Message from the Chairman
by Steven Ferry
Robot butlers that are already in use in hotels to deliver toothpaste and cups of coffee, are being touted as “the future of room service” once their carrying capacity is increased. Hmmm…. The people who say this kind of thing are predictably people-challenged—they have difficulty relating to others and observing and appreciating…
Butlers in the Media
by Steven Ferry
Did you know:
A Beach Butler is an organizer for the back of a pick-up truck that can store items for the seaside, fishing, etc.? A Birthday Butler is a package of items needed for a birthday party?A Green Butler is designed to change tourist behavior toward the environment?…
Letters to the Editor
“I am confident that you may help me eliminate my nagging ignorance of the name of the measuring tool that is shown in the attached picture. Would you know what it is called, and whether the name is identical in all (or most) English speaking countries?” B. When told it looked like a slide rule and asked how he…
Professional Standards of Performance: Applications #8, Moving House
by Prof. Richard Ratliff
Scenario: I recently visited a young executive, who had just moved with his family into a new home from a faraway place. Their story was not an entirely happy one. The shipment was delayed in transit. Valuable furniture was lost. The packing boxes had been left unopened by the moving company. Nothing was put away…
The Wisdom of Butlers Past, Part 15: Care of Wooden Furnishings
by Steven Ferry
“Another branch of a manservant’s business is to attend to the cleaning of tables, sideboard, and mahogany chairs, also trays, or whatever else of mahogany may be used in the parlour or drawing rooms.” One might add whatever wood type has been used for the furniture. Furniture cleaning and polishing is now within…
The Butlers Speak: Caring for the Principals’ Pets
by Steven Ferry
83% of those surveyed have had to deal with pets: “Most homes these days have some sort of pet, and if one works for a family with children, then watch out, the pets can range from the more-normal dogs, cats, birds, and fish to the more exotic, such as cobras, specialty fish, Shetland ponies…
Staff Training: What Makes a Good Trainer?
by Frank Mitchell
In the hospitality sector, the trainer is all too often whoever is available in the moment. Sometimes, the trainer might be chosen for their length of service or high performance. This is irrational. Training is a separate skill. Obviously, you should be a subject-matter expert in whatever you want to train…
Let’s Talk Mixology, Part 35: Cabo Cocktail
by Amer A. Vargas
On this occasion, a butler wrote in from Los Cabos, which seemed a good reason to introduce you to a refreshing and easy-to-drink cocktail, created by the people of mixthatdrink.com, and which they called Cabo, in honor of this region of Mexico. As with many cocktails of Mexican origin, the Cabo…
Consulting the Silver Expert: Car Wax for Tarnish Protection
by Jeff Herman
In addition to well-known Renaissance Wax, another tested and proven long-term tarnish protectant is non-toxic Meguiar’s Quik Wax. I tested both waxes on a large plated waiter and placed it in my kitchen and then my workshop, as I felt that would approximate a real-world test…
In Their Words: How Those Trained by the Institute’s Trainers Feel about Their Experience
“This training was fantastic—it changed my perception of the guests and even daily life, helping me to focus on situations and details. It was not a boring training session, but more like talking to each other and sharing experiences, which I loved. Budi is a kind and friendly person, a legend.” RK…
Recent Hospitality Graduates
The Institute’s Vice President for Asia, Mr. Budi Prihardjanto, is shown in this section with graduates from Ayada in the Maldives. Read some of the graduates’ feedback in the article “In Their Own Words” elsewhere in this newsletter…
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.
Here is an easy and a very special creation you can make for your guests to take home some memorable moments of their vacation, or as a personal touch to decorate their room and make them feel at home, and much more – a wood photo transfer. For this project you will need a computer and printer…
Since the original duties of the “cup bearing” butler included maintaining the wine cellar, it is logical to assume that the butler must also know how to serve the beverage! For a quick at-a-glance reference, do keep Serving the Wealthy Appendix 10A in Volume 2 at your fingertips. It is found on page 295 of…
If you’ve used microfiber cloths, which we have recommended in the past, you’ll know that they clean very well and easily. A new product on the market, OneMop® and OneWipe system uses microfiber refill pads and the OneWipe microfiber cloths to reduce water consumption by up to 99%, without…