Eating Disorders: Concierge Business

Friday 16 November 2012

Concierge Business

There are two schools of thought on the etymology of the word concierge. One is that it came about in France during the mid 16th century from the Latin conservus which means “fellow slave.”* Others prefer the Old French derivation comte des cierges or “keeper of the candles.” These servants in noble houses who needed to know where all the functions in the palace would take place as they were in charge of maintaining the candles for each event. Over time, they assumed additional responsibilities, catering to the whims of the nobility.* The name of the profession turned into concierge over time and is primarily recognized as the assistance you receive in hotels. The roots of the title, "concierge" are from the Latin word conserves, meaning "fellow slave." The word itself is French, meaning "keeper of the keys." During the Middle Ages, concierges did just that. When castles across Europe hosted visiting nobility, the concierge kept the keys to the castle rooms, and ensured that guests had everything they needed during their stay. By the 1800s, a number of buildings in Europe, from government offices to prisons, had their own concierge on staff.