Message from the Chairman
by Steven Ferry
Butlers have been serving the wealthy and powerful for over a millennium but hotel butlers are a recent phenomenon. Apart from one or two butlers in the luxury hotels that appeared in England, Europe, and the US starting in 1865, butlers only came into being in hotels in 1982. Until the publication of Hotel Butlers, The Great Service Differentiators in 2004, only isolated job-descriptions defined the position. In the 15 years since, the hospitality markets have changed considerably and technology has leapt into the forefront; and the Institute…
Butlers in the Media
by Steven Ferry
A peculiar job description for a butler to a Russian family in England, requiring he act just like Jeeves and be either a Sagittarius, Virgo, Aquarius, Capricorn or Leo: an unusual example of discrimination in the hiring process! The usual ex-butler loudmouth appeared in several articles this month as the resident consultant for trashy English newspapers on their continued efforts to turn royal life in England into a soap opera. Not surprisingly, his lack of discretion is receiving blowback from readership of even the trashy media…
Letters to the Editor
“I always learn so much from your newsletter and am so grateful for its existence. I was saddened by the gossiping backbiters that exist in our field. The ‘too little too late”’ [mentioned in the last issue] was not lost on my perceptions of an undutiful human being.
“My contracts are very clear about confidentiality. I suppose it is an ethical character flaw to put an employer in a scandalously light…
Professional Standards of Performance, Applications #21: A Worthy Foundation (V)
by Prof. Richard Ratliff
This is the fifth of a series of articles discussing foundational principles for the Butler’s Standards for Professional Performance. Butlers perform many of their duties “onstage”, as it were, where life’s drama occurs in the employer’s household. The butler’s sartorial precision and quality, groomed perfection, graceful movement, professional manner, and efficiency are noteworthy and admirable. Who wouldn’t notice? With impeccable appearance and manner, it doesn’t take much to draw attention—slightly extended…
The Wisdom of Butlers Past, Part 30: Plate and China
by Steven Ferry
As the person in charge of the plate and china, the butler should be at pains to ensure nobody enters the Butler’s Pantry without his permission, mainly to prevent the plates from ending up in the kitchen, broken. He also should insist that the principals allow sufficient utensils to be purchased for the kitchen and “parlour,” and not skimp on these. In order to maintain inventory, it is advised that butlers not place any china on the window opening onto a public street…
The Butlers Speak: Formal Entertaining
by Steven Ferry
This month’s subject covers formal entertainment, which most participants felt they had covered in last month’s Journal. We therefore quote a typical response we received from one household manager who does a lot of formal entertaining for her principal: What duties have you had over the years regarding formal entertainment for employers, family, and guests?
Since I have been in private service for decades, I have helped homeowners in...
Staff Training: Coaching
by Frank Mitchell
Sometimes small errors are noted in the workplace, but the deviation from standard is insufficient to warrant a formal, recorded training session. Coaching is informal and can be done on the spot if it does not disturb the guests or family members. So for instance, if errors are noted during dinner service, it is better to coach staff later provided immediate intervention is not required for safety’s sake. Use the feedback formula discussed earlier, always starting with positive feedback, followed by feedback for improvement…
Let’s Talk Mixology, Part 49: Colombian Sabajon
by Amer A. Vargas
As the article’s author is currently in Colombia, revisiting the cream of the crop of Cartagena de India’s butlers, it might be interesting to prepare a particular Colombian cocktail that should please most lovers of concoctions, especially those who enjoy a sweet mix. What’s more, since this cocktail is mostly enjoyed here during the Christmas season, the timing couldn’t be better to give you an idea for an unusual cocktail that you could brew up this Holiday season. So, today we introduce the Sabajon (read sa-ba-hon…
Consulting the Silver Expert: Handling Coffee and Tea Stains
by Jeff Herman
Place the pot on a cotton towel in the sink and fill the pot with warm water. Drop in one five-minute denture-cleaning tablet per two cups of water. Let stand for ten minutes. If it looks like the pot may overflow because of the effervescing, pour out some liquid through the spout (as you don’t want the liquid to run down the outside of the pot). Empty the pot through the spout then rinse the pot with warm water.You may find that the effervescing action of the tablets may remove only the grime and not the stains. If so, use…
Placement and Job Vacancies: Butlers Sought for an Iconic Hotel Opening on South Beach, Miami and a Female Chef/Lady’s Maid/Butler in La Jolla CA
The hotel vacancy is for a property that is part of the Small Luxury Hotel Collection. Applicants must be US citizen, or valid Green Card holder, or on a current J1 visa. Email the Institute for a job description and the remuneration package. La Jolla, CA position: A female Principal is looking for a female team player who will report to her directly. You will not be asked to manage the other staff (2 housekeepers, one security guard). This is a small, but formal household. Duties include cooking meals…
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.
