Concierge Confidential: The Gloves Come Off--and the Secrets Come Out! Tales from the Man Who Serves Millionaires, Moguls, and Madmen [Hardcover]

Michael Fazio (Author), Michael Malice (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 1, 2011

New York City’s top concierge gives up a keyhole view into the luxe hotel rooms, private dining and dressing rooms of the ridiculous, rich and demanding

Michael Fazio is the ultimate behind-the-scenes support man. Want two orchestra tickets to the Broadway musical that just won the Tony? Call Fazio. How about an upgrade to first class on an overbooked overnight flight to Tokyo? Call Fazio. Or a roomful of fresh hydrangeas—in winter? That’s right. Call Fazio. From his early start as the harried and neglected personal assistant to a typical L.A. casting agent, Fazio took what he learned there and moved into concierge work at New York City’s Intercontinental Hotel, where he was eventually able to parlay his services into a large and successful business of his own.

In Concierge Confidential, Fazio reveals the behind-thescenes madness that goes into getting the rich and famous what they want, and shares some great insider knowledge on how to get access to the unattainable without making the concierge, waiters and other service people crazy.

A few of Fazio’s tips include:

• When and how much to palm in tips

• How to get a seat or ticket to the hottest thing in town

• How to avoid being labeled a rube the minute you walk through the door

• How you can become your favorite store or restaurant’s most beloved customer

• And much more

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A hilarious peek at the tricky situations a caretaker at a top New York hotel finds himself in."--Harper's Bazaar

 

"There's a little bit of con in concierge. It's our job."--Michael Fazio in Entertainment Weekly

 

"A juicy, compulsively readable ... tell-all book...How many memoirs manage to be both a quintessential show bizy beach read and a text that should be taught in every business school in the country?"--Connecticut Post

About the Author

MICHAEL FAZIO is a partner in Abigail Michaels Concierge, Manhattan’s premier concierge business, serving almost 20,000 condominiums, hotels and private clients. He has been featured in a wide variety of publications, including The New York Times, The New York Post and Crain’s New York Business, and is a recurring guest on ABC’s The View. He lives in New York City.

 

MICHAEL MALICE is the co-author of Made in America: the Most Dominant Champion in UFC History, a New York Times bestseller, and the subject of Harvey Pekar’s Ego & Hubris. He lives in Brooklyn.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (February 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312643764
• ISBN-13: 978-0312643768
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,572 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful AND Entertaining February 2, 2011

By Bookbin

Format:Hardcover

This book is a burn of a read. I got a hold of an early copy and found I couldn't put it down. Michael's experiences in Hollywood and New York serving the notorious and wealthy are not only a lesson in good manners but pure voyeuristic fun. Riddled throughout are fascinating tidbits on upping the standard of service you get through common sense wisdom and with an arsenal of "tricks" up your sleeve. Though it's an entertaining narrative it's also a handy reference for anytime you're making a restaurant or hotel reservation, booking a flight, buying tickets, etc. Like Kitchen Confidential meets Devil Wears Prada and in a way Keith Ferrazzi's Never Eat Alone about networking.

Highly recommended.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful! February 6, 2011

By JPM

Format:Hardcover

I loved this book. It is a surprising and successful mix of useful tips and very funny anecdotes from NYC's most well-connected concierge. Mr. Fazio and Mr. Malice have written a really delightful book, both witty and unexpectedly warm.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A "How To" that will also be your guilty pleasure! February 2, 2011

By MS17

Format:Hardcover

"Concierge Confidential" is more than just a handy "how to" book, it pulls the curtain back on a world most of us take for granted. Michael Fazio brings you on a entertaining trip down the hospitality line giving fun facts, insider know-how and the do's and don'ts of getting what you want (and seeing what others got!) Once you dive in, you don't come up for air until you have read cover to cover.