Dog surfing instructor, Loews Coronado Bay Resort & Spa (USA) —
Teevan McManus of the Coronado Surfing Academy has been teaching guests -- and their mutts -- to surf since 2005. The job, he says, started off as a fluke."I had a German shorthair pointer named Murphy. He would come to the beach with me and try to follow me out in the water while I surfed. It was just a matter of time before I started to put him on the board and allow him to catch his own waves," McManus recalls.
Loews Coronado Bay Resort & Spa, Coronado, California (+1 619 424-4000)
Wildlife managers, Zurich airport (Switzerland) —
One doesn't typically associate airports with wildlife, yet at Zurich's main travel hub, beavers and deer are as much a part of the landscape as runways and control towers. The airport is located in the midst of endangered marshes, and as a result the airport has set aside roughly half of its land as a nature conserve. Wildlife managers peruse the areas between the runways to make sure ducks, boar and the like don't interfere with landings and take-offs.
Popsicle man, Hilton Los Cabos Golf & Beach Resort (Mexico) —
Jorge is the resident popsicle man at the Hilton Los Cobos and in the years he's worked at the resort, he's become a bit of a legend. Every afternoon, he wanders the pool area, offering guests and kids frozen fruit kebabs and homemade popsicles. Favorite flavor not in stock? He's been known to make custom creations. The service is particularly popular with kids."I always have a line-up of followers behind my cart, so I decided to create a 'popsicle Team' where children can assist with popsicle delivery for the day, complete with specialty uniform,' he says.
Hilton Los Cabos Golf & Beach Resort, Mexico (+52 624 145 6500)
Fragrance butler, Rosewood Hotels and Resorts (various locations) —
In 2012, Rosewood Hotels rolled out a fragrance butler program at a handful of their properties. These purveyors of good scents are on call 24/7 (yes, really) to attend to guests' olfactory needs. They slip into rooms bearing a silver tray stacked with complimentary perfumes and colognes (the list varies depending on the character of the hotel) and are on hand to offer guidance on fragrance notes before slipping away. All in a day's work. Rosewood Hotels, various locations (+1 888 767-3966)
Air nanny, Etihad Airways —
Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad Airways goes the extra mile for their littlest passengers (and their parents). In 2013, they launched the flying nanny program. An in-flight team of child experts play with children on-board, ultimately distracting them from making a scene. "It's about making (the children) feel special, which also makes them feel calm," explains Aubrey Tiedt, the vice president of guest services.
Flying nannies help with feedings and give advice on diaper changing, though their main purpose is to entertain. They come armed with a special kit, full of cardboard, crayons, colored paper and star-shaped stickers and will help kids create anything from sock puppets to paper animals.
Etihad (+971 259 90000)
Sunshine butler, The Club Hotel & Spa (Jersey) —
The summer of 2014 was exceptionally hot on the island of Jersey. So hot, that guests of The Club Hotel & Spa were getting uncomfortable. It was then that the resort created the job of sunshine butler. "We launched the service so our guests could fully focus on relaxing and topping up their tans while sipping a cocktail," says Chris Barsan, who holds the post. In addition to making sure guests are well-slathered in factor 50 (or whatever their preference), Barsan offers cold towels, cooled watermelon and face mist.
"It's really rewarding to see our guests so happy. Especially when they realize they don't have to leave their sun loungers for sun cream," he says.
The Club Hotel & Spa, Jersey (+44 1534 876500)
Dr. Shades, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa (Malidives) —
While lounging at by the poolside of the Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa, guests might come into contact with a man in a lab coat and stethoscope carrying multiple pairs of sunglasses. It must make an unusual site, but Mohamed Shareef (aka, Dr. Shades) has been cleaning and fixing lenses for two years now. "Many guests think that I am a real doctor until I start talking to them and inform them that I am Dr. Shades, here to make sure their sunglasses are clean," he says.
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa (+960 66 44 800)
Camping butler, The Resort at Paws Up (USA) —
Montana's Paws Up takes "glamping" to a new extreme by employing camping butlers. More strapping than Jeeves, these outback connoisseurs attend to every need, whether that means organizing cattle herding lessons or sizzling up an elk tenderloin for dinner (it is Montana, after all). The service extends to the campfire, where they'll not only kick off sing-alongs, but turn out perfect s'mores. The Resort at Paws Up, Montana, USA (+1 406 244-5200)
Boat chauffeur, Hilton Waikoloa Village (USA) —
How, exactly, is a boat "chauffeur" different to a boatman? At the Hilton Waikola Village in Hawaii, it's the attitude that sets these canal captains apart. The chauffeurs -- who deliver guests through the 62-acre resort's network of lagoons -- are part rowers, part showmen. Canal chauffer Andrew Hoffmann has held the position for over 15 years. Driving the boat is only part of the job, he says.
"The rest is entertaining guests, teaching them about Hawaiian culture, and the local wildlife that visits us during our transportation. Sometimes I even sing to make them feel like they're really on vacation," he adds.
They drivers are also famed for their comic timing and have even been known to stop the boat to point out constellations and shooting stars.
Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii (+1 808 886-1234)
Retail therapist, The Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino (Puerto Rico) —
In theory, a retail therapist should help you get a handle on your spending. At the Sheraton Puerto Rico, the job is to encourage guests to spend. This shopping shrink helps create itineraries for guests eager to tuck into the city's burgeoning boutique scene. He also provides shoppers with insider tips and maps, and helps suss out their individual spending style to ensure they get the most bang for their buck. The Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino (+1 787 993-3500)
