History was made in San Francisco due to a collection of concierges who met on a monthly basis during the 1970's to share the triumphs and challenges of the early concierge profession in the United States.

The founding leaders of our association are:

Tom Wolfe, Fairmont

Holly Stiel, Grand Hyatt

Shelby Topp, Fairmont

Larry Allport, Clift Hotel

Howard Storm, Stanford Court

Tom Wolfe, through great perseverance, created the American section of Les Clefs d'Or, USA that was admitted to the International Concierge Association, Les Clefs d'Or or UPIH in 1978 at the International Congress in Vienna, Austria.

Holly Stiel, Chief Concierge at the Grand Hyatt, who was the first female to hold this title in the United States was also the first female concierge to be allowed membership in Les Clefs d'Or at that same Congress in Vienna.

During the fall of 1985,hotels now had a concierge staff and desk in the lobbies of most hotels in San Francisco. As the number of concierges had grown to 20 members, Ken Stevens, Chief Concierge at the Cliff Hotel held the monthly meeting in the Grand Ballroom.

At this meeting it had been decided that the meetings would move from a social gathering to a professional association that had goals and a vision for the future association.

The following points were discussed, a vote taken and were accepted :

The Association would have a visual, professional and unified presence as ambassadors for San Francisco and outlying communities.

The Association would be named the Northern California Concierge Association.
It was strongly accepted that the Association would be inclusive rather than exclusive, thus allowing a network of concierges from Carmel, Monterey, San Jose , Yosemite, Napa and Tahoe to be welcomed and to take part in a larger professional association.

The symbol for the logo was to be the Golden Gate Bridge. The Bridge was also a metaphor. This Bridge was reaching out, connecting and welcoming other cities and other colleagues. This Bridge made our Association stronger, much like the symbol of Les Clefs d'Or is a key . A key which opens up the world to the concierge in San Francisco and then the world, the Bridge would be our connection for a larger base of knowledge and influence.

It was accepted that the best public relation campaign would to be known by good works. The association raised money for the first Aid's walk, bought a light on the Bay Bridge, paid for a seat to be refurnished in the ACT theatre, created the Aid's Foundation to offer financial support for terminally ill colleagues. The motto for Les Clefs d'Or was "In service thru friendship" The NCCA motto was "Be known by your good works"

The Founding Board of NCCA

Shelby Topp, President
Cynthia Reid, Vice President
Mark Belhemeur, Secretary
Eric Soffield , Treasurer
Marce Von Pressentin, Membership

The founding board during the first two years created the Constitution for NCCA which was based on the Constitution of the Chicago Concierge Association and Les Clefs d'Or.

The membership of NCCA continues to flourish and grow while being an inspiration for other concierge associations throughout the United States.It is important, however to reflect on the early days of the profession in San Francisco and to honor the founding leaders of our association, meeting in living rooms, dreaming of what the future of the concierge profession in San Francisco and the United States could achieve.

In Service through friendship,

Cynthia Reid
Chef Concierge
Huntington Hotel
Member of Les Clefs d'Or
Founding Vice President of NCCA