Riccardo Fusari works as a Head Concierge at Hotel Amigo in Brussels.
How long have you been working at Hotel Amigo and how did your career start?
I have worked at Hotel Amigo since 1st September 1971 when I was 14 years old. I presented myself at the concierge desk and the head concierge sent me immediately to get an uniform. It was my first day of work.
Hospitality is a family affair, my dad was working at Hotel Amigo as Maître d'Hôtel between 1959 and 1964 and my big brother was already working in another hotel as a concierge.
I did plenty of different jobs at Hotel Amigo, starting as chasseur then bagiste/voiturier and téléphoniste, barman, becoming assistant concierge in 1978, then night concierge in 1979, and finally Head Concierge in 2001.
It is said that Brussels has a great art scene. Please can you give us some examples of what to see.
Art means a lot of different things. I mean in Brussels you can find art everywhere. Brussels is the capital of comic strips, as well as the world centre of Art Nouveau and Art Déco style, it is an amazing destination for the contemporary art scene through all the art fairs and art galleries, and it's also the city of the famous surrealist painter René Magritte.
My top 3 recommendations are classics but everyone loves them! Musée Magritte; Architecture Art Nouveau/Art Deco tours; Comics Strip museum for families.
How is Hotel Amigo involved in the local art scene?
We are working on different collaborations with Art events in the city, we can offer tickets to our guests or we have packages for some of these events:
- Brussels Gallery Weekend 9-11 September 2016;
- Roberto Polo new exhibition 15 Sep - 13 Nov 2016;
- Accessible Art Fair 22-25 September 2016;
- BRAFA 21-29 January 2017;
- TEFAF (in Maastricht) 10-19 March 2017;
- Brussels Art Nouveau Art Déco Festival 11-23 March 2017;
- Independent Brussels 20-23 April 2017;
- Art Brussels 21-23 April 2017.
What makes you smile most at work?
Every day I have a reason to smile. People make me smile and the human nature of the job. I love listening to my guests and hearing the interesting stories they have to tell.
What is your top tip for people who want to become a concierge in a luxury hotel?
To be a concierge in a luxury hotel you have to love the destination, to know it very well and to work hard. But first of all, you have to love helping people and to share with them your knowledge and passion for your city.
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