Maria Jose March Kessler
Maria José March Kessler’s imagination has taken her from Spain to England and hundreds of places in between. To residents and their guests, Maria José is a treasure trove of helpful information, imaginative entertainment ideas and community background. Born and raised in Valencia, Spain, Maria José has the distinction of serving as the very first concierge to The Private Residences at The Chase Park Plaza.
How does your concierge job differ from serving hotel guests?
Honestly, most of my job is the same. People need help finding transportation, or they want to make reservations at restaurants. I make arrangements for dry cleaning, dog walking or simply give suggestions on shopping. Now that I’m working with residents, I’m really looking forward to giving more personalized service… I’m already getting to know people and their interests.
You have such a fascinating background, can you tell us a bit about your path to the Chase? I’ve been with the Chase four years, so we’re going back a bit. Nearly 30 years ago, my husband and I lived in the Central West End… and we’ve gone back and forth between here and Spain. I went to college in Madrid and worked there for an insurance company. I later moved to London to study, where I met my husband Ron, who was stationed with the American Embassy. We moved to the United States in the late 1970s. My two sons were born here. We moved back to Spain in 1989 and opened a private academy for teaching English to businesses and schools. When I came back to the Central West End after nearly 15 years in Spain, it was so nice to come back to this area. I felt like we were coming home!
What do you like about the neighborhood?
I love the Central West End, and anyone who knows me knows that. To me, it’s very European. The little cafes, the people on the street, Forest Park, the architecture… when I have company from Europe, I always show them around and point out the similarities.
What is your perfect travel destination?
Europe in general… I love its landscape, history and architecture. I really enjoy England, France and Switzerland. My two sons and the rest of my family still live in Spain, so of course I like to visit them!
What are some of your hidden talents that have benefitted guests or residents? My grandmother had a small boutique in Valencia. I learned to sew a bit out of necessity when I wanted to sew my own clothes. I guess you could say I can do a few stitches in a pinch! I’ve also tied a bowtie for a groom at the last minute. I’m also really alert to the needs of people who are new to St. Louis, like I was.
So what’s the most unusual thing you’ve been asked to help with?
We had a lady come to me just before a wedding—I think it was the mother of the bride—and she needed me to fix her dress. There was a large stain at the waistline of the dress, so we had to quickly sew it so that it wouldn’t show!
What do you consider to be a “must do” in St. Louis when guests and residents ask for ideas?
Forest Park. You could spend a whole week there with your family and see something new each day. And where else can you visit museums and listen to concerts for free? The museums in Forest Park are amazing… I could go to them every week.
What else do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I love bicycling, helping people with Spanish, reading, listening to music and cooking. Paella is one of my favorite dishes. I haven’t made it for anyone at The Chase, but I’ve served it to guests in my own home.
