Les Clefs d’Or: Love for the Challenge at EST

Jorge de Luna

As if it were the Parisian city of 1929 when 11 concierges gathered for the first time, the Escuela Superior de Turismo (EST) emulated that gathering to celebrate its "XX Concierge Panel Alan Paris Mejía Ríos," with the sole objective of exchanging ideas and experiences from their profession.

Year after year, since 2003, authorities and hospitality professionals from the IPN have organized meetings of leaders in the reception of the most important hotel chains in the country and the world. The acting director of the EST, Marissa Alonso Marbán, welcomed the guests and presented awards for the service model in hotels and the treatment of people, emphasizing their "love for the challenge."

Likewise, Norma Jiménez Ríos, president of the Academy of Hotel Management of the evening shift, expressed that this activity aims to increase friendship and academic and professional connections with the members of the Asociación de Concierges de México A.C.

In the context of the 49th anniversary of the EST, professionals shared their work experiences with the students and discussed what this service model implies for tourism with leisure, business, and cultural purposes.

The concierges who participated in the roundtable and shared experiences with the polytechnic students were: Lilia Aguilera Albarrán, president of the Association and Chief Concierge of Hotel María Isabel Sheraton Reforma Mexico; Gustavo López Aguado Montes, Hotel Matilda San Miguel de Allende Guanajuato; Alan Paris Mejía Ríos, Lead Concierge at the St. Regis Mexico.

Also, Erick Fernando Contreras Tagle, Umbral Curio Collection by Hilton; Paola Jazmin Valencia Sánchez, Four Seasons; Abraham Sánchez Pozos, Barceló Reforma; Jesús García, St. Regis; Leonel García, Presidente Intercontinental; and Mario Torreblanca, Four Seasons, gathered in the main auditorium of the Superior School of Tourism.

With these efforts, the focus was on connecting this association with students specializing in Hotel Management, actions that allow our graduates to enter the professional field with a strong emphasis on excellence.

Over time and through the various changes in the globalized world, the profession jumped from monarchic cradles to take over the tourism industry, where, for example, in 2022 alone, more than 3.3 million visitors stayed in hotels, villas, residences, and chalets in Mexico, leaving an economic impact of more than 50 billion pesos, according to the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services, and Tourism (CONCANACO SERVYTUR).

Golden Keys

"The keeper of the candlesticks" is what the word "concierge" means, derived from the Latin "conserves," a figure that dates back to 470 B.C., with its primary objective being to fulfill the desires of royal visitors to the palaces of European kings and emperors. It later transcended to France with King Louis XVI.

Today, concierges worldwide are associated with a great organization, with their motto being "In service through friendship." The pinnacle achievement is the attainment of a very significant symbol, the Keys of Gold (Les Clefs d'Or), two crossed gold keys worn on the lapels of uniforms, representing and guaranteeing the quality of service.

Gaceta Politécnica #1752. (October 31th, 2023). IPN Imagen Institucional: Read the full magazine in Spanish here