THE BUTLER is the venture through which I deliver butlers who meet the standards of the All Japan Butler Association to any setting that requires one. The term butler service is also used in hotels and on liners, yet what I arrange is the placement of butlers who serve a specific client on an ongoing basis. In the pages that follow I explain what I hold important and where I draw the line on a butler’s duties.
What butler service means
Butler service offered in hotels or apartments is provided to anyone using the facility and the relationship lasts only for the duration of the stay. By contrast, what I arrange is the placement of butlers who serve a specific client on an ongoing basis. Because preferences and habits can be recorded over time, preparations can be made before a request is even voiced.
Although the same words are used, the substance differs, so anyone considering a request is advised to decide which form of service they are seeking.
What I hold important
In the past, butlers were regarded as the preserve of a limited circle. Many people never even reached the stage of consideration simply because few ways of engaging one existed. I have therefore introduced graded arrangements, from short visits to full-time residence, so that clients may first experience the service.
I believe the value becomes clear once it is experienced. Details of terms and specific arrangements appear on the official THE BUTLER website.
How quality is assured
If placement were the sole activity, quality would rest entirely with the individual. THE BUTLER forms a single continuum with the Association’s training and certification precisely so that standards are shared. Only this structure can guarantee that every butler who arrives meets a consistent level.
I also publish the register of butlers for the same reason. Allowing clients to compare profiles and choose increases their satisfaction while encouraging each butler to continue refining his skills.
Where a butler’s duties end
Although a butler oversees the entire operation of a house, he does not accept every task. Medical procedures, legal work, transport or accommodation bookings and other activities that demand licences or registration lie outside his remit. Stating these boundaries clearly also protects the client.
Having defined what cannot be done, I then ensure that the remaining scope is delivered to the fullest extent. That is the guiding principle of the service design.
When to call upon a butler
If the requirement is already clearly defined, engaging a specialist may sometimes be more appropriate. A butler is most effective when matters are still unorganised or when several tasks are advancing simultaneously, because his role is to view the whole and establish the order of priorities.
Further examples of actual assignments appear on the page that shows butlers at work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is butler service?
It is the general term for services that carry out arrangements and attend to requests during a stay or in daily life. There is a clear difference between services attached to a facility and the placement of a butler who serves a particular client on a continuing basis.
What kind of venture is THE BUTLER?
It is the venture through which I deliver butlers who meet the standards of the All Japan Butler Association to any setting that requires one. Arrangements range from short visits to full-time residence so that clients may choose the level of engagement that suits them.
Are there tasks a butler cannot perform?
Medical procedures, legal work, transport or accommodation bookings and other activities that demand licences or registration lie outside a butler’s remit. I believe that stating these boundaries clearly also protects the client.
Related Pages
Engaging a butler
Terms and procedures for requests are set out on the official THE BUTLER website. Should you have any questions, please contact us here.
Go to enquiries