Message from the Chairman
by Steven Ferry
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…
Butlers 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.”…..
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The Wisdom of Butlers Past, Part 54: Kitchen Meals
by Steven Ferry
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.” …
Let’s Talk Mixology, Part 73: Maldivian Sling
by Amer A. Vargas
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…
My Butler Julius: The Difference Between a Butler and a Waiter
by Butler Julius
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…
Paying Attention to Details
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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Care of Leather Goods, Part 13: Suede
by Steven Ferry
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…
Coming Soon… Online Hospitality Butler Course!
by Amer A. Vargas
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…
Creative Corner
ft. Rick Finck & Kobi Gutman
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….
Update on SABA
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 attracted overwhelming response from the hospitality industry around the world.
Ms. Lin provides an update stating that, after her attorney served…….
Temporary Butlers Sought
Recent Hospitality Graduates
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!…
In Their Words: How Those Trained by the Institute’s Trainers Feel about Their Experience
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…
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.