Frank Laino
The Stafford Hotel, London
by Joseph Schmitt
A native of England of Italian descent,
Frank Laino holds dear his memories of idyllic summers
in Positano on the Amalfi Coast, the formerly sleepy
town where his mother was born. “I still love it
there,” he says, “but it is now a hugely popular
resort and there are just too many people there in the
summer. I now head to the quieter hills of Abruzzo for
some peace and quiet and old-fashioned Italy.”
Considering that Frank’s job is to keep his fingers
on the pulse of Europe’s largest city, his requiring
some occasional peace and quiet on the Italian coast
is understandable.
I caught up with Frank during a recent
stay at The Stafford Hotel (http://www.thestaffordhotel.co.uk),
one of London’s finest small hotels, located in
the heart of St. James’s Place, where Frank is
Executive Head Concierge. We talked about his life as
a concierge, and I got some insider tips for visiting
London. With authentic British charm and a warm Italian
smile, Frank commented on the importance of his position
in the hotel. “The luxury traveler is looking to
make a connection with me as their concierge. They want
a relationship built on trust and understanding and
an ability to satisfy their requirements to the letter.
This is not something that you can push or hurry, but
has to be built on solid foundations. This is why the
role of the concierge is so important in a luxury hotel,
and is often the deciding factor for a guest choosing
to return to a particular property.”
Watch
Frank Laino on PASSPORT TV... Tune in and find out what
Frank suggests to hotel guests who want to explore more
than the typical London hot spots.
With over 20 years of experience as
a concierge in London, and over ten years working at
The Stafford Hotel, Frank is quick to note how much
he adores his job and all the fringe benefits that come
along with it. “A great aspect of my work is something
I call ‘Concierge World.’ This is the world
that allows the concierge to sometimes experience the
luxury lifestyle that is usually only within reach of
the very wealthy. ‘Concierge World’ is a great
place to be in and is full of theatre premieres, invitations
to exclusive shopping, Michelin-starred dinners, and
opportunities to stay in luxury hotels. However, I’m
careful to not get carried away and start to think that
it is a real place. My family is very good at bringing
me back into the real world.”
What are your recommendations for
unique and fun tours in London?
In the summer, do not miss the State Rooms at Buckingham
Palace (http://www.royalcollection.org.uk)
and the inside tours of the House of Parliament. The
Walking Tours (http://www.visitlondon.com)
are great fun, especially the Jack the Ripper tour which
takes you to some terrific old East End locations and
finishes with a pint in an old London boozer. Highgate
Cemetery (http://www.highgate-cemetery.org)
is one of London’s great Victorian cemeteries,
with a blend of historic, cultural, and wildlife attractions,
which gives it a unique character. There are many famous
people buried there, including Karl Marx. The tours
offer an interesting and alternative view of our great
city.
Where would you send Passport readers
for a romantic dinner?
Julie’s Restaurant and Bar (135 Portland Rd.
Tel: 20-7229-8331. http://www.juliesrestaurant.com)
in Holland Park is an old favorite and is a very romantic,
little, subterranean rabbit warren with loads of candlelit
alcoves and hidden treasures. You’ll also find
romantic alfresco dining under the London sky, with
an electric roof cover. L’Atelier de Joël
Robuchon (13-15 West Street. Tel: 20-7010-8600. http://www.joel-robuchon.com)
is drop-dead glamour and sophistication, and the food
is verging on art. The philosophy of the counter surrounding
the entire kitchen at L’Atelier is one of interactivity.
In London, unlike the sister restaurants in Paris and
Tokyo, there is a small number of tables for diners
who are more interested in each other than the preparation
of the food. The Wolseley (160 Piccadilly. Tel: 20-7499-6996.
http://www.thewolseley.com)
is a place that manages to have a great vibe and yet
is intimate at the same time. The Wolseley is open from
morning to night with menus in the Grand Café
tradition, making this a romantic pick any time of the
day, whether you are looking for a simple breakfast,
afternoon tea, or a hearty dinner.
What are some of your personal favorite
restaurants in London?
For the classic fish-n-chips, I go to The Grenadier
(18 Wilton Row. Tel: 020-7235-3074. http://www.pubs.com).
Tucked away down a little, quiet, cobbled mews street,
the pub used to be the officer’s mess for the Duke
of Wellington’s Grenadier Guards. Über stylish
and hip, Zuma (3 Raphael St. Tel: 20-7584-1010. http://www.zumarestaurant.com)
is the polar opposite of The Grenadier. This superb
Japanese restaurant is absolutely the hottest place
in town. Scott’s (20 Mount St., Tel: 20-7495-7309.
http://www.scotts-restaurant.com)
in Mayfair is very much the A-list place of the moment,
and is one of the best places for fresh seafood. Wiltons
(55 Jermyn St. Tel: 20-7629-9955. http://www.wiltons.co.uk)
must get a mention. It also specializes in seafood and
boasts the very best oysters in London. No A-list types
here. This is very much the establishment dining room
and is hugely popular with our guests.
 What
are some of the hot tickets in town for theatre and
art?
The focus recently has been on star names. Keira
Knightly is opening in The Misanthrope before the holidays
begin. Musical wise, Sister Act is doing very well and
Oliver is extremely popular. However, the big, new hit
show has to be Priscilla Queen of the Desert at The
Palace Theatre (http://www.palacetheatrelondon.org/).
It is wonderfully camp and great fun. Art lovers should
always head right for the iconic Tate Modern. New at
the Tate Modern through January 2010 is Pop Life: Art
in a Material World (http://www.tate.org.uk).
Haring and Warhol fans will not want to miss this exhibition.
What are some “off the radar”
attractions you like to suggest to your guests?
I always like to send people to The Queen’s
Gallery (5 Buckingham Gate. Tel: 20-7321-2233. http://www.royalcollection.org.uk)
by the side of Buckingham Palace. This is a lesser-known
gallery that houses the private collection of the Monarch.
It is a good idea to combine it with a visit to the
State Rooms of the Palace. The gallery currently has
a wonderful exhibition of French Porcelain. Chelsea
Physic Garden (66 Royal Hospital Road. Tel: 20-7352-5646.
http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk)
is an oasis of calm in the middle of London. The garden
dates back to 1673 and was originally founded with the
purpose of identifying plants for medicinal applications.
It is a beautiful, walled garden and is located almost
next door to Gordon Ramsay’s original three-Michelin-star
restaurant. The Royal Opera House (Covent Garden, Tel:
20-7240-1200. http://www.roh.org.uk)
is one of the great Opera Houses in the world, and has
a great story to tell. The Backstage Tours include an
introduction to the colorful history of the theatre,
an insight into the redevelopment of the Royal Opera
House, and a look at aspects of current productions.
As the Royal Opera House is a fully working theatre,
each tour is a unique experience, and may include opportunities
to see The Royal Ballet in class, or the magnificent
backstage technology in operation.
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