I've been to at least two dozen different dive ops in the Caribbean -- plus several in Mexico -- and Reef Divers in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are the only ones I would call concierge/valet. Some others were helpful with a few things, but none like those two.
If you have to move a tank yourself, that's not concierge/valet. If you have to walk across a deck with gear on, that's not concierge/valet. If you have to rinse your own gear, that's not concierge/valet. If you have to wear your gear when exiting the water onto a boat, that's not concierge/valet. If you smile and offer snacks on the SI, that is NOT enough to be concierge/valet.
Thanks for fleshing out that explanation. From my experience however, i think damn near everyone in the Caribbean is offering all of that. Or, maybe i’m just spoiled or lucky?
To your point, however, your list bespeaks generally 1st Level type islands, where should one not expect this (now) as the norm? (Most folks simply have NEVER yet seen a Level 2 rock, in the category of Tobago, Los Roques, Guanaja, etc)
In the OP, I did stipulate Caribbean week-long dive ops, as they seem to have decided ownership of this new Concierge terminology. I have trudged behind pack mules in Mexico (1972), and I thought that was pretty up-scale. Not that kind of thing-
This was intended to be about Caribbean Resort experience, WWPF.
This should have been in the OP:
In alpine skiing, there is truly a distinction in “concierge” services. In the Americas especially, it can be seen. One list… Alta > Snowmass > Las Lenas> Deer Valley > Eagle Point
From “the norm” to the “stratospheric”. There are distinct upgrading differences in each service experience. [Dunning-Krueger now raises it’s reviled head]
As in dive-ops, or as seen with liveaboards, one or three ski trips do not make for a seasoned opinion, especially in regards to comparative qualities of “niceties”. You begin to notice consistencies and what might easily be judged as nominal. (Or, much worse… as “acceptable” deficiencies)
What is seen by many as “special services” are required due operational deficiencies (many times, quite understandable),
A lot of what i’m seeing referenced as “concierge” are merely work-arounds for lesser grade infrastructure (boats, storage, rinse tanks, wharfage). Sometimes it’s just better, safer and more efficient to have their staff handle it, labor being cheaper than investing in infrastructure.
Concierge or
real deal DM….Not a bad thing:
Diving off of a Philippine panga (enameled paint wooden deck, 3’ gunnels, bamboo outrigger spars lashed with monofilament, wooden vertical ladders, crazy currents)….Yes, the DM had better be the
very controlling Chief Commander wearing the
happy Concierge Hat.
A lot of “concierge” sensation is caused by
the legitimate need to herd cats.
But… the need to call it that? Still not convinced