Chief Concierge
The Porter House Hotel Sydney - M Gallery & Castle Residences
203 Castlereagh Street, Sydney
Ph: +61 2 8236 8888
Email

About Jorge…

I was born in Mozambique of Portuguese parents and after growing up mainly in South Africa, arrived in Australia in 1986.

My career in hospitality began initially back in 1986 at the Gazebo Hotel Kings Cross (now a block of apartments) where I gained experience in many positions. including kitchen hand, mini bar, room service and banquet porter, while also studying full time at the University of Technology (then known as the Institute of Technology) for my degree as a Quantity Surveyor.

In the final year of my degree however I decided that what I was studying for was not actually what I truly wanted to do for the rest of my life and while working at the Gazebo Hotel I came to realise that my heart was set on a future in the hospitality industry. At that point I was already working at the Concierge department as a bellman, and within a year I was promoted to Senior porter and soon after to Assistant Concierge. I came to admire how a Concierge could make so many guests happy – to master the art of making the “impossible – possible”. That for me, was a real achievement from which I took so much enjoyment and pride.

Mid 1989 I travelled to Japan where I worked as a model and an English teacher. Upon my return to Australia in 1990, I was invited to join the opening team for the Resorts of Australia at Brighton Beach (presently the Novotel Hotel at Brighton Le Sands) in the capacity of Assistant Chief Concierge.

Later in the same year, I was invited to join the Concierge team of the Nikko Hotel at Potts Point – again, to open this newly 5-star built Hotel, in the capacity of Assistant Concierge. In mid-1997 the Nikko Hotel Potts Point became the Landmark Parkroyal. Later that year I was offered to take up the position at the Sydney Airport Parkroyal Hotel as Chief Concierge & Guest Services Manager, looking after 3 departments - Guest Services, Concierge and Transportation departments (I was also the Transportation licensee for the hotel)

Less than a year later, I was offered the position of Chief Concierge for the Darling Harbour Hotels, working with one of the very best General Managers I have ever had the privilege to meet and work for – Mr George Bedwani. It was also at this property that I gained my Clefs d’Or (Golden Keys) membership in 1999.

At this point I was looking after three properties for Accor – collectively called Darling Harbour Hotels, which consisted of 3 Accor hotels (Novotel, Ibis and Mercure Grand at Darling Harbour) - a 900 room complex across the three properties, and this was probably one of the most challenging positions I have ever held.

After 6 years at Darling Harbour Hotels, I was offered the position I had long coveted at my dream property… The Four Seasons Hotel Sydney (the old Regent Hotel). This was a property that, in my younger days (The Regent Sydney) I would walk past and think so many times… “one day, I will be the Chief Concierge at this amazing property” – and as I do believe that dreams can come true… it did!

In February 2003, I started at the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney as the Chef Concierge. Once again, after meeting my new General Manager (Mr Stephen Lewis) and also a good friend of Mr George Bedwani (my previous General Manager), I knew that I had made the right choice and I was again working in a property with an outstanding General Manager who fully understands the “art of service”, and what the role of the professional Concierge is all about.

Working for this amazing property, with such a strong focus on providing extensive training to all employees and Managers, through my years here I feel I have not only become a much better Concierge, but also a Manager at Departmental level.

My personal motto is – “anyone can be trained to become a Concierge, however, positive and right attitudes can NOT be trained – as this is within the person – it is a personal choice” Having the right attitude, and a determination to refuse to accept mediocre service as acceptable is a good start to a career as a professional Concierge, as well as taking the time to perfection their knowledge, and network and contacts.

As we all know only too well, any Les Clefs d’Or member shifts do not end at 5pm or 5:30pm… our duties continue by attending numerous amounts of Concierge related functions after work to further our knowledge and contacts (networking), often three to four times a week.

Early in 2021, I made the difficult decision to leave Four Seasons Hotel Sydney (a place that has been always so dear in my heart), to take some time off from the hospitality industry (Management) to prioritise time with my wife and son.

During this time away from Management (Hospitality), I was fortunate to work at the Sydney International Airport with Swissport, as well as with TLE (Electrical Company). This were amazing experiences, as I went away from my comfort zone, and was able to try new things. This gave me a lot of time to reflect on what I wanted to do from here on.

As Hospitality is and will always be in me, I was blessed to start again working for Accor, as Chief Concierge for these two amazing properties, the luxury 5-star Porter House Hotel Sydney – MGallery (where rich history meets modern elegance) and Castle Residences (Luxury Apartments)

The Porter House is in close proximity of various Sydney’s attractions (The Australian Museum, Darling Harbour, Capitol Theatre, Hyde Park), as well as trains to the airport and Light Rail to Circular Quay.

I look forward to welcome both our Domestic and International guests to this amazing Hotel, and to showcase this amazing property as well as the very best Sydney has to offer.

Through my Profession as a Concierge, I have to truly thank my wife and son – they are the reason behind my success.

I am also privilege to call George Bedwani and Stephen Lewis, my friends. We keep in touch, after all these years.

“In Friendship” - Viva “Les Clefs d’Or”