The Metropole Hotel will open its doors again on July 13th.

And when they do, they’ll have the best doorman in Ireland on standby to welcome guests into the lobby at the MacCurtain Street hotel, which celebrated its 123rd birthday this week.

The Metropole’s John Coleman has been awarded the prestigious title of Concierge of the Year for Munster and Ireland at the Irish Hotel Awards 2020.

John’s role as Head Concierge of The Metropole Hotel is focused on one objective; to make sure that each guest’s stay is as good as can possibly be. His friendly approach to helping guests plan their stay in the city is a personal touch that has made a holiday in Cork stand out for many a visitor.

During the lockdown, John donned his top hat and tails to deliver afternoon tea and prosecco to couples who were celebrating their wedding anniversaries. He also shares fascinating facts about the hotel’s history with fans via his Twitter account @ConciergeCJohn.

123rd Birthday fact . Another enhancement when approving the building of the @MetropoleCork in 1896 was that it was to be on the route of the proposed electric tramway which started running in December 1898 @corkcitycentre @historic_hotels 🎩 pic.twitter.com/GsEmulQCMK

— john (@ConciergeCJohn) June 17, 2020

‘The most exciting part of my job is the unknown’

“I feel I am very lucky to be in the position I am in due to the changing social culture around hotels but I am so glad that The Metropole Hotel restored the classic concierge that would have existed in most hotels not that long ago.” said John.

“The most exciting part of my job is the unknown as it is what makes it exciting. Every day is different as I meet different people from different backgrounds, from all over the globe on a daily basis. The team at the Metropole is one big family. From the top down, everybody helps out. We are so excited to be opening our doors again to welcome guests back.”

The Metropole Hotel was also awarded the Great Place to Stay Quality Award at the industry event, which was held today.