Dubai: It is a convenience that saves you many minutes of an agonising search for a parking slot or a long walk to the destination, especially when the weather is not friendly. At the same time, valet parking an also cause you heartache if you happen to be the unlcucky one whose car has been inadvertently damaged.
In Dubai, valet services are a common facility, offered in hotels, malls, clinics, hospitals and even in individual restaurants. With increasing traffic and a parking space crunch, more people are resorting to valet services.
In most hotels and malls, the price of valet parking can go up to Dh200 per hour with specific amount added to the bill for every additional hour. In other areas of Dubai where the service is offered, such as cafés and restaurants, valet service prices can vary from Dh20-Dh30 per hour.
Dusit Thani, a hotel located on Shaikh Zayed Road, said that their main lobby valet service is offered for Dh30, but the back entrance valet is offered for free. The main lobby entrance valet service is offered by an outsourced company, known as Secure Parking Co, while the back entrance is managed by hotel staff.
Danelle Ruth Palang, Director of Marketing and Communications of the hotel, said that there are designated parking spaces which help provide a fast and efficient valet service. Additionally, the hotel has placed the designated area that can be reached through a hazard-free route.
“Nevertheless, should accidents occur despite all the preventive measures, the hotel’s security department with its well-trained team is in charge of handling incidents such as this. The police will also be immediately called by the security department. The valet service company also has their own insurance provider should the concerned driver be from their side.”
Palang also added that many of the complaints the hotel receives are regarding the amount charged by the valet service from the main lobby entrance. Though these complaints exist, the hotel concierge team is trained to assist guests at all times.
“Dusit Thani Dubai’s Concierge Team always assists on any guest-related concerns and queries, whether it was caused by the third party valet service provider or the hotel’s very own staff,” she said.
In most cases, places that offer valet services outsource the personnel.
But there’s another side to the story of valet parking that needs to be told. Just as there are issues with customers’ cars being mishandled, there are concerns of the valet companies too. Gulf News contacted two employees from Oscar Services, a company that offers valet services, to get a glimpse behind the scenes.
Bilit Kumar, a Sri Lankan who has been in the valet business for around eight years, said that although he has plenty of experience when it comes to handling guests’ cars, it still remains a huge responsibility. Utmost priority is given to the task of handling customers’ cars. Courtesy, caution and attention to detail are part of their daily responsibility. Every day in the morning, all valets are briefed on their daily duties. These include details such as the proper way to direct guests in a hotel if the venue is holding events, for example.
“When a guest arrives, I always greet them and wish them a good day. I try to check the car for any dents or scratches or for any valuables that have been left behind. I then inform the guest about them and drive the car slowly down to the basement. If there are any other valuables left in the car, I write it down on the ticket just in case,” said Kumar.
Kumar said the job can be challenging, mainly because they receive a lot of expensive cars “but it just requires being extra careful and driving not above 5km/h – 10km/h”.
Shahnawaz Khan, from Pakistan, who also works as a valet for Oscar Services, said that as soon as he receives the car from a guest, he looks after it like it’s his own car. “It’s always a very big responsibility for us because we can get the blame for anything. This is why we make sure we drive slowly and don’t park the car in a narrow place. Even when we drive the car back, it’s important for us to be extra cautious,” he said.
Maria Botros is a trainee at Gulf News
