Message from the Chairman
by Steven Ferry
Last month’s message acknowledging the silent majority of butlers who quietly go about their business, rather than expressing their opinions about their former employers in public, was appreciated by many in the profession, some of the responses being noted in this edition’s Letters to the Editor. It is encouraging for…
Butlers in the Media
by Steven Ferry
Just a few mentions of butlers in the media: 1. Two butler-robot mentions: “Butler Robotics” now manages a fulfillment center in Tokyo far more efficiently than humans; Marriott is the first chain to employ Alexa as a “butler,” really a relay of guest requests to other departments. Alexa does not necessarily subscribe…
Letters to the Editor
In response to the Chairman’s Message about the series of royal butlers talking to the media about their past employers: “Very well and tastefully said.” AM; “I totally endorse your comments: Professional butlers, in the majority, value and maintain discretion. The few who speak out inappropriately discredit themselves…
Professional Standards of Performance: Applications #7, Dealing with Bad Language
by Prof. Richard Ratliff
Scenario: Suppose a butler, somewhat accomplished in golf and whom his employer enjoys as a golfing companion, is invited by his employer to join the day’s foursome. I am using this scenario because of a recent experience of my own, but the illustration might be from any activity in which a butler is asked to join…
The Wisdom of Butlers Past
by Steven Ferry
Candlesticks—next on the list of things butlers need to clean—and which are only usually used at more formal dinners. First word of caution when cleaning silver and silver- & gold-plated candlesticks, is not to scratch them by using knives to remove any wax drippings from their surfaces, nor to hold the candlesticks…
The Butlers Speak: Working with Teens
by Steven Ferry
This month’s subject was teens, as opposed to pre-teens, and the answers were basically the same in terms of duties and relationships, although several butlers commented on how responsible and appreciative the teens were at the time, and in later years as adults. One butler put it well: “They grew up to…
Staff Training: Negligent Training
by Frank Mitchell
The American Hospitality and Lodging Education Institute defines negligent training as cases where hospitality guests, staff or 3rd party employees are harmed (physically, emotionally or psychologically) because of the behaviour of an inadequately trained employee. This includes instances where the employee was…
Let’s Talk Mixology, Part 34: Black Russian
by Amer A. Vargas
As an homage to the football/soccer World Cup taking place this month in Russia, in this article we present the Black Russian. The name of the cocktail summarizes the two characteristics of the mix: Black for the final color of the concoction and Russian for the two ingredients that make up the cocktail. In fact, “Black”…
Consulting the Silver Expert: Removing Wax from Candle Holders
by Jeff Herman
Do you become frustrated when trying to remove wax from candleholders? Do you go pawing into your flatware drawer to find just the right size knife to dig out the wax and thereafter produce scratches and possibly dents in the bottom of the cup? Do you run the piece under warm water, only to create a big mess?…
In Their Words: How Those Trained by the Institute’s Trainers Feel about Their Experience
One individual just graduated from the Private Service On-line Course, about 400 hours of study and assignments, which took him about 10 months, or 10 hours a week. He had experience in high-end hospitality management, as well as household manager work. It took dedication and persistence, and this is what he had to say…
Recent Hospitality Graduates
After ten hectic days of training in Antalya, a city located in the south of Turkey, it was graduation day for the butlers and all the F&B staff at Club Privé by Rixos. Below you can see the students enjoying a special recognition from their Head Butler Hamza Kara for their hard work and great performance, after receiving their certificates…
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.