MEDIA INFORMATION
International Butlers endeavours to provide information about its organisation and for the private service profession in a global and easily available manner. If you have any additional questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
International Butlers is a Dutch based company operating world wide (see below for a selection of our clients), specialising in training private service staff and management such as (hotel-)butlers, personal assistants and household managers, on all aspects of domestic service. Additionally our organisation provides full time ongoing professional support and services.
The company offers one seven-week full butler course, one five-day course, two weekend courses and four workshops for advanced students, besides making provision for those persons who are interested in particular aspects of the profession. The organisations also provides workshops and seminars for hotels and resorts, spas, private yachts and cruise ships, properties and estates, small and large companies. Courses can be undertaken on such topics as protocol and etiquette, table manners, food and wine, body language and communication, with other subjects dictated by client requirements catered for on application.
Examinations are executed under the supervision of the VTE (Stichting Vrijwillig Toezicht Examens), a Dutch association that has been founded by a joined private sector undertaking in The Netherlands. Their objective is to control the quality of the education by non-government supported schools. They apply the same criteria as the government.
Aside from the training aspects, International Butlers also supports the promotion of the domestic service profession and global maintenance of the professional aspects of the industry e.g. the traits, in general.
On this website a World Event Calendar is included outlining the most interesting high-end events in the world.
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Mr. Hugo Mechelse is managing director and instructor of International Butlers. In his capacity as personalised service and hospitality service specialist, he travels the world teaching, lecturing and consulting with private individuals, public agencies, hospitality companies and corporations. On top of this he also still is part-time butler and Personal Assistant to private persons.
Prior to entering into private Domestic Services, Mr. Mechelse was a member of senior management in Customer Service and Logistics departments for several international companies, including Nestlé, Fort Dodge and Nissan Motor Company.
Within the Domestic Services industry, Mr. Mechelse spent over eleven years as a Personal Assistant for families in The Netherlands and United States . He held various positions including those of liaison officer, event planner, master of ceremonies and head waiter for private catering events and at the Promenade Hotel in The Netherlands. Additionally, for the past ten years, he has travelled through Europe, the Middle East, and Asia as a professional tour guide. From 2003-04, using his educational and senior management background - he has an educational degree -, Mr. Mechelse further expanded his experience in Domestic Services by managing The International Butler Academy based out of The Netherlands. In 2004, Mr. Mechelse founded International Butlers in The Netherlands, specialising in training private staff and service staff in the hospitality industry as well as training related topics as international business etiquette for multinational companies.
Additionally, Mr. Mechelse has chaired major events, celebrations and exhibitions; a national sports organization; and is the co-founder of the Dutch Guild for Professional Butlers and Personal Assistants.
Above all, Mr. Mechelse is a passionate promoter of the Domestic Services profession. He has also been featured on Dutch TV’s Business Travel News (RTL5) as an authority on business etiquette. In this last capacity he also instructs business people from multinational companies.
In all, he is one of those few in the world who embody passion for personalised service.
Selected client list includes:
- Shangri-La Academy, Beijing, People’s Republic of China (PRC)
- Taylor´s College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Commune by The Great Wall, Kempinski, Badelin, PRC
- Sofitel Wanda, Beijing, PRC
- JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Romania
- Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Sultanate of Oman
- Emirate Towers, Dubai, UAE
- Hotel Rey Juan Carols I, Madrid, Spain
- Noble Gardens property, Shenzhen, PRC
- Møller-Mærsk, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Shipping and Transport College, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Softel Macau, Macau
- Oceanwide property, Beijing, PRC
- Hotel Sofitel Metropol, Hanoi
- The Tryall Club, Jamaica
- Several Private Yachts
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As International Butlers believes that an international perspective on the profession is paramount to the success of both students and the curriculum, instructors are recruited from all over the world. Flexibility in approach to subject taught and the knowledge on cultural differences greatly enhance the quality and validity of the offered program.
See for more information on the affiliated instructors: faculty.
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Please contact us for ideas about stories, articles or TV coverage on any topic related to the private service industry.
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No press releases currently available.
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Hugo R. Mechelse has featured many times in the media. Please find below some examples.
- Gemenge Branche Detailisten (magazine): article Setting a table (Dutch)
- The Star (Kuala Lumpur news paper): The butler did it (English)
- Business Travel News (RTL5 television program): clip (Dutch)
- Zoete, business quality magazine (Dutch)
- Luxury Lifestyle (Stein group)
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No white papers currently available.
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With thanks to
Herman Wouters, photographer, +31 (0)6 2461 3423 (www.hermanwouters.nl)
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