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Opening Pandora’s Box
Read more »: Opening Pandora’s BoxAs a sequel to the three-part article Thinking for Yourself May Be the Only Regimen for Recovery (1, 2, 3) written at the very beginning of the pandemic, we are publishing this sequel which builds on the original observations and questions concerning the pandemic to take a hard and dissenting look at the elephant in…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Recent Hospitality Graduates
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Recent Hospitality GraduatesRecent Hospitality Graduates Read some of the graduates’ feedback elsewhere in this newsletter, in the column In Their Words. In the picture below, IIMB’s president Mr. Amer A. Vargas is shown with part of the butler team, as well as the Training Directors, Front Office Manager and the General Manager, at Raffles Meradhoo in the…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Why Butlers Pay Attention to Details
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Why Butlers Pay Attention to DetailsWhy Butlers Pay Attention to Details-Christmas Special
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Let’s Talk about Mixology
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Let’s Talk about MixologyLet’s Talk about Mixology by Amer A. Vargas PART 74: Santa Clausmopolitan Ho ho ho, dear readers! Christmas is around the corner and Santa Claus and his helpers are working hard at preparing the presents for all children everywhere! On this occasion we will pay tribute to the big man dressed in red with his…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, My Butler Julius
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, My Butler JuliusMy Butler Julius by Julius Smith Christmas for Butlers 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…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Creative Corner
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Creative CornerCreative Corner Featuring Butlers who Apply their Creative Talents to their Art and their Profession Rick Fink Copy of National Geographic magazine’s green-eyed “Afghan Girl.” Mr. Rick Fink has been in the butler profession for over six decades, is the principal of the…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Experienced Head Butler Sought for Resort in Bora Bora
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Experienced Head Butler Sought for Resort in Bora BoraExperienced Head Butler Sought for Resort in Bora Bora A luxury resort in Bora Bora is looking for a highly experienced HB. The ideal candidate is expected to have: A high level of knowledge of Butler Services, both implementation and staff training; Excellent reading, writing and oral skills in both English and French. Proficiency in…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Culinary Tips for Butlers
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Culinary Tips for ButlersCulinary Tips for Butlers by Christopher Carter Sanderson 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…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021Message from the Chairman by Steven Ferry 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…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, In Their Words
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, In Their WordsIn Their Words How those trained by the Institute’s Trainers feel about their Experience Hospitality Service Graduates Asked: “What did you like the least of the training?”: “N/A, but we want more training from Mr. Amer A. Vargas! 10+” C.W.O’N “The training was very deep and detailed. Amer took his time to make sure we…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Message from the Chairman
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Message from the ChairmanMessage from the Chairman 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…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, SABA Update
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, SABA UpdateUpdate on Litigation against the South African Butler Academy Legal actions being taken by Ms. Yang Lin and 18 students against the South African Butler Academy (SABA), Mr. Newton Cross, Guild Recruitment (GR), Mr. Willem Adriaan Coetzer, Butler Training Pty Ltd, and Butler Holdings Pty Ltd, have progressed. After months of repeated delays and request…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Coming soon!
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Coming soon!Coming soon… Online Hospitality Butler Course! The new Online Hospitality Butler Course 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 property, if you require training…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, The Wisdom of Butlers Past
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, The Wisdom of Butlers PastThe Wisdom of Butlers Past, part 55 by Steven Ferry Proper Behaviour 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…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Letters to the Editor
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Letters to the EditorLetters to the Editor “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…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Care of Leather Goods
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Care of Leather GoodsCare of Leather Goods, Part 14 by Steven Ferry Leather Furniture 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…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, November 2021, Message from the Chairman
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, November 2021, Message from the ChairmanMessage from the Chairman 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…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, November 2021, Care of Leather Goods
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, November 2021, Care of Leather GoodsCare of Leather Goods, Part 12 by Steven Ferry Suede 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…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, November 2021, My Butler Julius
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, November 2021, My Butler JuliusMy Butler Julius by Julius Smith The Difference between a Butler and a Waiter 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…
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The Modern Butlers’ Journal, November 2021, Butlers In the Media
Read more »: The Modern Butlers’ Journal, November 2021, Butlers In the MediaButlers in the Media by Steven Ferry 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.” The Institute is dedicated…
All Publications
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Opening Pandora’s Box
Read more »: Opening Pandora’s BoxAs a sequel to the three-part article Thinking for Yourself May Be the Only Regimen for Recovery (1, 2, 3) written at the very beginning of the pandemic, we are publishing this sequel which builds on the original observations and questions concerning the pandemic to take a hard and dissenting look at the elephant in…