Old fashioned gold-plated service training

21st February 2005

Josephine trains at the International Butler Academy in the Netherlands, which is considered the world centre for service training. Among the many highly respected people she has served are the Queen, the Queen Mother and High Court judges.

International hotel chain clients include Sheraton, Hilton and Hyatt Regency.

Josephine said her steward program prepares students for a working life on some of the world’s super yachts.

“The online distance learning programs are available all over the globe to make training more accessible to students. However, many people seeking a career in this very lucrative ad booming business prefer a more personal approach, so I am conducting my next program from my home in Queensland, which is set up as a full training facility,” she said.

Josephine believes the reason why spas, cruise ships and resorts are flourishing is because we live in a world where service is diminishing.
“We are the clients of banks, shops, telecommunication companies, utilities, government bodies, yet we have no service. Most people are frustrated by call centres, phone menus and self service queues. We all crave a little pampering, even for a few hours to escape everyday pressures.”

Josephine is also an accomplished public speaker on a wide range of hospitality related subjects, from table setting and packing luggage to professional ethics.

She peppers her presentations with entertaining anecdotes, but no names are ever mentioned.

“Like all good butlers, I would never tell,” laughed Josephine.

Josephine’s graduates are being snapped up by a number of luxury resort hotels, day spa retreats and cruise ships.