The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias – New Orleans Concierges – 2022Ep16

On this week’s The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias, we chat with two leading New Orleans concierges. Our guests are Leah Hoyt, president of the New Orleans Concierge Association, and John Fitzpatrick, the organization’s social director. Leah is at the city’s Windsor Court Hotel and John is with the Westin New Orleans. We discuss their roles as concierges, what their job entails, and their thoughts and observations from their angle on the hospitality and hotel industries these days. It’s a fascinating and fun behind-the-scenes chat in many ways!

Pictured above from left – John Fitzpatrick of the Westin New Orleans and social director for the New Orleans Concierge Association, Leah Hoyt of the Windsor Court Hotel and president of the New Orleans Concierge Association, and Bryan Dias of The NOLADrinks Show at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum.

The NOLADrinks Show with Bryan Dias – New Orleans Concierges – 2022Ep16

This time around, we learn about the world of hotel concierges! We’re joined by two professionals leading their field here in New Orleans – Leah Hoyt and John Fitzpatrick. They are both active in the New Orleans Concierge Association (NOCA) with Leah serving as their current president and John is their social director. Both work at prominent hotels in the city – Leah is at the Windsor Court Hotel and John is at the Westin New Orleans.

We discuss what their job involves, and it’s not just hooking people up with tickets and tours! We talk about how they build their network, serve to educate their guests, deliver experiences that guests are really looking for (perhaps, not specifically what they are asking for – it’s an art!), and much more.

Both Leah and John share some interesting experiences and challenges on the job, as well. Additionally, we learn about NOCA and how the network of concierges in the city and, really, nationally, through organizations like Les Clefs d’Or USA, is highly supportive for professionals in the field.

Leah and John stick around for our podcast-only segment, “Another Shot with NOLADrinks,” where we chat further about all-things “concierge.” This includes their need for patience, observations on guest behavior since the pandemic, and much more! I close out the show talking about cocktail competitions with some thoughts and tips from my experiences as a judge.

Thanks to our friends at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum for hosting us for the featured interview. Check out Nitty Grits Podcasts, the podcast network of the museum and the National Food and Beverage Foundation.

Cheers and Be Well, You All!

~ Bryan