What is Hotel Butler Service and How Can I Use It?
The idea of a personal butler can spook can-do Americans who don’t want to be a bother. But when a hotel offers this service, what should you do?
What is the Hotel Butler Service and How Can I Use It?
We can really credit St. Regis founder John Jacob Astor IV for introducing comprehensive butler service to the United States. The original St. Regis, opened in 1904 in New York City, had offered it from day one, and some hotels added versions of a butler to their rosters of employees over the years. Still, many hotels have opted to have empowered yet centralized concierge desks to handle a hotel’s worth of requests as Butlers can be expensive and under-utilized. The butler brings a convenience and coordination to the stay that is hard to replicate. As for the St. Regis, the butler service remains a key component of the experience.
The idea of the butler can put some concern on for do-it-yourself, strong-minded Americans. To many, butler service is an outdated theory of luxury or is subject to an outright, “not for me” dismissal of the concept. My first encounter with butler service in a hotel was at the St. Regis Abu Dhabi (which we reviewed in full here).
Having not stayed at a St. Regis before, I, too, didn’t know what to expect from the butler service, but St. Regis promises the butler service is a truly differentiating offering. Taking some additional stress out of a typical hotel stay, the essential butler services include garment pressing, luggage packing services, refreshment preparation, and the ability to have reservations, tickets, and more prepared.
Butlers Are Managers, Not Interns
I feel relieved to report experience of having a butler was nothing like the movies where a tuxedo-adorned man stands silently ready to grant your every wish. As it happened, I found the butler to be more the manager than an intern. They took control of the stay in a way I wouldn’t have been able to. Underestimated is the sheer pride in the work of the St. Regis butler. They truly enjoy the work.
Available to take care of organizational tasks such as unpacking your suitcase or bringing fresh tea, the additional value of the butler comes with concierge services and tailoring of the stay with your consultation.
In my case, butler met us in the room to show us a few details before asking some questions about the stay. Immediately, instead of feeling like I was bossing around a stranger, I felt like I was chatting with a friend. Rather than telling the butler what to do, it became a dialogue. The butler is really the manager of your relationship to the hotel and the stay, coordinating many different teams to make things happen for you. It’s an exquisitely complex job obscured by their expert presentation and raw skill.
Should you tip a butler at a hotel?
You should tip your butler at the end of the stay at least $50 per night. You can ask the butler to meet you at check out to exchange, or you can prepare an envelope to be delivered to them if you want to include a note of appreciation.
We were keen on stopping by the iconic St. Regis sabering ceremony during our stay, and the butler ensured she’d be able to make that happen (and went as far as escorting us there). She asked if we had dinner plans, and we didn’t, so she proceeded to quiz us on what we might be interested in taking before making some recommendations and eventually a reservation.
Prior to our arrival, she had the room prepared with a drawn bath and a bottle of sparkling wine prepared as requested. Later, she had shirts pressed, shoes shined, and seats saved for us at breakfast the next morning.
Turndown service by the St. Regis Butler. Image: Benjamin Schmidt
The room was turned down for bedtime while we were away for dinner. She quietly noted our next day plans and joined us at the right time for check out. While certainly indulgent and perhaps some what unfamiliar to those not accustomed to this level of hotel service, you could sense the butler truly wanted to help and there was a visible pride in her efforts.
Tips on Using a Hotel Butler Service
With St. Regis as the example, think of your butler as less of task runner and more of your insider friend at the hotel. Here are few recommendations in order to get the best experience:
First, introduce yourself. The butler is a human being and they’ll be dealing with some personal things on your behalf, so get to know them.
Next, let them know the purpose of your stay. This can help the butler gauge how much help you might be needing and what type of help. If it’s a vacation, more relaxing or romantic arrangements could be made. If its a business trip, maybe reservations at a formal spot and a freshly-pressed suit is top of mind.
Be open to their ideas. Butlers often know the hotel and the city like the back of their hand. If you’re not sure what you want, talk with them to get their recommendations.
Don’t be afraid to ask. Butlers like a challenge, and they’ll let you know if something won’t be possible. But odds are, they’re going to at least try.
Don’t abuse the privilege. Butlers are there to make your stay comfortable, but they’re often servicing an entire floor of guests. Respect their time as you’d like yours to be respected.
You should tip your butler at the end of the stay. You can ask the butler to meet you at check out to exchange, or you can prepare an envelope to be delivered to them if you want to include a note of appreciation.