In my month of “V” words, I want to spend a little time on one of my favorites, Vision. I love the idea of visioning what we desire and manifesting it, even if we don’t know exactly how it is going to happen. I developed this idea early on in my career as a concierge and have been teaching it to people ever since. Along these lines, I have often been amazed by the fact that people frequently don’t know how to ask for what they really want.
Many guests ask a concierge questions that they don’t really mean, such as “Where would you go?” or “What do you like to do on your day off?” I believe what they are really saying is where should I go and what should I do. Because they are hoping for a personal recommendation, they ask the concierge where they would go and what they would do. I always teach concierges to have their antennae up and when asked questions like where would you go, a little thought bubble should popup that says, “You’re not going.” Recommend for them, not you.
If you want to know how to be truly effective and get what you want when asking a concierge a question, provide them with a vision instead. Even before you embark on your trip, create a multi-dimensional mental vision of how your perfect day, dinner, or evening will look and feel. Provide texture, flavor, sights and smells associated with your requests. Use your imagination. The more detailed you can be, the better your concierge can magically create the experiences you are seeking. Talk to them about the essence of what you like and what brings you pleasure. They will surprise you by conjuring up an experience that’s beyond your wildest dreams. Much of what concierges do can be classified as artistry. Give them your creative input, and they will respond in kind.
The vision idea is especially helpful when asking for a dining reservation. Describe the ideal place and experience you would like to have. Great concierges, who know their cities inside and out, will steer you to the perfect place. There are, however, a few exceptions, when conflicting desires get into the mix, as illustrated by the following example.
A guest wanted a seafood restaurant on the water that was casual, yet elegant, and did not require her husband to wear a jacket and tie. She also wanted a panoramic view of San Francisco Bay, good food and an assurance that there would be no tourists. The concierge appreciated the specificity of this lovely vision, but had to confess that restaurants on the water with panoramic views could not be hidden from tourists. He did his best, however, to find a restaurant that came close to matching her criteria, and the guests returned wowed by their experience. They actually met a nice couple there from their home state—in other words, tourists—and enjoyed drinks with them at the bar.
Remember: Paint a picture in words of your desires, and watch your concierges create a work-of-art experience.
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