The Soul Of Service: Meet The Black Woman Butler Redefining Luxury Hospitality
CHICAGO—Every day at 5 p.m., a hush falls over the lobby of The St. Regis Chicago. That’s when Deidre Dukes wheels her champagne cart forward and the atmosphere shifts. Guests […] The post The Soul Of Service: Meet The Black Woman Butler Redefining Luxury Hospitality appeared first on Essence.
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Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… CHICAGO—Every day at 5 p.m., a hush falls over the lobby of The St. Regis Chicago. That’s when Deidre Dukes wheels her champagne cart forward and the atmosphere shifts. Guests pause mid-conversation. Phones emerge to capture the moment.
Dukes commands attention in her navy suit, maroon vest and white gloves. At the center of it all is the hotel’s famous sabrage ceremony, part of the St. Regis evening rituals practiced at properties worldwide. This dramatic art of opening champagne with a saber dates back to the days of Napoleon Bonaparte and has been performed at St. Regis since its very first property opened in 1904.
But it’s not just the champagne that draws the crowd, marking the change from day to night. It’s Dukes herself. She’s one of a few women, and even fewer Black women, bringing her grace and authority to the art of butling—the act of providing thoughtful, anticipatory service that has, for centuries, been dominated by men.
“I treat the guest like they’re the most important person in the world,” Dukes says, her eyes bright with conviction.
At this hotel, luxury is found not only in skyline views or high thread counts but also in feeling seen and cared for. That philosophy makes The St. Regis Chicago’s butler service worth the splurge, particularly for travelers seeking milestone moments, much-needed restoration or a personal experience rather than a transactional one.
Dukes’s approach was not learned from a manual. Instead, it grew from her childhood in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, watching her parents open their home to loved ones.
“My family sparked the butler in me,” she explains. “It was their hospitality when hosting family and friends, and their attentiveness to serve everyone in the home with love.”
Those early lessons took root and later defined her view of true hospitality.
Over more than 15 years, Dukes has built her expertise in
The St. Regis Chicago balances legacy and modernity. Generous suites, a central location, and thoughtful amenities make luxury accessible. Butler service, standard with suites, reflects this ethos throughout the hotel.
When I ask Dukes why St. Regis stood out to her specifically, her answer is immediate.
“It was the rich history of the Astors that I found so wonderful that someone had a vision and foresight to have a butler at a property,” she says. While other luxury hotels may offer similar services, St. Regis has become synonymous with the practice—rooted in tradition and upheld through consistency.
That this particular property is in her hometown only deepens her connection.
“When I receive guests, I am so excited that they have chosen our property to stay,” she says. “St. Regis Chicago opened their heart to me, and they opened their doors for me, and they encouraged me to flourish in my talent and in my skill.”
That enthusiasm feels genuine. It’s the joy of someone living her dream while helping others experience theirs.
When Dukes asks if I’d like to be the guest of honor at the Sabrage ceremony, I’m thrilled—and nervous. Opening a bottle of champagne with a sword feels far outside my comfort zone.
“Don’t worry,” she says. “I’ll guide you through it.”
She explains the blade’s angle and the confidentrel="tag">chicago Hotels travel
The post The Soul Of Service: Meet The Black Woman Butler Redefining Luxury Hospitality appeared first on Essence.
