your own. Consider that you must live with fellow…

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Ho ho ho, dear readers!

Christmas is around the corner and Santa Claus and his helpers are working hard to prepare the presents for all children everywhere!

On this occasion, we pay tribute to big man dressed in red with his own cocktail. As you will see, the Santa Clausmopolitan is not only delicious, but also reminds us of Father Noel’s outfit. And, as is often the case, it is really easy to prepare, and much easier even to enjoy! These are the ingredients you will need for…

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As we approach the holiday season, please spare a thought for all the butlers and private staff who will be working over the festive period. I am not so sure it’s the most wonderful time of year for us who are responsible for making it a magical time for our principals. I am sure I am not alone in missing out on spending time with my own family because I have to serve another at Christmas, not to mention birthdays and anniversaries etc.

However, this, to use a cliché, is what we signed up for…

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Because one image can say more than a thousand words, click on “read more” below to find out how good (or not so good) someone’s attention to detail can be, and be left speechless….

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Leather furniture either has a protective layer or is unfinished: Unfinished (aniline) leather is full grain leather that has been dyed the whole way through and does not have a protective coating on it, so while on the plus side it ages well, developing a patina, it can stain more easily.

This is simple enough to manage: Apply saddle soap with a damp cloth to any lighter stains; heavier ones, such as ballpoint marks…

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Being a butler is not just a profession. Some say it’s almost an art; it’s definitely a philosophy and a way of life.

Whether your company be a hotel, a resort, a cruise ship, rental villas or time-share properties, if you require training of your butlers, the new IIMB Online Hospitality Butler Course could help improve your butler team’s skills. The course provides a deeper look into the butler’s soft skills, including how to manage themselves as a true butler would. It teaches butlers new and old skills such as the right demeanor, proper communication, the right way to approach service, the butler’s Etiquette & Protocols…

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As breakfast is the purview of the butler, I retain an interest in it beyond general cookery as I am sure we all do. By this time, for instance, I am sure that all of my sister and brother butlers have been instructed by Sir Ian McKellen’s excellent short instructional video on the perfect scrambled egg. And I may be late to the party on this tip, but I have recently found that gently warming the cream cheese before serving it, either on the side or on a bagel directly, has an extraordinary impact on the flavor….

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We continue featuring butlers and ex-butlers who, not surprisingly, given the level of creativity the position requires, enjoy skills in the fine arts. If you, or any butler you know, are a creative artist in no matter what genre, please feel free to submit your/their works to the editor of the Modern Butlers’ Journal. This month we include a new creation by Mr. Rick Fink, a retired butler with over 6 decades of experience and currently the principal of the Butler Valet School in England, and a venerable member of the International Butler Trainer Alliance….

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In this edition we say hello once more to the butler team from Raffles Meradhoo in the Maldives. In the photo featured in this article, IIMB President Mr. Amer A. Vargas is shown with some of the butlers, as well as the Training Directors, the Front Office Manager and the General Manager, following the refresher training they completed last month.

To all of you, thanks for all your positive energy and support!

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To end the year on a happy note, we feature the inspirational feedback from the Jadugars (butler “magicians”) from Joali Maldives and Joali Being in the Maldives, as well as the butlers from Rosewood Little Dix Bay, following the training delivered there by Mr. Vargas, who is rapidly becoming internationally recognized for his work and the positive motivational effects his training has on the staff who attend his courses. Read some of his students’ comments here…

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The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world. Contact us for all your training needs via email at enquiries@modernbutlers.com or via telephone: USA 1-813- 354-2734. We invite you to also visit our website www.modernbutlers.com for more information.

Please email the editor of The Modern Butler’s Journal at newsletter@modernbutlers.com with any article ideas, concerns, comments, or suggestions.

A meme recently caught my eye, as it is particularly germane to butlers caring for their employers and the property of their employers—just as much as it is to familial relationships, friendships, and vintage cars. And with so much that is worrisome today, it helps to sit down with a cup of tea (or coffee) every now and then and remember these words…

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An almost complete black-out on butlers in the media this month, with just one mention of a resort chain that should know better, because they have proper butlers and yet are now downgrading that concept for their guests by introducing “pizza butlers.”…..

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These meals were for the staff in the kitchen and required all staff to be present unless engaged in work for the employers. Anyone not arriving on time for grace to be said, had their food returned to the kitchen. The table was laid by the Hallboy, the entry level position for males. The manservants were expected to draw the beer for the meal, but not too much, as “shameful waste often brings wo[e]ful want to those who are so sinful as to be careless and extravagant in the provisions committed to their charge.” …

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This butler’s most recent trip to the Maldives is coming to an end at Raffles Maldives Meradhoo, a beautiful resort located south of the capital city of Male, and just about 59 km/37 mi north of the equator.

Upon arrival at the resort, the Raffles butlers prepare a welcome drink for their guests called the Maldives Sling, a cocktail created at the Long Bar (the famous Long Bar, which is a feature of all Raffles properties). In fact, the Maldives Sling is a variation of the well-known Singapore Sling, a cocktail originally created at Raffles Singapore, but with a wonderful twist of added Maldivian ingredients…

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I was once asked, “What is the difference between a butler and a waiter?” It made me think, because to those of us in private service the answer is obvious, but is it really?

We could argue that we look so smart in our three-piece butler suit and hopefully polished shoes, and that we have a high knowledge of etiquette, and discretion and other qualities run through our DNA. I am not for a minute downplaying the wonderful…

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Because one image can say more than a thousand words, click on “read more” to find out how good (or not so good) someone’s attention to detail can be, and be left speechless….

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While leather is the outside of an animal’s hide, suede is the inside of the hide and thus porous, so one does not use any polishes on it. Instead, use a rubber/eraser or even fingernail file to rub down any oil or stain and try to reveal the fabric again.

To remove dust and dirt, you need to raise the nap/surface of the fabric, the direction of the fibers, either by applying steam from about 10 inches away or by using a…

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Being a butler is not just a profession. Some say it’s almost an art; it’s definitely a philosophy and a way of life.

Whether your company be a hotel, a resort, a cruise ship, rental villas or time-share properties, if you require training of your butlers, the new IIMB Online Hospitality Butler Course could help improve your butler team’s skills. The course provides a deeper look into the butler’s soft skills, including how to manage themselves as a true butler would. It teaches butlers new and old skills such as the right demeanor, the proper communication, the way to approach service, the butler’s Etiquette & Protocols…

Read more »

We continue featuring butlers and ex-butlers who, not surprisingly, given the level of creativity the position requires, enjoy skills in the fine arts. If you, or any butler you know, are a creative artist in no matter what genre, please feel free to submit your/their works to the editor of the Modern Butlers’ Journal. This month we include a new creation by Mr. Rick Fink, a retired butler with over 6 decades of experience and currently the principal of the Butler Valet School in England, and a venerable member of the International Butler Trainer Alliance….

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In this issue we welcome many new butlers, from the Maldives to the British Virgin Islands. First, the butlers from Joali, just an hour north by seaplane from the capital of Male, and their colleagues from Joali Being, their sister property located just a few minutes away by boat. Last, but not least, we are delighted to introduce the wonderful team of butlers at Rosewood Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.

To all of you, many thanks for your passion and devotion, for your energy and for your positive attitude!…

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This month we feature some inspirational feedback from the Jadugars (magicians!) butler students from Joali Maldives and Joali Being Maldives, as well as from the butlers of Rosewood Little Dix Bay, following the training delivered there by IIMB’s president Amer A. Vargas. Mr. Vargas is rapidly becoming internationally recognized for his work and the positive motivational effects his training has on the staff who attend his courses. Read some of his students’ comments now…

Read more »

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world. Contact us for all your training needs via email at enquiries@modernbutlers.com or via telephone: USA 1-813- 354-2734. We invite you to also visit our website www.modernbutlers.com for more information.

Please email the editor of The Modern Butler’s Journal at newsletter@modernbutlers.com with any article ideas, concerns, comments, or suggestions.

Without the silent intervals between sounds in music, we would be inundated with continuous sound. Like “bad” is needed to understand “good,” so we need silence to help understand and appreciate sound. And so it is that I have no particular message to relay to you this month, except “Take joy in the wide variety of life before you,” and I shall leave you now with silence!…

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Trust a psychologist to twist reality into their own negative world view, turning a butler’s ability and desire to finesse a situation into a comfortable one for all concerned, into the assertion that the butler is lying—and from this negative evaluation, creating a new term according to this Psychology Today article, of Butler Lies that are defined as “lies we tell to avoid social interaction.”

Otherwise, there were three instances this month of the butler being used in commerce…...

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Candles and oil lamps were the only source of light at night and required attentive care. “Observe to have all your lamps and candles lighted up in the drawing-room a little before the guests come. If there is a glass chandelier or sconces, and if they are so high that you cannot reach them without steps, you had better have a small cane or stick with a wax-taper tied at the end, and an extinguisher; if you have this, you will be enabled to light them and put them out without having to bring the steps into the room…

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On this occasion I present you with a funny cocktail for sci-fi lovers, particularly those who deeply enjoy the Star Wars Saga, and more precisely even, the new The Mandalorian TV series, which includes Baby Yoda as a personal favorite character for many; for example, Emilio, the 2 yo son of some friends in Los Cabos, Mx.

I am here simplifying the preparation, but you can see an extended recipe here courtesy of Tristin, from Home Cooked Harvest. These are the ingredients you will need for a single serving…

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As we witness the world becoming increasingly fractured and common courtesy disappears, I find myself wondering what would happen if butlers were to be in charge of a country. You may laugh at such a thought, but I feel we are perfectly qualified!

We have excellent organizing skills; We give clear and precise direction and communication to our team members; We are always careful to listen to, and have empathy for, those with whom we communicate…

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Because one image can say more than a thousand words, click on “read more” to find out how good (or not so good) someone’s attention to detail can be, and be left speechless….

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For patent (high gloss) leather, apply the white cream designed for patent leather with a cloth and wipe off—do not use a brush or regular shoe polish cream or wax; If multi-colored shoes, such as in the case of some ladies shoes or golf shoes, use a neutral-colored polish; Shoes made of snake, alligator, ostrich, etc. skins need to be handled delicately with gentle motions using soft cloth—as their surface can be harmed by brushing/rough brushing. Also, they may require their own polish…

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Being a butler is not just a profession. Some say it’s almost an art; it’s definitely a philosophy and a way of life.

Whether your company be a hotel, a resort, a cruise ship, rental villas or time-share properties, if you require training of your butlers, the new IIMB Online Hospitality Butler Course could help improve your butler team’s skills. The course provides a deeper look into the butler’s soft skills, including how to manage themselves as a true butler would. It teaches butlers new and old skills such as the right demeanor, the proper communication, the way to approach service, the butler’s Etiquette & Protocols…

Read more »

We are expanding this monthly column to include other butlers who, not surprisingly, given the level of creativity the position requires, enjoy skills in the fine arts. If you, or any butler you know, are a creative artist in no matter what genre, please feel free to submit your/their works to the editor of the Modern Butlers’ Journal. This month we include a new creations by Mr. Rick Fink a retired butler with over 6 decades of experience and currently the principal of the Butler Valet School in England, and a venerable member of the International Butler Trainer Alliance….

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In this issue we say hello again to the butlers and majordomos of the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal in Baja California Sura, Mexico. A great team of surpassing expectations staff members that help the property to stay at the top of the best hotels in Mexico…

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Excellent feedback from the Butlers and Majordomos of the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal after the training delivered by IIMB’s president Amer A. Vargas…

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The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world. Contact us for all your training needs via email at enquiries@modernbutlers.com or via telephone: USA 1-813- 354-2734. We invite you to also visit our website www.modernbutlers.com for more information.

Please email the editor of The Modern Butler’s Journal at newsletter@modernbutlers.com with any article ideas, concerns, comments, or suggestions.

It was heartening to see the response to my last message about calming the turmoil in the world by everyone knowing and insisting upon their Human Rights, as delineated in the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Some of you really did take to heart the vital necessity of Human Rights in a civil society—and if butlers represent anything, it is the civility and caring that lie at the root of civilization, so please do continue. We have found over the last couple of months that it takes a constant effort to bring the message through to the majority, as they are so distraught and distracted by…

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An interesting article entitled “What Will Success Actually Take For Estate Managers of the Future?” from one of our own, Mr. Jim Grise…

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Once dinner was over, the ladies withdrew to the (with)drawing room where they were served tea and coffee by the butler. The men followed later, at which point they were also served tea and coffee. Meanwhile the staff cleared and washed the dirty dishes, etc. In the event that wine and fruit etc. were leftover in the dining room, the butler was to lock the door to prevent the staff helping themselves to the leftovers. It was advised the staff be given beer so that they would not feel tempted to drink the remaining wine…

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Continuing with our cocktail series, on this occasion we step into the versatile world of coffee to talk about a simple yet delicious combination that mixes the kick of coffee, the refreshing qualities of ice, the delightful creaminess of milk (and/or cream itself), and the tang of Bailey’s Irish cream. As you are about to see, this coffee combination is very easy to prepare. This is what you will need:

• A cold Café Latte (approximately 1/3 of coffee and 2/3 cold milk).
• 5 oz./ 45 ml. Bailey’s Irish Cream…

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While enjoying a coffee with a butler colleague, he told me what is becoming a very familiar tale these days about starting a new job and being expected to work 80-plus hours a week. I asked what his contract specified, to which he laughed and said, “You know that doesn’t mean a thing.” Consequently, he is now searching for a new position, which explains in part the large turnover of staff in private residences. On the flipside, I know a number of people who work for demanding families but who are…

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Because one image can say more than a thousand words, click on “read more” to find out how good (or not so good) someone’s attention to detail can be, and be left speechless…

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Lay a cloth or newspaper on a surface to prevent dirtying the surface with dust or polish. Remove any laces and use a slightly stiffer brush to brush away dust and grime; then a small round “on” brush to apply a small amount of polish to each section of shoe, including the mid-sole (unless it is made of rubber or plastic), as well as the tongue. For a better shine, apply the polish with a drop of water or even a damp sponge, which will also keep the polish soft so it can be worked into the leather more effectively. Use…

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Being a butler is not just a profession. Some say it’s almost an art; it’s definitely a philosophy and a way of life.

Whether your company be a hotel, a resort, a cruise ship, rental villas or time-share properties, if you require training of your butlers, the new IIMB Online Hospitality Butler Course could help improve your butler team’s skills. The course provides a deeper look into the butler’s soft skills, including how to manage themselves as a true butler would. It teaches butlers new and old skills such as the right demeanor, the proper communication, the way to approach service, the butler’s Etiquette & Protocols…

Read more »

We are expanding this monthly column to include other butlers who, not surprisingly, given the level of creativity the position requires, enjoy skills in the fine arts. If you, or any butler you know, are a creative artist in no matter what genre, please feel free to submit your/their works to the editor of the Modern Butlers’ Journal. This month we include new creations by Mr. Rick Fink and Mr. Kobi Gutman…….

Read more »

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The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world. Contact us for all your training needs via email at enquiries@modernbutlers.com or via telephone: USA 1-813- 354-2734. We invite you to also visit our website www.modernbutlers.com for more information.

Please email the editor of The Modern Butler’s Journal at newsletter@modernbutlers.com with any article ideas, concerns, comments, or suggestions.

As we survey the broad vista of humanity in action today, we see more strife and discord than is healthy for a single species to be entertaining within itself. There is, after all, only one set of humans and it makes no sense for it to be threatening its own survival by fighting itself with quite such deep fervor and conviction. It is not generally known that as a group, we humans have 30 rights as created in 1948 by the United Nations, and the 30th of these says that our rights cannot be taken away by anyone for any reason. It is an observable fact that…

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A well-written and interesting article by a butlerphile on the case of the disappearing butler in books, films, and TV series—with a few ideas offered to explain this observation. One intriguing piece of equipment: a “butler pan used to collect crumbs and ashes from the table.” This one made in Japan of porcelain...

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As was the case in the July issue, several subjects were brought up this month:

“Please request (…) Ms. Yang Lin to contact me with regards to her letter about SABA. I am currently working on Cunard Line as [deleted] where Mr. Cross has claimed he worked as a Butler. I may have more information that might assist her in her case”…

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One problem butlers ran into was not having enough silverware and plates, and so they had to remove them from the table as quickly as possible once used. They were washed and then presented again for the next course. Advice offered by one employer was to set up a maid outside the dining room with a bowl of hot water to wash the items and cold water to rinse them—and so avoid the time of taking dirty items all the way to the scullery by the kitchen. Anyone who can afford a butler these days, of course…

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With the sun heating up and hitting us hard in the Northern hemisphere, it’s a good idea to stay cool in the shade while, of course, enjoying a refreshing cocktail! On this occasion we suggest a non-alcoholic mix that will delight all ages throughout the year, although during the summer season it is even more pleasing. The Watermelon Cooler is very simple to prepare, as you are about to see. These are the ingredients you will need for 2 servings…

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My views on this may raise an eyebrow from our wonderful editor of this monthly newsletter, so I apologize in advance, the subject being, “Should male private staff and especially butlers be clean shaven or allow themselves to have a little facial hair?” One can argue the merits of hygiene when serving food and cleanliness when considering the bewhiskered over the shaven. Should it be a matter of personal choice or is it up to the principal to decide? I have known staff who reluctantly have shaved their prized…

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Because one image can say more than a thousand words, click on “read more” to find out how good (or not so good) someone’s attention to detail can be, and be left speechless…

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After each use, wipe leather products with a cloth dampened with water (soap often contains chemicals that degrade leather) to remove abrasive particles such as dust that are a leading cause of wear and tear. While shoes can be returned to their proper shape by the use of shoe trees, the same cannot be said of other leather products, such as bags and jackets. So for clothing, hang the item after wearing and let it fall naturally by doing up any zippers or buttons. For bags, wallets, etc…

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Being a butler is not just a profession. Some say it’s almost an art; it’s definitely a philosophy and a way of life.

Whether your company be a hotel, a resort, a cruise ship, rental villas or time-share properties, if you require training of your butlers, the new IIMB Online Hospitality Butler Course could help improve your butler team’s skills. The course provides a deeper look into the butler’s soft skills, including how to manage themselves as a true butler would. It teaches butlers new and old skills such as the right demeanor, the proper communication, the way to approach service, the butler’s Etiquette & Protocols and even how excellent butlers expertly handle very difficult situations with their guests…

Read more »

We are expanding this monthly column to include other butlers who, not surprisingly, given the level of creativity the position requires, enjoy skills in the fine arts. If you, or any butler you know, are a creative artist in no matter what genre, please feel free to submit your/their works to the editor of the Modern Butlers’ Journal. This month we include creations by Mr. Rick Fink and Mr. Kobi Gutman…….

Read more »

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world. Contact us for all your training needs via email at enquiries@modernbutlers.com or via telephone: USA 1-813- 354-2734. We invite you to also visit our website www.modernbutlers.com for more information.

Please email the editor of The Modern Butler’s Journal at newsletter@modernbutlers.com with any article ideas, concerns, comments, or suggestions.