NYCAHC Logo _ Full Color-04.png

THE NEW YORK CITY ASSOCIATION OF HOTEL CONCIERGES

ANNOUNCES THEIR 2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

New York, March 11, 2022

At its January, 2022 meeting, the Membership of the New York City Association of Hotel Concierges elected by acclamation its new Board of Directors and President. Two Board members also continue their service, and a vacancy has been filled by appointment. The Association is pleased to introduce its new Board.

Hawkins.jpg

Mr. William Hawkins

President

Concierge, Mandarin Oriental New York

Mr. William Hawkins has been elected to his second two-year term as President of the New York City Association of Hotel Concierges (NYCAHC). A member of NYCAHC since 2010, Mr. Hawkins has been on the Board since 2016, and has served in the roles of Public relations Director, Secretary and Vice President. As Public Relations Director, Mr. Hawkins led many of the Association’s charitable endeavors, including the the NYC Parks Department’s MillionTreesNYC campaign, the Fare Share Friday dinner with Crossroads Community Services, and has served as captain of the Association’s AIDS Walk New York teams. leading the team to prestigious “Gold Team” status for two consecutive years, a designation recognizing the Association’s exceptional support for GMHC and the other AIDS service organizations benefited.

 

Prior to working in hospitality, Mr. Hawkins was a licensed attorney and commercial litigator for seven years before leaving that career in 2006 to follow a passion for service. He began this new career at the Mark Hotel, then served as a Concierge at The Alex Hotel for more than five years before he moved to Mandarin Oriental New York in 2012. Mr. Hawkins was honored to have been accepted as a member of Les Clefs d’Or USA in 2014, and again honored to have been nominated for the “Concierge of the Year” award at the 2016 Silver Plume Awards, and was even more honored to have won the Silver Plume Award for Community Service at the 2018 Hotel Excellence Awards.

 

As President, Mr. Hawkins shepherded the Association through an unprecedented time in the hospitality industry, pivoting from an ambitions agenda of programming, to the sole objective of keeping the membership connected and providing support. Said Mr. Hawkins, “We had such big plans in 2020 for our first term, but had to realign quickly–as COVID-19 turned the world upside-down–to try to be a remote resource to our members, while keeping the Association’s finances on-track and maintaining member cohesion. We look forward to this exciting rebuilding period in our city and industry, and I hope to lead the organization successfully with the support of our Board and the membership.”

Charlie.png

Mr. Charlie Loor

Vice President

Concierge, The Peninsula New York

Mr. Charlie Loor has been re-elected to a two year term on the Board, and will continue his role as Vice President. Mr.Loor has been a member of NYCAHC since 2013, and has served on the Board of Directors, as Director of Corporate Membership and Vice President since 2018.

 

During his tenure as Director of Corporate Membership, Mr. Loor was instrumental in building and strengthening relationships between New York City vendors and the Concierge Community. He has also participated in many Association-sponsored events, particularly the Association’s annual Trade Show, in which representatives of vendors, attractions, restaurants and other service partners are afforded the opportunity to meet members of the Association face to face. Mr. Loor has been a member of the Trade Show Committee since 2017, and has served as Co-Chair of the Committee since 2018.

 

Mr. Loor has over 12 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has had the privilege of being a Les Clefs d’Or member since 2016. In 2017, Mr. Loor was recognized with the Rising Star Award at the annual Hotel Excellence Awards and was then honored with the Silver Plume Award for Concierge of the Year in 2018. Having a passion for hospitality and the Concierge community, Mr. Loor is eager to become more involved with both NYCAHC and Les Clefs d’Or. In his role as Vice President, he looks forward to supporting the President, his fellow Board Members, and the association at large, as they continue their efforts to strengthen and enhance the Concierge Community.

Murphy.jpg

Ms. Mary Murphy

Secretary

Head Concierge, Omni Berkshire Place

Ms. Mary Murphy has been elected to a two year term on the Board of Directors and will serve as Secretary. As Secretary, she will assist with the Association’s day-to-day operations, and, most importantly, be be a board member “at large” to promote and facilitate the Association’s many Community Outreach programs, with which she has a long history. Ms. Murphy has previously served on the board as President. She has worked in the hospitality industry for 23 years at the Omni Berkshire Place Hotel. Ms. Murphy is honored to have been elected by her peers as a past winner of the “Concierge of the Year” award at the Hotel Excellence Awards/Silver Plume Awards, and later also received the Community Service Award. Ms. Murphy was a Co-founder of the annual Concierge Choice Awards, which had its first ceremony in 2007, and Served on the committee for the Les Clefs d’Or USA National Congress held in New York City in 2007.

As a community service leader, Ms. Murphy’s activities have included the charitable endeavors of of the Omni Berkshire Place, including bake sales, food banks, back-to-school supplies, and Toys for Tots, as well as NYCAHC projects, including programs at the Bronx-based PATHSEO, Inc. Caldwell Soup Kitchen, such as Thanksgiving in October, and the Holiday Toy Drive (where she played Mrs. Claus and greeted each child with a present.) Ms. Murphy has volunteered at St. Bartholomew’s Church Coalition for the Homeless, Fare Share Fridays with Crossroads Community dinners, and many more.

 

Ms. Murphy is very excited to be back on the board representing the Concierge Association and went on to say, “Being a dedicated Concierge and member of NYCAHC I am committed to supporting the Board of Directors as we move forward and meet the challenges of the new era in which we find ourselves.”

McCormack.PNG

Mr. Chris McCormack

Treasurer

Head Concierge, Crosby Street Hotel

Mr. Chris McCormack continues his term on the board, and will continue to serve as Treasurer. Mr. McCormack started his Hotel career in his home town, Sydney Australia back in 1996 as an Part time Overnight Bellman. Within two years he worked himself to be the Assistant Front of House Manager. He journeyed to London UK seeking adventure and to pursue his hospitality career. Mr. McCormack’s first place of work was Covent Garden Hotel, where he was promoted to Assistant Head Concierge after two years at Charlotte Street Hotel then opened Soho Hotel in the same position totaling ten years with Firmdale Hotels in the UK. In 2009 Chris was given the opportunity to open Crosby Street Hotel in NYC as Head Concierge. He has now been with Firmdale Hotels for more than twenty years.

Mr. McCormack has been a proud member of NYCAHC for ten years, and has served on the Board of Directors as Treasurer since 2020. About his continued service as Treasurer, he said, “Assuring that we were good stewards for the Association through this unprecedented disruption to our industry was an incredible challenge, but the Board and the membership rose to it. We look forward to resuming our normal operations, while still assuring that the Association remains financially sound and that our charitable and relief activities continue now and in the future.”

Iluc.jpg

Ms. Claudia ILUC

Membership Director

Ms. Claudia ILUC was reelected to the Board of Directors and will continue her service as Membership Director. She has been a member of the Association since 2007, and she is excited to continue her board service. She has been a member of Les Clefs d’Or since 2013.

Ms. ILUC started her career in hospitality 22 years ago at the New York Palace. Some of the properties for which she has worked include Plaza Athénée, Parker New York and she was part of the closing team of The Waldorf Astoria as the Assistant Chef Concierge. She was most recently Chef Concierge at The Time New York, a Dream Hotel Group property.

Ms. ILUC previously served on the Association’s Membership Committee and the Concierge Choice Awards Committee. She has participated in many of the Association’s charitable endeavors, including the Million Trees NYC campaign, Toys for Tots, The Soup Kitchen and more.

As a Membership Director, Ms. ILUC plans to continue expanding our the membership by

reaching out to individuals that would like to be part of this esteemed organization. “With so many hotels opening up, we have the opportunity to have a “NYCAHC desk” in any new property” Ms. ILUC looks forward to continuing her service on the Board and it grateful to the membership for this opportunity.

Ferrari.jpg

Ms. Tea Ferrari

Social Director

Concierge, Mandarin Oriental New York

Ms. Tea Ferrari continues her term on the Board of Directors, and will again serve as the Association’s Social Director. Ms. Ferrari has been in hospitality for over ten years, having worked in her native Italy for SLH properties, before relocating to New York City, where she has worked for the Gansevoort Hotel Group and InterContinental Barclay. She was also part of the opening team of The Times Square EDITION. Ms. Ferrari joined the Concierge team at Mandarin Oriental New York in December of 2021.

At the 2018 NYC Hotel Excellence Awards Ceremony, Ms. Ferrari won the Silver Plume Rising Star Award as a recognition for her active participation in the Association. Based this recognition, as well as her active participation in the Association as a member, she was elected to the Board of Directors in 2018.

Ms. Ferrari is proud to continue serving the Board of Directors and is eager to give back to the Concierge community, as she stated: “Becoming a member of the Association has helped me on many levels: to better understand the dynamics of our profession, comparing how fellow colleagues handle requests, building a solid network of contacts, and most importantly, it is through the Association that I met so many loyal, reliable, and unique people who I have the fortune to call friends today.”

In her role as Social Director, Ms. Ferrari will continue to build relationships and partnerships as well as share creative and exciting events that New York City has to offer.

Sinatra.jpg

Mr. Michael Sinatra

Public Relations Director

Concierge, Park Hyatt New York

Michael Sinatra has been re-appointed to the Board of Directors to fill a vacant one-year term on the Board, and will resume his service as Director of Public Relations. Mr. Sinatra had previously also served as the Association’s Membership Director.

Mr. Sinatra has been a member of the New York City Association of Hotel Concierge since 2014 and a member of Les Clef’s d’Or since 2015. He is a graduate of NYU’s Hotel Management program, and was a part of the opening team for the Park Hyatt New York, at which he presently works. Mr. Sinatra is part of a volunteer team called HYPride at the Hyatt which supports and connects Hyatt’s LGBT colleagues and supporters. Mr. Sinatra is a huge supporter of theatre and the Arts, and is currently working on writing a musical.

Branch.jpg

Mr. Richard Branch

Director of Corporate Membership

Concierge, 1 Hotel Central Park

Mr. Richard Branch has been elected to a two year term on the Board of Directors, and will serve as the Association’s Corporate Membership Director Mr. Branch has been a member of the Association since 2018, and a member of Les Clefs d’Or since 2021. He originally hails from Southern California where he started his hospitality career more than 14 years ago. He also has a background in the spa industry as a licensed massage therapist and former spa director. Mr. Branch has worked at such properties as Pelican Hill Resort, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, and the former St. Regis Monarch Beach. He is currently a concierge at 1 Hotel Central Park, where he has worked for the past six years. Mr. Branch has a passion for Sports, the Arts, and Equality & Diversity Inclusion.

Mr. Branch is excited to start his role as Director of Corporate Membership. Said Mr. Branch, “We plan to grow our corporate membership numbers, cultivate strong relationships, and create more innovative ways for our corporate members to see the maximum benefits from their memberships.”

Noureddine.jpg

Mr. Noureddine Lakhlif

Director of Education

Concierge, The St. Regis New York

Mr. Noureddine Lakhlif has been elected to a two year term on the Board of Directors, and will serve as the Association’s Director of Education. Previously, Mr. Lakhlif served two terms on the Board of Directors as Director of Membership and Secretary General.

 

Mr. Lakhlif has been in the hospitality field for over three decades, in both airlines and hotels. He has been a nominee for Concierge of the Year at the Silver Plume Awards. Mr. Lakhlif is fluent in French, German and Arabic. In his free time, he is a devoted runner and ran most recently his 4th Marathon. Since 2016, he is also a volunteer Run Director with New York Road Runners, a non-profit NYC based running organization.

 

Mr. Lakhlif is excited to make a ‘come back’ to the NYCAHC Board of Directors. He is ready to invest his time and devotion to be a five-star ambassador of our association. As a Director of Education, his motto is “Learn Together, Advance Together.”

Falling.png

Ms. Regena Falling

Past President / Advisor

Chef Concierge, Park Hyatt New York

Ms. Regena Falling, Chef Concierge at Park Hyatt New York, is delighted to continue her ex officio service as Past President / Advisor of the Association. Ms. Falling had previously served Two terms on the Board, as Vice President and later President of the Association. Prior to relocating to New York City in 2010, Ms. Falling served 10 years on the Board of Directors of Les Clefs d’Or USA, as Director of Membership, Vice President and President. She has also served as President of the Hotel Concierge Guild of Seattle. Ms. Falling was part of the opening team at Park Hyatt New York, which opened in 2014. At the 2015 Hotel Excellence Awards/Silver Plume Awards, held on January 25, 2016 and sponsored by InNY Magazine, Ms. Falling was honored by her peers with the Silver Plume Award for Chef Concierge of the Year.

Ms. Falling is very enthusiastic about her role as Past President / Advisor. “I am thrilled to continue to assist the Board of Directors representing members of the New York Association of Hotel Concierge, which include more than 200 Hotel Concierge professionals representing over 24,000 Hotel rooms in New York City. Our members vigilance in their quest for knowledge and unwavering dedication to their profession, their hotels and their guests is what truly inspires me and continues to drive our relevance. We, as concierge, are committed to creating lifelong memories for our guests and driving fierce loyalty to our hotels”

The founders of the New York City Association of Hotel Concierges, knew that the work of a dedicated, lobby level Concierge employed by the hotel was a singular calling worthy of distinction. Ms. Falling, the board of directors, and members of the association are uniquely leveraged to enhance a hotel’s cache with the community as ambassadors, locally and even abroad. NYCAHC upholds a high standard of integrity and ethics for all concierges, both inside and outside the organization.

In her role as Past President /Advisor, Ms. Falling will lend her creative style of leadership to support the Board of Directors and the membership-at-large as they navigate the ever changing landscape that is the hallmark of the Hotel Concierge profession.

About the Association

The New York City Association of Hotel Concierges® (NYCAHC) is a Section 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization that fosters opportunities for the professional growth and development of concierges and affiliated organizations in the New York Metropolitan area. Its principal mission is to:

  • establish and promote high professional and ethical standards for concierges;
  • coordinate, promote and assist in the activities and interests of concierges; and
  • foster friendship and communication among concierges throughout New York City, the United States and the world.

 

Through its sister organization—the NYCAHC Charitable Fund, a Section 501(c)(3) not-for-profit-organization—NYCAHC members also actively support a variety of worthwhile causes in the community.

For more information, please visit www.nycahc.org.