Graduated from The International Butler Academy – The Netherlands, José Robles has been regarded for decades as one of the world’s foremost experts in private service, standing among the very few professionals whose career spans such an extraordinarily rich, diverse, and high-profile array of experiences.
José Robles’ CV reflects a truly unique and unmatched trajectory: he is one of the very few professionals in the world to have served both royal families and presidential households, and also ultra-high-net-worth clients, while also completing three of the most prestigious butler training programs during his career, including The International Butler Academy – Netherlands and the Ivor Spencer School of Professional Butlers.
This unparalleled combination of hands-on experience, elite education, and exposure to the highest levels of protocol and service has established him as a world-leading authority in private service. His expertise is sought after by royal households, heads of state, and elite families worldwide for consulting, bespoke training programs, and the development of service departments that operate at the pinnacle of global luxury standards.
José Robles is, without question, the worldwide reference point for excellence in the sector of private and luxury service.
As a private butler at the Elysée Palace for French President François Mitterrand from 1989 to 1990, he served presidents and royalty from around the world.
During this time, he supported numerous official state banquets, particularly during the European summit held in Paris in 1990,and provided comprehensive service at the Residence Marigny, a private palace reserved for visiting heads of state.
His responsibilities included overseeing accommodation, logistics, organizational planning, and high-level butler service, ensuring a seamless and exceptional experience for distinguished Head of States during their official visits to France.
He was also actively involved in the festivities for the Bicentennial of the French Revolution in Paris in 1989, an event attended by more than 30 heads of state and government leaders from around the world.
The celebrations included the 15th G7 Summit, held from July 14 to 16, 1989, at the Grande Arche in La Défense, which saw the participation of the leaders of the world’s major industrialized nations.
During this period, he also served at the British Embassy in Paris, participating in high-level official dinners, diplomatic receptions, and prestigious state events, where he was able to study up close the strictest protocols, methodologies, and standards of British excellence – principles that continue to define his approach to elite private service today.
He had the honour to serve and support the organization of the official state visits of:
After a brief period as Household Manager at the French Embassy in Switzerland – where he directed operations in a picturesque château, the ambassador’s residence – the ambassador himself requested to follow him to Rome after his appointment there.
Subsequently, he served for five years as Palace Manager at the French Embassy in Italy, considered the most prestigious French embassy globally and arguably one of the most beautiful embassies in the world, regardless of the country.
This 16th-century, 50,000-square-meter Renaissance palace houses Michelangelo’s paintings on its ceilings.
He managed a team of 25 staff members, directed over 100 official lunches and dinners, receptions with up to 3,500 guests, supported the official visit of the French President during the Rome NATO summit in 1991, and oversaw more than 15 visits from French prime ministers and ministers.
During his tenure at the French Foreign Office, he attended the prestigious State Protocol School led by Mr. André Gadaud, Chief of State Protocol.
In 1992, José Robles further honed his elite skills at the Ivor Spencer School for Professional Butlers, under the direct mentorship of late Sir Ivor Spencer, MBE, the globally renowned Master of Ceremonies for Buckingham Palace.
Sir Ivor Spencer personally orchestrated over 1,000 royal events, setting the international benchmark for ceremonial protocol and professional butler training worldwide.
As the founder of the very first global butler school and the figure who revitalized the role of the butler in the early 1980s, Sir Ivor Spencer is a true legend in private service education.
In recognition of his unparalleled contributions, His Royal Highness, now King Charles III, awarded Sir Ivor Spencer the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) at Buckingham Palace in 2002.
José Robles is the only professional in the world currently active in butler training to have been personally trained by Sir Ivor Spencer, a distinction that cements his position at the absolute pinnacle of private service expertise and positions him as a true global authority in the education and development of elite butlers.
José Robles also completed the Master of Ceremonies program personally led by Sir Ivor Spencer, gaining in-depth mastery of royal ceremonial protocol, Royal high-level event management, and a advanced professional knowledge of state and formal occasions
In 2008, he founded the IHMA – International Hospitality Management Academy, now the most recognized training centre in Italy for luxury hospitality management.
Over the years, IHMA has received more than 30 prestigious endorsements from the leading professional associations in the hotel industry.
Through IHMA, José Robles he has trained over 3,500 students, who are now working in more than 40 countries, including China, the USA, Africa, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East, across more than 80 hotel chains.
Many of his students have already reached management positions, including General Manager roles in prestigious five-star luxury properties.
Under his leadership, IHMA has achieved a placement rate of up to 93%, reflecting the effectiveness of its training programs and career guidance.
This experience highlights his expertise in leading educational institutions and guiding the career development of his students.
Since 2014, alongside IHMA, he has conducted butler training seminars and consultancy activities, focusing on the refined True Art of Service and luxury customer experience, both in Italy and abroad, for the private service sector.
He has trained numerous butlers who are now working in presidencies and embassies, and has also trained the household staff of two of the most prominent industrial families in Italy, elevating the service standards to meet the highest expectations of UHNW clients.
During this period, he also trained butlers for the hospitality industry, completing over 20 training missions focused on butler service training and the setup of five-star hotel facilities.
His expertise has been sought by prestigious brands such as RITZ CARLTON, MANDARIN ORIENTAL, DORCHESTER COLLECTION, and ST. REGIS HOTELS & RESORTS.
José Robles has over 12 years of direct experience in butler training, both for private service and the luxury hospitality sector.
In 1994, Jose Robles had the extreme honour to be invited by Sir Ivor Spencer, Royal Toastmaster and Master of Ceremonies for the British Monarchy, to assist in the preparation and full service of the royal state banquet held at Buckingham Palace.
This invitation was a gracious gesture of gratitude for having provided the unique opportunity to visit privately the Palais de l’Élysée in Paris.
During this prestigious event, Jose Robles had the unique opportunity to observe and participate in every detail of the banquet’s flawless execution.
This experience gave Jose Robles an in-depth understanding of the intricate protocols and highest standards required in royal service.
It was truly a defining moment in his professional career, allowing him to master the complex mechanisms behind such an event.
Thanks to this extraordinary professional experience, Jose Robles now possesses the confidence and skills necessary to perform State Banquets at the very highest level of service excellence.
With over 30 years of focused study and rigorous research into the traditions, service standards, and ceremonial protocols of the British Royal Household, José Roblès has developed a uniquely deep and structured understanding of royal etiquette.
His knowledge is not limited to theory.
It is reinforced by extensive analysis of professional sources, specialist literature, and direct exchanges with professionals who have served within the Royal Household, including individuals with experience at Buckingham Palace.
This rare combination of scholarship and real-world insight allows him today to translate royal standards into practical, modern systems, implementing them within the private residences of his clients and teaching Butler course participants how to apply the British Royal protocol & service operational standards with utmost professionalism.
In 1994, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication & Public Relations.
From 1996 to 1998, he earned an MBA in International Hospitality Management from one of the world’s five most prestigious institutions, graduating first in his class.
The degree holds official Level 1 recognition within the academic system, a distinction that qualifies him to pursue doctoral-level studies as his next academic step.
From 2007 to 2008, he obtained the official national certification for Professional Hotel General Manager.
In 2023, he attended a Personal Assistant course and a Butler course delivered by the School of Butler and Hospitality.
From 2017 to 2023, José Robles served as Chief of Staff to two of the wealthiest families globally, one ranked within the Top 10 and the other within the Top 20 worldwide.
He acted as an interface between the Principal and the Family Office translating strategic direction into operational execution across both lifestyle and business environments.
His mandate covered the full strategic and operational governance of complex private and semi corporate structures across multiple jurisdictions.
He was responsible for overseeing several international residences located in different countries, ensuring operational continuity, staff alignment, cost control and security compliance, He directed and coordinated large multidisciplinary teams including executive assistants, estate managers, security directors, household leadership, aviation crews, yacht personnel, equestrian staff, and technical specialists.
He oversaw private island operations, including resident staff structure, supply chain logistics, infrastructure supervision, perimeter security alignment, and seasonal planning.
He ensured the island functioned as a self-sufficient and secure environment.
He managed oversight of high-value art collections, acting as a coordination point between galleries, auction houses, insurers, transport security providers, and legal advisors, ensuring proper handling, confidentiality, and logistical precision.
The true value of these experiences lies in the ability to transform vision into structure and complexity into clarity – consistently operating with absolute reliability at the highest level.
José Robles is a proud graduate of The International Butler Academy (TIBA) in the Netherlands, in 2024, widely recognized as one of the most prestigious institutions for butler and private service education globally.
José Robles had the extraordinary privilege of learning directly from Robert Wennekes, founder of TIBA, during the final session personally led by him before his definitive retirement.
This represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, an experience that cannot be replicated, allowing José to absorb the very last insights, methodologies, and secrets of a true pioneer in butler education.
At TIBA, José Roblès refined and integrated his already very extensive professional experience.
Building on this exceptional training, José Roblès not only fully transferred – but significantly further elevated – this expertise within The International Butler Institute, leveraging over 35 years of hands-on experience serving royalty, heads of state, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
Thanks to this approach, he created what is now recognized as the most comprehensive, advanced, and unparalleled standard in private service education worldwide.
This unique integration of elite education and decades of practical mastery ensures that graduates of his programs gain a level of insight and skill far beyond conventional butler training, merging rigorous academic excellence with hands-on experience at the highest echelons of global service.
José Roblès served as Director of the Royal Palace for the royal family in the United Arab Emirates, overseeing a global household of over 300 staff members, multiple residences across London, Paris, the United States, and beyond, as well as private super-yachts, private jets, and commercial 747 aircraft.
As the direct point of reference for the King, he flawlessly orchestrated state banquets, high-profile diplomatic visits, and official receptions, ensuring a standard of service and operational excellence that is truly unparalleled on a global scale, including welcoming and coordinating the stays of numerous heads of state and VIPs.
His responsibilities extended to multi-million-dollar acquisitions, luxury procurement, and the seamless management of opulent residences worldwide.
José Robles role demanded extraordinary mastery of protocol, luxury service, and strategic leadership, combined with absolute discretion and operational precision – qualities that position him among the world’s elite experts in private household management and ultra-luxury service.
José Robles served as Vice President of Global Customer Experience at Siretti Residences, the world’s most prestigious private villas luxury rental company, renowned for commanding the highest fees in the industry.
In this role, he was responsible for designing and managing the entire client experience for an exclusive clientele of billionaires, celebrities, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals across all residences worldwide.
He implemented and oversaw 7-star service standards, ensuring every aspect of a guest’s stay – from private jets and yachts to multi-million-dollar estates – was executed with absolute precision, discretion, and luxury.
Under his leadership, the company delivered an unmatched global standard of excellence, combining ultra-personalized service, obsessive attention to detail, and seamless operational management across every property, leaving an indelible mark on the world of private ultra-luxury hospitality.
José Roblès collaborates on an on-going basis with several UHNW Family Offices, delivering advanced executive training programs for Chiefs of Staff and senior household managers, elevating their expertise in luxury household governance, operational excellence, and strategic service leadership.
In June 2024 and September 2024, he conducted two intensive training programs for the staff of the Presidency of the Republic of a West African and a South American nation.
He was entrusted with organizing the entire service flow of the presidential residences, implementing advanced methodologies, operational procedures, and bespoke service design tailored to the unique demands of high-level governmental environments.
His comprehensive work included the creation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), personalized service protocols and the establishment of a fully operational butler department – ensuring flawless execution during official state visits, diplomatic receptions, and high-profile institutional events.
Between January and February 2025, José executed a series of high-level training programs for a Royal Palace in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, located within a private royal farm estate dedicated to leisure, retreat, and weekend stays of the Royal Family.
During this assignment, he trained over 80 staff members, implementing structured service systems, elite hospitality standards, and refined ceremonial protocols tailored to royal expectations and privacy requirements.
José Robles has founded the Italian School of Professional Butlers, which has rapidly become Italy’s absolute reference point for the highest-level butler education and premium recruitment. Designed to meet the expectations of UHNW families, and iconic luxury environments, the School delivers an uncompromising standard of training focused on 7-star service, flawless execution, discretion, and operational mastery.
Today, it is widely recognized as the leading platform in Italy for elite butler training and top-tier staffing, shaping a new generation of professionals capable of operating at the very highest international level of private service in Italy.
Its graduates serve private billionaires, luxury hotels, and globally renowned brands, setting the benchmark for professionalism, sophistication, and mastery in the world of luxury service.
José Robles also founded the Italian School of Etiquette, Protocol and Bon Ton, created to preserve, elevate, and transmit the highest standards of international etiquette, formal protocol, and refined social conduct.
Designed for professionals, institutions, and high-profile individuals operating in elite environments, the School delivers a rigorous and sophisticated approach to diplomatic protocol, royal etiquette, executive presence, and high-level social interaction, setting a new benchmark for excellence in Italy.
Its clients include family offices, investment banks, consulting firms, multinational corporations, embassies, international institutions, and broadcasting organizations, highlighting the authority and uniqueness of the training provided.
José Robles also founded the Italian School of Etiquette, Protocol and Bon Ton, created to preserve, elevate, and transmit the highest standards of international etiquette, formal protocol, and refined social conduct.
Designed for professionals, institutions, and high-profile individuals operating in elite environments, the School delivers a rigorous and sophisticated approach to diplomatic protocol, royal etiquette, executive presence, and high-level social interaction, setting a new benchmark for excellence in Italy.
Its clients include family offices, investment banks, consulting firms, multinational corporations, embassies, international institutions, and broadcasting organizations, highlighting the authority and uniqueness of the training provided.
José Robles is the founder of The International Butler Institute, capitalizing on 35 years of unmatched expertise in private service.
His vision for TIBI is far from incremental.
It is truly disruptive.
Not merely an improvement of existing standards, much rather the creation of a new global era in elite private service.
Building on the foundations, as well as the weaknesses and limitations of the many butler training programs he attended, the Institute fuses the finest academic excellence with the mastery gained in royal and presidential palaces worldwide.
José Robles’s vision is to create the most elite, comprehensive, and inimitable butler training program in the world.
Graduates of the Institute will emerge with a level of expertise that far surpasses any Butler School globally.
Beyond all precedent and even more remarkably, the Institute will offer, for the first time in the world, truly accessible tuition fees, while profoundly focusing on real career placement – by far, the most major failing in all other butler schools.
The International Butler Institute sets a standard never seen before in the world of private service education.
José Robles also founded the Royal Butler Recruiting Agency, the only recruitment company exclusively dedicated to the search and selection of Butlers and Head Butlers, and no other professional profiles.
The Agency operates at the very top of the global market, focusing solely on elite, high-responsibility positions with compensation packages starting above $100,000 per year, designed only for the most demanding environments in private service.
The Royal Butler Recruiting Agency works exclusively with royal households, UHNW families, Tech-billionaires, Hollywood stars, sports icons, presidencies, heads of state, and elite global principals, delivering a selection process defined by world-class service standards.
José Robles is also highly sought after by companies around the world that aim to establish butler schools, design elite training programs, and develop bespoke service curricula.
He has collaborated on high-profile projects for investment funds in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, bringing his unparalleled expertise to create service excellence at the highest level.
In addition, José Robles has played a pioneering role in the foundation of two of the world’s leading butler academies: the Royal Butler Institute of America, serving ultra-high-net-worth families and billionaires across the United States, and the Royal Emirates Academy of Professional Butlers, specialized in training staff for royal households across the Middle East.
Through these initiatives, he has shaped the global standard of elite private service education, combining decades of direct experience with visionary program design, ensuring that the next generation of butlers delivers flawless, discreet, and world-class service wherever they operate.
José Roblès is engaged worldwide as a consultant and bespoke trainer, offering his unparalleled expertise to royal households, ultra-high-net-worth families, and iconic luxury hospitality properties striving to deliver the pinnacle of service excellence.
He designs and implements bespoke service protocols, staff training programs, and operational strategies that transform every environment into a seamless, flawless, and truly exceptional experience.
His guidance is valued not only for its technical precision and mastery of etiquette, but also for his ability to instil the highest standards of 7-star service, elevating private and luxury service to levels unmatched anywhere in the world.
In addition, he is also sought after by private aviation companies, luxury yacht charter companies, prestigious villa rental operators, high-end train services, private super-yachts, and even luxury airlines, where he consults on top-class in-flight and on-board service, bespoke guest experiences, and staff training to ensure every moment exceeds the expectations of the most discerning clientele.
José Robles is the founder of The True Art of Service, a consulting firm specialized in training and advisory services for the world’s most prestigious luxury brands, collaborating with elite colleagues of excellence such as Natalia Jaramillo, and many others.
The firm delivers bespoke consultancy, operational strategies, hyper-luxury service design and high-end training, across an unparalleled spectrum of luxury sectors, including fashion, haute couture, jewellery, retail, supercars, private aviation, luxury cruises, and fine wines, ensuring the highest standards of elegance and 7-star service.
Within this context, José Robles created a one-of-a-kind approach worldwide, called Molecular Service Design® (Registered Trademark), a methodology built to focus on the most microscopic details of service – the invisible elements that define true excellence – with the purpose of elevating multinational luxury brands to a level that is unmatched, unprecedented, and never seen before in the global luxury industry.
In 2024, he founded The International School of Hotel Butlers, an institution dedicated exclusively to training butlers for the luxury hospitality industry, focusing solely on 7-star service standards.
The School prepares its graduates to operate at the pinnacle of global hospitality, equipping them with the skills and operational mastery required to consistently exceed the expectations of the most discerning clients worldwide.
Within this context, José Robles developed what is widely considered the most advanced training path for hotel butlers: The Grand Hotel Butler Program.
However, his most visionary creation is The Grand 7-Star Customer Experience Program – the only program in the world designed to elevate every single department of a luxury hotel, ensuring that the guest experience is not excellent in isolated moments, but seamless, orchestrated, and extraordinary at every customer touch-point. Through these initiatives, José Robles continues to set new benchmarks in elite service, blending practical mastery with visionary education, and shaping a new generation of professionals capable of delivering hospitality at a level that is never seen before.
José Robles is a distinguished member of the Guild of International Professional Butlers, which brings together the world’s most prominent and accomplished butlers.
He is also part of the Butler Trainer Alliance, an exclusive network of leading butler trainers specializing in private service excellence. Furthermore, he is a certified trainer with the Italian Association of Professional Trainers and holds the professional license for Hotel General Managers, demonstrating his recognized authority and expertise in high-level hospitality and private service management.
He is also a member of the World Association for Hospitality and Tourism Education (AMFORHT), the only prestigious NGO in the field of tourism officially recognized by the United Nations, and served for several years as its representative for Italy.
Finally, Jose Robles also belongs to numerous influential networks in private service and elite professional circles.
He is frequently sought after on LinkedIn and invited to join these groups due to his recognized expertise and authority in the field.
He has been engaged for several years in writing a book titled Royal Service – When Excellence Is Not Enough, an unprecedented opus on mastery in luxury private service.
Drawing on decades of experience serving the world’s most powerful and demanding individuals including royalty, presidents, iconic figures, and historic families – the book offers exclusive, battle tested strategies and fiercely guarded secrets to achieve unmatched excellence in the field, at a Royal level.
This work aims to set a new, uncompromising benchmark in the world for the private service industry.
While time is short, he promises its official release by the end of 2029.
During his career, José Robles also gave service to a prestigious and diverse array of highly distinguished clients, including influential Russian and Chinese magnates, prominent figures in international business, celebrated musicians, renowned artists, and other iconic personalities.
Many of them were global icons in their respective fields, such as Bill Gates, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Neil Armstrong, Elton John, Robert de Niro, Steven Spielberg, Cristina Onassis, Isabella Rosselini, Marcel Marceau, Late King Norodom Sihanouk, Robert Duval and Karl Lagerfeld to name just a few, to whom he consistently provided exceptional service.
José Roblès is the distinguished Butler of reference at the Hassler Hotel in Rome, one of the most iconic hotels in the world. Renowned for his impeccable professionalism and discretion, he is entrusted with the meticulous organization of stays for Heads of State, Royal Families, and high-profile international guests.
His expertise transforms each stay into a seamless and memorable experience, reflecting both the grandeur of the Hassler Hotel and the elevated expectations of its elite clientele.
José Roblès has earned international recognition through his appearances on numerous television and radio programs.
In 2025, he was featured on the major Chinese reality show Fresh on Earth, sharing the screen with some of China’s most celebrated stars. Beyond reality TV, José has been invited as a guest on multiple entertainment programs, where he has showcased his expertise, charisma, and ability to engage audiences across diverse formats.
In addition to on-screen appearances, José has contributed to the development and preparation of reality shows, bringing his strategic insights and creative vision to the production process.
His presence in media is a testament to his versatility, combining public appeal with professional acumen.
Early in his career, José Roblès trained and worked in prestigious international luxury hotel chains, including The Waldorf Astoria Collection, where he completed Food & Beverage and Room Division Management training over two years, a program designed to prepare future General Managers.
This experience provided him with a comprehensive understanding of luxury operations, service excellence, and leadership in high-end hospitality.
He also gained hands-on experience in some of the world’s most celebrated restaurants:
La Tour d’Argent (Paris, France)
At this 3 stars Michelin restaurant, José mastered the art of traditional French haute cuisine, learning the precision, timing, and ceremonial service that make this historic restaurant legendary.
He performed service in full formal attire, including the long-tail coat and plastron with a stiff shirt, emulating the classic style of the 1930s. This experience allowed him to perfect formal table presentation, precise timing, and the etiquette of high-society dining, combining technical skill with elegance and discretion.
Maxim’s de Paris (Paris, France)
José refined his luxury service and guest relations skills, immersing himself in the elegance and theatrical flair of one of the most iconic Belle Époque restaurants.
He gained hands-on experience performing all food and beverage preparations in front of the guests, mastering the art of Russian live service.
Ledoyen (Paris, France)
At this Michelin-starred establishment located in the heart of the Champs-Élysées, José honed culinary presentation, attention to detail, and the art of luxury service.
He learned not only to serve flawlessly but also to guide guests through the gastronomic experience, highlighting each dish’s story, provenance, and value – skills essential for creating memorable, high-end dining experiences and subtly selling the restaurant’s prestige and unique offerings.
Lucas-Carton (Paris, France)
One of the top 10 restaurants in the world at the time, internationally acclaimed and awarded 3 Michelin stars.
The restaurant was renowned for reinterpreting classical recipes from antiquity into nouvelle cuisine, blending tradition with innovation. Here, José perfected elite service, coordination between front-of-house and kitchen, plate presentation, and the ability to enhance every dining experience for the most discerning guests.
Throughout his career, José Robles has consistently invested in his professional development to remain at the top of his field, including: He attended the École Hôtelière de Paris – Jean Drouant from 1986 to 1988.
At the time, the school was widely regarded as one of the finest hospitality institutions in France and among the top five in the world. In 1989, he entered France’s most prestigious national competition for top table-service professionals, the renowned Georges Baptiste Cup, ranking 4th nationwide as one of the country’s finest Maîtres d’Hôtel. The competition celebrates the highest level of classical service artistry, including tableside carving, flambé techniques, découpage, and refined guest interaction, performed live in front of the client with absolute precision, elegance, and mastery.
In 1991, he graduated from the prestigious French Institute for Protocol & Etiquette, where he mastered the finest nuances of international protocol, formal etiquette, diplomatic standards, and high-level social codes required in elite hospitality and luxury environments.
In the summer of 1992, he joined the Butler Department at the legendary St. Regis Hotel in New York for a two-month professional placement during its grand reopening, working within an elite team of 28 butlers for an exclusive summer exposure.
The St. Regis is widely recognized as the hotel that pioneered modern Butler Service in the global hospitality industry, setting the original benchmark for personalized luxury excellence.