Since when do we exist?

Seit wann gibt es uns?

Austrian Hotel Portier Association
"The Golden Keys"

The Austrian Hotel Concierge Association, also known as "The Golden Keys," has been part of the International Association "Les Clefs d'Or" since 1954 - officially registered as the Union Internationale des Concierge d'Hôtels (UICH).

In 1882, a hotel consortium in Vienna founded the first association to promote tourism in Vienna.

Im Jahr 1882 gründet ein Hotelkonsortium in Wien den ersten Verein zur Förderung des Wiener Fremdenverkehrs.

In 1921, it is followed by the first association of hotel porters in Vienna. "The Club of Hotel Portiers Vienna" does not use the famous golden keys yet. Instead, members wore pins bearing the initials of the club name: CDHPW.

Im Jahr 1921 folgt dann der erste Club für Hotelportiers in Wien. "Der Klub der Hotelportiers Wien" trägt aber noch keine Goldenen Schlüssel als Erkennungsmerkmal. Stattdessen tragen die Mitglieder Anstecknadeln mit den Initialien des Clubnames: CDHPW.

In 1929, Frenchman Pierre Quentin from the Ambassador Hotel in Paris and ten of his colleagues from various other Parisian hotels decided to join forces. Pierre Quentin thus became the first president of the Clefs d'Or. In the following years, the first national associations were also founded in other European countries (France, Sweden, the Netherlands, etc.).

1929 beschließen der Franzose Pierre Quentin vom Ambassador Hotel in Paris und zehn seiner Kollegen aus verschiedenen anderen Hotels in Paris sich zusammenzuschließen. Pierre Quentin wird damit zum ersten Präsidenten der Clefs d'Or. Auch in anderen Ländern Europas werden in den Folgejahren die ersten Nationalen Verbände gegründet (Frankreich, Schweden, Niederlande ...)

On April 25, 1952, the Swiss Ferdinand Gillet organized the first International Congress in Cannes. Representatives from nine nations founded the "L'Union Européene des Portiers des Grands Hôtels" (UEPGH), also known as "Les Clefs d'Or." The first member states were Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and Great Britain.

Am 25 April 1952 organisiert der Schweizer Ferdinand Gillet den ersten Internationalen Kongress in Cannes. Vertreter aus neun Nationen gründen zusammen "L'Union Européene des Portiers des Grands Hôtels" (UEPGH), auch bekannt als Les Clefs d'Or. Die ersten Mitgliedstaaten sind Belgien, Dänemark, Frankreich, Deutschland, Irland, Italien, Spanien, Schweiz and Großbritannien.

In 1954 , the "Vienna Hotel Porters' Club" became the " Austrian Hotel Portiers' Association, The Golden Keys." The association joined the European Union of Grand Hotel Porters (UEPGH) that same year.

1954 wird aus dem "Klub der Hotelportiers Wien" der "Österreichischer Hotelportierverband Die Goldenen Schlüssel". Der Verband tritt noch im selben Jahr der L'Union Européene des Portiers des Grans Hôtels (UEPGH) bei.

In 1961 , the Austrian Hotel Porters Association hosted its first international congress. The 10th International Les Clefs d'Or Congress took place in Vienna.

1961 richtet der “Österreichischer Hotelportierverband” zum ersten mal einen internationalen Kongress aus. Der 10. Internationale Les Clefs d'Or Kongress findet in Wien statt.

By 1972, the association already had 16 member states and changed its name from "The European Union of Portiers of Grand Hotels (UEPGH)" to "The International Union of Portiers of Grand Hotels (UIPGH)." The association thus transformed from a European association into an international association.

In 1972 the "L'Union Européenne des Portiers des Grands Hôtels (UEPGH)" changes its name to "L'Union Internationale des Portiers des Grands Hôtels (UIPGH)" , switching from a European to an international organization.

In 1978, Holly Stiel from San Francisco became the first female member of the "L'Union International des Portiers des Grands Hôtels (UIPGH)".

In 1978 Ms Holly Stiel from San Francisco was admitted as the first female member concierge with the "L'Union International des Portiers des Grands Hôtels (UIPGH)".

In 1978, Austria hosted an international congress for the second time and organized the 27th International Les Clefs d'Or Congress in Vienna .

1978 Austria is once again host of an international congress and welcomes fellow concierges from around the world to the 27th International Les Clefs d'Or Congress in Vienna.

From 1982 to 1985 Adolf Schneider (Hilton Vienna Stadtpark) from the "Austrian Hotel Porter Association" International President of the "L'Union Internationale des Portiers des Grands Hôtels (UIPGH)".

1982 - 1985 Adolf Schneider (Hilton Vienna Stadtpark) from the " Austrian Hotel Portier Association" becomes president of the "L'Union Internationale des Portiers des Grands Hôtels (UIPGH)."

In 1990, the Austrian Hotel Concierge Association began its collaboration with the Bad Gleichenberg Tourism School to promote young talent and strengthen the concierge profession.

In 1990 the "Österreichischer Hotelportierverband" starts their cooperation with the Tourism School Bad Gleichenberg to support future concierge applicants.

In 1995, the International Association changed its name from "L'Union Internationale des Portiers des Grands Hôtels (UIPGH)" to "Union Internationale des Clefs d'Or (UICO)" .

In 1995 the "Union Internationale des Portiers des Grands Hôtels (UIPGH) changes its name to "Union Internationale des Clefs d'Or (UICO)" .

In 1998, the International Association changed its name again from "Union Internationale des Clefs d'Or (UICO)" to "Union Internationale des Concierges d'Hôtels (UICH) Les Clefs d'Or" in order to give more emphasis to the term concierge and to underline that the association is an association of hotel concierges.

In 1998 , the international association once again changed its name from "Union Internationale des Clefs d'Or (UICO)" to "Union Internationale des Concierges d'Hôtels (UICH) Les Clefs d'Or" in order to place greater emphasis on the term concierge and to highlight that the organization is an association of hotel concierges.

In 1999, a woman was elected president for the first time. Mrs. Marjorie Silverman became the first International President of the "Union Internationale des Concierges d'Hôtels (UICH) Les Clefs d'Or."

In 1999 Mrs. Marjorie Silverman becomes the first female International President of the "Union Internationale des Concierges d'Hôtels (UICH) Les Clefs d'Or."

The "Les Clefs Award" was presented for the first time at the International Congress in Denmark in 2008. Initially known as the Andy Pongo Award for several years, the award is now named after a different iconic member of the association's history each year.

"The Les Clefs d'Or Award" is first introduced in 2008 at the international congress in Denmark. Initially, the award was named the Andy Pongo Award for several years and is now renamed each year in honor of a different iconic member from the association’s history.

In 2007, the Austrian Hotel Porter Association hosted the 54th International Les Clefs d'Or Congress in Vienna, the third international congress in Austria.

In 2007 , the Austrian Concierge Association hosted the 54th International Les Clefs d'Or Congress in Vienna, marking the third time an international congress was held in Austria.

In 2005, Gundula Siedler from the Grand Hotel Wien was elected the firstfemale National Presidentelected.

In 2005 , Gundula Siedler from the Grand Hotel Vienna was elected the first female National President during the General Assembly in Bad Gleichenberg.

In 2011, the Canadian Mrs Virginia Casale became the second woman ever to become International President of the "Union Internationale des Concierges d'Hôtels (UICH) Les Clefs d'Or" .

In 2011 , Mrs. Virginia Casale from Canada became the second woman ever to serve as International President of the "Union Internationale des Concierges d'Hôtels (UICH) Les Clefs d'Or."

Mit der Erweiterung der "Union Internationale des Concierges d'Hôtels (UICH) Les Clefs d'Or" im Jahr 2015 werden erstmals verschiedene Working Committees etabliert.

With the expansion of the "Union Internationale des Concierges d'Hôtels (UICH) Les Clefs d'Or" various working committees are established for the first time in 2015 .

The "Union Internationale des Concierge d'Hôtels (UICH) Les Clefs d'Or" reached the 4,000 member mark in 2017 and is now represented in over 80 countries and 536 destinations on six continents.

The " Union Internationale des Concierges d'Hôtels (UICH) Les Clefs d'Or" reaches the 4,000-member milestone in 2017 and is now represented in over 80 countries and 536 destinations across six continents.

Florian Muigg from the Hotel Bristol in Salzburg will be elected Zone Director Central Europe at the 67th International Les Clefs d'Or Congress in Istanbul in 2023 .

Florian Muigg from Hotel Bristol in Salzburg is elected Zone Director Central Europe in 2023 at the 67th International Les Clefs d'Or Congress in Istanbul .

Gregor Köck from the Rosewood Hotel Vienna will be the first Austrian to win the very prestigious award at the 69th International Les Clefs d'Or Congress in Madrid in 2025. coveted

Young Concierge of the Year Award (in memory of Alfredo Molero) .

In 2025, Gregor Köck from the Rosewood Hotel Vienna becomes the first Austrian to win the prestigious Young Concierge of the Year Award (in memory of Alfredo Molero) at the 69th International Les Clefs d'Or Congress in Madrid .

Most of the association reports can be found here in our online archive.

Older reports are constantly being added to the online archive. More recent events can be found on our Les Clefs d'or Austria blog, also online.

Since when do we exist?

Austrian Hotel Portier Association "The Golden Keys"

Most of the association reports can be found here in our online archive.

General Assemblies

Austrian Hotel Portier Association
"The Golden Keys"