Judging from the outside the work in a reception might seem a little trivial. It’s certainly true that it doesn’t take a receptionist long to get to know the greeting of new guests by heart and recognize all the returning guests. Still, when you ask a receptionist why she chose to work in this field, she will most likely say that the job is both challenging and unpredictable. How can both be true? One of the reasons is Copenhagen Fashion Week.
Twice a year Copenhagen is filled with well dressed professionals, buyers, models and designers. Suddenly the lounge is for networking and checking out competitors, and the hallways turns into catwalks, when designers flash the clothes they each believe will be next season’s must have. Last winter all women wore the harem trousers that were to fill the streets when summer came, and this year it seems – judging from our guests – that natural colours is the next big thing.
All four hotels are highly affected by the event, but the avant-garde hotel Fox is of course first in line, when the fashion professionals are to choose their base for the week.
We’ve talked to Christopher, one of the night porters at Fox, who has worked during several Fashion Weeks. He thinks of it as a festive touch, especially in winter where it comes as a welcoming break from the low season’s quiet period.
Models in the luggage room
“The guests from fashion week are somewhat demanding but also fun and exciting, and as a receptionist you encounter some unusual questions, so it is also quite a challenge,” he says when we ask him, what it’s like to have the night shifts in the period. He adds that fashion week furthermore has the advantage of attracting many returning visitors, so even though things are busy and glitter and surface defines much of the event, it’s also kind of homey with familiar faces.
The fashion industry is still affected by the economic recession though. The mood has been somewhat more subdued this year, and there haven’t been quite so many events. “Last year we had a catwalk in the reception. That was really fun. It was completely packed with people, and the models used our luggage room for changing,” Christopher remembers.
“There used to be more people at fashion week. We’ve always been completely sold out, but this year I believe there were actually a few vacant rooms at both Ibsens and Danmark. A couple of years ago I even had people crying in the reception, because I couldn’t help them with a bed for the night.”
But things are still busy during Copenhagen Fashion Week. Christopher had a representative from one of the companies approaching the front desk to get her room. She had completely forgotten that she had already checked-in. That’s just how it is. And with a week divided between catwalks, showrooms, galleries, business dinners, parties and a little sleep, it’s really not that surprising.
We would certainly like to thank all our guests from fashion week. Especially the returning guests, who we obviously hope to see much more of in the future.
Marie Dyekjær Eriksen/ Public Relations
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