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Map Sponsors
Fogo De Chao
Aventura Mall
Sawgrass Mills
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| To bring together concierges in hotels, resorts and selected condominiums and as such to establish and promote high professional and ethical standards.
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To encourage friendship and communication among concierges and related guest service personnel in South Florida, the United States and throughout the world.
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To expand and assist in the training of those entering the concierge profession and, in general, to promote, foster, enhance, and improve the technical skills and professionalism of concierges and guest service personnel.
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To coordinate, promote and assist in the activities and interests of concierges.
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To foster the development of the role of the concierge in the hotel industry and tourism in general.
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To maintain the highest standards of concierge service.
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To bring together concierges in hotels, resorts and selected condominiums and as such to establish and promote high professional and ethical standards.
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To encourage friendship and communication among concierges and related guest service personnel in South Florida, the United States and throughout the world.
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To coordinate, promote and assist in the activities and interests of concierges.
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To foster the development of the role of the concierge in the hotel industry and tourism in general.
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To maintain the highest standards of concierge service.
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To encourage friendship and communication among concierges and related guest service personnel in South Florida, the United States and throughout the world.
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To bring together concierges in hotels, resorts and selected condominiums and as such to establish and promote high professional and ethical standards.
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To coordinate, promote and assist in the activities and interests of concierges.
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Congratulations to our new SFCA 2014 Board of Directors! Vice President: Amparo Valbuena Treasurer: James Poitras Secretary: Vicky Reyes Director: Delio Batista Director: Gene Ruotolo Director: Claudia Abma Director: Igor Omerhodzic Director: Carol M. Curry |
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EVENTS
4th of July Independence Day Celebration
JUL 4 7:00 PM
FIU - Biscayne Bay Campus, Kovens Center
3000 NE 151st St
North Miami, FL 33181
(305) 895-9840
Enjoy a fun-filled evening with music, entertainment and spectacular fireworks over Biscayne Bay! Gates open at 7 PM with fireworks at sundown. Free admission and parking with food available for purchase. Rain or shine.
July 4th America's Birthday Bash Bayfront Park Downtown Miami
JUL 4
Free Kids' Zone 3-7PM
Fireworks 9PM
Bayfront Park
Downtown Miami
Bring the whole family to celebrate the birth of our great nation! Enjoy free Kids' Zone, food and beverages, and one of the largest fireworks displays in South Florida!
21st Annual International Mango Festival - Mangos of Mexico 
JUL 13, 14 9:30AM - 4:30PM
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
10901 Old Cutler Road
Coral Gables, FL 33156
(305) 667-1651
XXVIII International Hispanic Theatre Festival 
JUL 18 - JUL 28
Teatri Avante
American Airlines Arena
Adrienne Arsht Center
Teatro Prometeo
Miami Beach Food Truck and Music Fest 
JUL 24 5-10PM
North Beach Bandshell
Collins Ave and 73rd Street
Miami, FL 33140
Enjoy live music and local food truck delights at the North Beach Bandshell. The food truck lineup includes: Ms. Cheezious, Sakaya Kitchen, Gastropod, Health Nut on Wheels, Dolci Pecati, Sugar Yummy Mama, Garcia Brothers Seafood, La Camaronera, Moty's Grill, Latin Burger, Mangia Mia and Bocaditos. Food truck specialties include burgers, seafood, healthy bites and ethnic dishes.
Miami Spa Month 
JUL 1 - AUG 31
Various Spas Throughout Miami
We welcome the annual arrival of Miami Spa Month, when even tightly budgeted 305'ers can take advantage of sweet deals on massages, facials, and body wraps at the swankiest spas in town. The best of the best in beautifying venues are offering all sorts of services for $99 a pop.
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SPORTS
Miami Marlins 
501 NW 16th Ave
Miami, FL 33125
(305) 480-1300
Brand new ballpark, inexpensive tickets, great weather - truly a great way to spend an evening with friends and family. Get out to Marlins Park to see the great American past time!
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CONCERTS
R3hab
JUL 3 9:00PM
Revolution Live
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Steve Aoki
JUL 3 11:00PM
Story Nightclub
Miami Beach, FL
The Martinez Brothers
JUL 4 11:00PM
Mansion
Miami Beach, FL
Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank
JUL 4 8:00PM
James Knight Center
Miami, FL
Beyonce
JUL 9 8:00PM
BB&T Center
Fort Lauderdale, FL
American Airlines Arena
Miami, FL
Air Supply
JUL 13 8:00PM
Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater
Miami Beach, FL
Carlos Vives
JUL 13 8:30PM
American Airlines Arena
Miami, FL
Lil Wayne
JUL 14 7:00PM
Cruzan Amphitheatre
West Palm Beach, FL
RX Bandits
JUL 14 7:30PM
Culture Room
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Dave Matthews Band
JUL 19 7:00PM
Cruzan Amphitheatre
West Palm Beach, FL
Pacific Dub
JUL 19 8:00PM
Culture Room
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Chaka Khan
JUL 20 7:00PM
James Knight Cneter
Miami, FL
311 and Cypress Hill
JUL 21 5:00PM
Cruzan Amphitheatre
West Palm Beach, FL
Marilyn Manson
JUL 21 8:00PM
Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater
Miami Beach, FL
Vans Warped Tour
JUL 27 11:00AM
Cruzan Amphitheatre
West Palm Beach, FL
The Monkees
JUL 27 8:00PM
Mizner Park Amphitheater
Boca Raton, FL
Black Sabbath
JUL 31 7:30PM
Cruzan Amphitheatre
West Palm Beach, FL
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FILM
I'm Not Gonna Move to L.A. 
JUL 3 6:30PM - 930PM
Miami, FL 33127
(305) 571-9970
I'm Not Gonna Move to L.A., the monthly film event O Cinema hosts with the Miami Indie Film Club. At these gatherings, members' short films are screened and judged; audience members have the chance to ask questions of directors, editors, and cinematographers; and prizes are awarded to the most outstanding shorts. In this world of overpriced cineplexes, $12 for one movie looks even more ridiculous compared to a mere $9 for ten films plus a party atmosphere and plenty of Miami style.
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FEATURED RESTAURANTS
Biscayne Tavern 
146 Biscayne Blvd
Miami, FL 33132
(305) 358-4555
Brand spanking new. Biscayne Tavern describes their menu as "Laid back comfort food". From the reviews I've read online, their menu has been more than comforting to their debut customers. People love this place. Stop by for yourself to see what all the hubbub's about.
La Moon 
97 SW 8th St
Miami, FL 33130
(305) 860-6209
Every concierge needs a few go to's for every category of cuisine and necessity. When is there more a dire need for sustenance than at the end of a long night in the club? Just imagine the 3 to 5 minute embrace you'll receive the following morning after recommending this late night food hangout to a group of your guests when you send them off to Mansion or Story. This late night Colombian joint 100% hits the spot, 100% of the time.
Yardbird - Southern Table & Bar 
1600 Lenox Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 538-5220
One of the newer, trendier hot spots in Miami Beach. Having worked it's way up to #2 on Trip Advisor in the dog-eat-dog South Beach world, this place has earned its stripes. "We're serving up the freshest, most inventive takes on regional Southern fare seven days a week with a foot-stompin',
soul-healin' brunch on Saturdays and Sundays."
Royal Pig 
350 E Las Olas Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 617-7447
This place is delicious. Even the mac & cheese is amazing. If they spend that much time on their mac & cheese, just try to imagine how delicious the rest of the menu is. Great spot for happy hour or to watch the game. Fills up quick so arrive early.
Trata Greek Taverna 
1103 E Las Olas Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 712-8933
Greek food can be a touchy subject. Greeks are a proud people and take their cuisine seriously. If you accidentally recommend a mediocre Greek establishment to Mr. ____opoulos, you just threw your report down the drain. Fear not with Trata - their Mediterranean-inspired cuisine will leave the pickiest Greek guest asking for more.
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FEATURED TOUR
Miami Food Tours 
1111 Lincoln Rd Suite 400
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(888) 291-2870
Miami is chock-full of great places to eat for a variety of different taste buds. As psychic as we'd like to be as concierges, we sometimes have to accept that we can't know everything. With this tour, let your guests decide for themselves what they like the most and you can just set up the reservations later. Guests will walk alongside a local through South Beach to explore five of the best restaurants in South Beach for an exclusive taste into the melting pot that is Miami.
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Arts
Dawoud Bey: Picturing People 
Daily through Sept. 8th
Museum of Contemporary Art
770 NE 125th St
Miami, FL 33161
(305) 893-6211
Whether he's working on the street or in his studio, Dawoud Bey has earned the art world's attention for striking portraits that capture the self-awareness and contemplative nature of his subjects.
Pan American Modernism: Latin American & U.S. Art From the Permanent Collection 
Daily through Oct. 13th
Lowe Art Museum
1301 Stanford Dr
Coral Gables, FL 33146
(305) 284-3535
Boasting upward of 17,500 objects spanning 5,000 years, the Lowe Art Museum (1301 Stanford Dr., Coral Gables) is the rare South Florida institution capable of producing informative shows simply by dipping into its vast holdings.
Hurricanes 
Daily
Miami Science Museum
3280 S Miami Ave
Miami, FL 33133
(305) 646-4200
Although Miami hasn't been hit hard by any cleverly named storms in the past several years, it's inevitable that one will come blowing through our backyard before too long. So what better time to learn more about Mother Nature's offspring than during the calm before the stormy summer?
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NIGHTLIFE/PARTIES
ELEVATION - CLUB 50 
JUL 6th 1-9PM
Viceroy Miami
485 Brickell Ave
Miami, FL 33131
(786) 877-7306
Your guests had a great July 4th seeing the fireworks and celebrating the birthday of America - as a concierge, how are you going to keep their holiday high up on a satisfactory level for the weekend? By sending them to Miami's highest rooftop pool party. Send your young adult guests to this event to party like rockstars one last time before the Sunday flight back home. Party with the models above (yes, they will be there, and with their friends) along with DJs from Power 96. Call the number above for concierge program information.
Van Dyke Cafe 
846 Lincoln Rd
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 534-3600
Van Dyke Café is a favorite for its international breakfast, lunch and dinner fares, and continues the tradition as the only venue on Lincoln Road to catch live musical performances nightly.
Blackbird Ordinary 
729 SW 1st Ave
Miami, FL 33130
(305) 671-3307
A Local Bar, Lounge, and Night Club. Everything you could want in a drinking establishment with none of the hassle. No attitude or pretention. Just great cocktails and a laid back atmosphere. Grab a plush leather booth with friends and play board games while you enjoy a draft beer or enjoy one of our signature cocktails and dance all night.
Mansion Club
1235 Washington Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 532-1525
"Amazing atmosphere and music! Good drinks, clean bathrooms, nice people and polite staff. A great combination for a perfect night in South Beach. We had the chance to enjoy Van Dyk's music. The place has a very nice decoration. The crowd was fine, just a couple of odd people but fun for people watch. The shows were interesting. I beer was about $12. Would definetely go back!"
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FEATURED SPA
The Standard Spa 
40 Island Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 673-1717
A luxury Miami Beach spa hotel offering a wide array of day spa services. This boutique hotel also features guest rooms and suites, yoga, event space, a lounge & a healthy Mediterranean restaurant.
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THE FAB 5
1) Miami's Auto Museum at the Dezer Collection No monocle or fancy British accent required to enjoy this museum. This one is for the movie lover. Featuring the largest James Bond collection in the world (valued at over $15 million) as well as tons of other Hollywood vehicle favorites from movies such as Batman, Grease, Magnum P.I., Flinstones, Scooby Doo, Ghostbusters and much more. Mention this newsletter to receive $5 off Adult Admission to one Museum building or $10 off Adult Admission to a two building combo ticket. Offer expires 12/31/13. Offer not valid with any other offer. 2) Therapy IV - Deep Sea Fishing Most of us have probably been deep sea fishing at least once or twice in our lifetimes, especially living in South Florida. But how about fishing with Trip Advisor's #1 Miami Activity? Hop aboard with Capt. Stan and his salt-seasoned crew for the trip of a lifetime. You'll be surprised with what they're capable of bringing into the boat. Worth mentioning, Capt. Stan is an avid photographer. So, rest assured your vacation album will come alive after this deep sea excursion. Bon voyage! 3) Espanola Way Between Washington and Drexel Avenues Espanola Way is the perfect place to sit at an outdoor restaurant and relax with a cold beverage or an iced gelato, or to hit during the night for some live music and some great cocktails. Also, historic Espanola Way has hosted some colorful characters throughout the years, including Al Capone, Ricky Ricardo (of Love lucy fame) and the crew from Miami Vice. Time spent along Espanola Way makes way for a truly unique and authentic Miami experience. 4) Anne Kolb Nature Center Your guests' rental car got a flat tire on the way to a concert in South Beach, they get there late to pack in like sardines to hear an OK band, only to sit in traffic on 95 for two hours on their way back to the hotel due to a car accident. Tomorrow, they just want a break from civilization. Welcome to Anne Kolb Nature Center. Picnicking, biking, tennis, hiking, volleyball, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, basketball, eco-tours, hands-on nature exhibits, and playgrounds are all available here. Rent a kayak or canoe for as little as $15 per hour and explore the park's 1,500 acre realm as you paddle through the tidal channels deep in the mangroves. 5) Night Paddle Boarding In recent years, paddle boarding has taken off as an activity for recreation as well as exercise. In true South Florida fashion, this business owner took something cool, and made it awesome. Contact Precision Paddleboards to reserve your NightSUP tour. Prices between $40-$60. This is something your guests won't be able to do anywhere else - at least in the meantime. |
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COOL APPS
Big Bus Tours  The Big Bus Tours App is an interactive city guide designed to be used in conjunction with the Big Bus Sightseeing Tour.
GMCVB  Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Get the inside scoop on Miami - the world's favorite tropical chic destination. Miami and Beaches offers great tips on where to go and what to do in Miami. Visitors and locals will find up-to-date information on lodging, dining, attractions, shopping, arts & culture, nightlife, hidden gems and much more Yelp 
Find the best businesses around you, save money by discovering nearby deals, and share your experiences with Tips, Check-ins, and Photos.
Google Snapseed  Snapseed is the only photo app you'll want to use every day. It makes any photograph extraordinary with a fun, high-quality photo experience right at your fingertips. Evernote  Evernote is an easy-to-use, free app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. Stay organized, save your ideas and improve productivity. |
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WALL OF FAME
Congratulations to these concierge teams on their professionalism and service!
EPIC JUN 15th
"I am writing this review as I am sitting by the pool. I am here for my girlfriend's birthday At her request. I made the reservation about a week ago online Only to find out that the restaurant is closed for renovations. I must say that gene at the concierge desk Is taking very good care of us."
InterContinental Miami JUN 20th
"Mr. Eduardo Rosello makes you feel like you are the only guests at the hotel with his attention to detail."
The Betsy JUN 15th
"[Paul and Margot] are simply the best concierge's we have ever come across and we have travelled extensively. Prior to our trip I emailed Margot regarding suggestions for restaurants, shopping and a boat trip. She sent me brilliant information and arranged for a bottle of prosecco to be in our room upon arrival to get my
birthday celebrations off to a good start! Paul sorted us out with an amazing 2 ½ hour speed boat trip with 'Club Nautico' which was one of the high lights of our holiday. Spencer our captain who took us on the trip was brilliant! Paul also stopped us missing out on a beautiful day of sun bathing by showing us the
radar weather map as we were convinced that the storm we had that morning was staying - it didn't! Ed couldn't do enough to help with our questions and runs everything very slick and professional."
Trump International JUN 17th
"VERY GOOD HOTEL, EXCELLENT SERVICE. Friendly staff. Special thanks to Avis Watson-Spence reservation agent, Regina Grimner front office and Amparo Valbuena concierge. I would recommend this hotel to all travelers."
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Why Your Job Is In Jeopardy
"Online travel agent Expedia acquired 38 concierge desks in North America last year, almost all located in hotels. It now operates a total of 76 desks -- double its total from the beginning of 2005."
"Les Clefs d'Or, whose members must have at least five years of hotel experience and a letter of recommendation to join, estimates 10 to 12 of its 450 members have lost their jobs over the past two years after hotels hired out the positions."
"Chains including Hyatt, Marriott, Starwood and Kimpton confirm they've signed up for the services at some properties."
The concierge is being outsourced.
Let's now assume that your hotel's general manager has signed a legal document stating that not no way, not no how will your hotel EVER outsource their concierge services to outside agencies. You're safe, right? Unfortunately, as a traditional hotel concierge, you aren't.
Here's why: very simply, it's cheaper for hotels to outsource their concierge services. Hospitality analyst Bjorn Hansen with Price Waterhouse Coopers informs us that "training and paying staff is one of the biggest costs for hotels, and using an outside service can save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year."(WSJ).
It's enough to have to worry if your own job is going to be the next to be outsourced, but why does the traditional concierge - whose job, let's say, is somehow completely secured regardless of this recent trend - STILL have to be concerned? It's because these new concierges that work for companies such as Expedia, Tour Links LLC and Vegas.com may just be in it for the immediate payoff. It's probably safe to say that most of us are pleased with the commissions we may make on certain bookings. But, at the end of the day, we always want the guest to be as satisfied as possible so that they'll happily come back and use our services again.
The outsourced concierge agencies, by contrast, oftentimes pay the hotel to use their services. Thus, the incentive to provide excellent service is potentially less for these concierges than for the traditional hotel concierge.
All of this may ultimately result in the creation of a new plethora of skeptical travelers that bypass concierge services every chance they get. It doesn't matter if your hotel is still chalking up the dough for the traditional hotel concierge, because the guests you'll soon be seeing may simply be tired of dealing with unsatisfactory concierge teams altogether.
However, some hotels are strongly sticking by their guns when asked about their choice to outsource. "Hotels argue that outsourcing buys guests quick access to restaurants, shows and clubs. Third-party services can accelerate planning because they already have booking software and industry contacts."(WSJ).
Are the days of directing guests to the "old, hidden gem off of Sycamore St that makes its own ice cream from scratch" at an end? It looks like Expedia's highest bidding local ice cream company may soon always be the new recommendation.
Are you one of the "alleged" outsourced concierge? We'd love to hear your take on this piece. Is this good or bad for the hospitality industry? Feel free to send us your comments and opinions.
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Credits
WSJ. Online.wsj.com. The Wall Street Journal, n.d. Web. <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115767671822257109.html>.
Editor in Chief: Miguel Pena
Editing, Web Design, Graphic Design, Writing by Joey Oros
Cover Photo By Joey Oros
*Submit your own pictures that scream South Florida to be possibly used in next month's issue
We hope that you enjoyed this edition of the Concierge Communiqué. |
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