Meet the keepers of the keys, the concierges who turn every stay into a story

At Corinthia Grand Hotel du Boulevard Bucharest, each arrival marks the start of a story. Guiding every chapter are our concierges, Cristina Mitrea and Alexandru Pîrlea, who unlock the spirit and stories of Bucharest with their unrivalled insight.

The art of anticipation

For Cristina, being a concierge means mastering the art of intuition.
“When guests arrive tired from travel, it’s about reading subtle cues,” she says. “You offer them a seat, a glass of water, a moment to breathe. The magic happens in simplicity, presence and warmth.”

Her favourite moments are those when a guest returns with a glowing smile after an experience she helped create - like the woman who dreamt of attending a sold-out George Enescu Festival concert, only to find herself in the front row thanks to Cristina’s resourcefulness. “That kind of happiness,” she smiles, “is the reason I love what I do.”

Alexandru agrees, though his approach carries a touch of mischief. “Guests don’t just need information,” he notes. “They need someone who listens, understands and shares stories with warmth and care. Technology can’t replace that.”

Bucharest, seen from behind the Concierge Desk

Ask them to describe Bucharest, and you’ll get two sides of the same coin.

For Cristina, the city is eclectic - a mix of faded grandeur and unexpected charm. Her favourite hidden gem? Cărturești Carusel, a luminous 19th-century bookstore where even non-readers linger under the glass dome. “It’s where time slows down,” she says.

Alexandru, meanwhile, calls Bucharest captivating. He gravitates toward its nostalgic corners: the cherry-blossom-lined “pink tunnel” in Dămăroaia or the Armenian Quarter, with its architectural blend of eras and faiths.

“Many guests arrive unsure of what to expect,” he admits. “Some worry about safety or stick to the tourist trail. I love changing their perspective, sending them to local spots I love myself, where Bucharest feels honest and alive.”

Heritage, reimagined

For both concierges, the hotel’s past is a living presence.

“If the walls of Corinthia Bucharest could talk,” Cristina reflects, “they would whisper stories from another era - like the celebration of Queen Victoria’s birthday in 1884, held in what is now Boulevard 73.”

Her joy lies in weaving those tales into the present. “It’s about offering value through knowledge, without overwhelming. You share the story behind a chandelier, a staircase, a ballroom and suddenly, the guest feels part of something timeless.”

Alexandru sees that legacy mirrored in the Corinthia ethos itself. “Working in such an outstanding hotel makes me proud and drives me to keep growing,” he says. “We uplift lives not just through service, but through connection.”

The city beyond the door

When asked to design the perfect day in Bucharest, Cristina paints a portrait of contrasts: morning coffee at Origo or Van Gogh Café, a leisurely walk along Calea Victoriei and private tours to the Palace of Parliament, Primăverii Palace and Village Museum, capped with dinner at Vatra, Zexe or Kane, depending on the guest’s mood. “Bucharest rewards those who wander,” she adds.

Alexandru’s itinerary is equally bespoke: private wine tastings in the Old Town, guided visits to the Romanian Atheneum and moments of stillness at Văcărești Delta, a hidden oasis of nature inside the city.

Both agree that surprises are essential. Cristina’s go-to advice? “Get lost in the labyrinthine streets of the Old Town - no map, no phone, no hurry.” Alexandru, on the other hand, suggests “a short tour of the historic churches near the hotel - they hold the city’s spirit, quiet and unfiltered.”

The Corinthia touch

A concierge’s job, they agree, is part intuition, part orchestration and entirely about people. Cristina calls it “reading vibes, not itineraries.” Alexandru describes it as “connecting people to the city in a way only a local heart and mind can.”

Both embody what transforms a good concierge into a remarkable one: the ability to make each guest feel the city was waiting just for them.

And if Corinthia Bucharest had a soundtrack? Cristina votes for “Feel It Still” by Portugal. The Man - lively, modern, impossible not to smile to. Alexandru smiles and chooses Handel’s “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba.” Fittingly regal.

Two very different melodies, yet together, they capture the rhythm of a hotel where past and present meet with grace, curiosity and a touch of magic.

Quick fire questions

Bucharest in one word
Cristina: Eclectic
Alexandru: Captivating

Favourite time of day at the hotel
Cristina: Shift handover - a few relaxed minutes after the rush
Alexandru: Those same minutes of camaraderie before the next shift begins

Secret local spot
Cristina: Ceainăria Infinitea - a hidden teahouse in a 1930s villa garden in Cotroceni
Alexandru: The pink cherry-blossom tunnel in Dămăroaia or the Armenian Quarter for its architecture

One thing to pack for a perfect day
Cristina: A small notebook and a reliable pen
Alexandru: A map - the old-fashioned kind

When guests say “Surprise me!”
Cristina: Lose yourself in the Old Town - no map, no phone, no hurry
Alexandru: Take a short tour of the historic churches near the hotel

Their secret superpower
Cristina: Reading vibes, not itineraries
Alexandru: Connecting people to the city like a true local

If the hotel had a soundtrack…
Cristina: “Feel It Still” – Portugal. The Man
Alexandru: “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” – Handel

At Corinthia Bucharest, every encounter begins with curiosity and ends with connection, thanks to the people who hold the keys to both the city and our magical hotel.