Look for a valet vendor that staffs the job with its own trained employees, carries the right insurance and can prove it, runs a written key and damage procedure, and tells you plainly what it will cost. The rest, from uniforms to reporting, follows from those basics.
Who will actually be working?
The most important question is who shows up. Some vendors sell the job and fill it with subcontracted workers who have never met the shift lead. Ask whether the attendants are the vendor's own employees, how they are hired and trained, and how their driving records are checked. Ask who the on-site lead will be and whether the same people will work your site week after week. VIP staffs every assignment with its own employees, not subcontractors, and requires every driver to be 21 or older, with a clean driving record and the ability to drive a manual transmission.
Can the vendor prove its insurance?
A vendor should send a certificate of insurance, issued by its agent, that names you or your property. Look for garagekeepers liability for guest cars, general liability and workers' compensation, and check that the policy dates are current. If you manage a building or venue, give the vendor your insurance requirements up front. Our post on valet insurance explains each type of coverage.
How are keys and cars protected?
Ask the vendor to walk you through its process from drop-off to pickup:
- How claim tickets are issued and matched to keys.
- Where keys are kept and who can reach them.
- Whether attendants note existing damage before parking a car.
- How cars are parked, and whether attendants ever leave keys in cars.
- What happens when a guest loses a ticket.
A vendor with a clear answer to each has thought about security. You can read more in Is valet parking safe?
What happens when something goes wrong?
Even good valet teams occasionally deal with a scrape, a dead battery or a guest who believes their car was damaged. Ask how incidents are reported, who contacts the guest, how claims are handled, and how quickly you will hear about it. A vendor that answers this calmly and specifically is one you can trust with your guests.
Will the vendor plan for your site?
Every site is different. A good vendor visits, maps where guests will be dropped off and where cars will go, and builds a staffing plan around your busiest moments. For an ongoing account, such as a hotel, hospital or office building, that plan should become written site procedures that every attendant follows, so service is the same on a Tuesday morning as on a busy Friday night.
Is the pricing clear?
Ask for pricing in writing. For an event, that means staff count, hours including setup, any minimum and any extras. For an ongoing account, it means the staffing schedule, how overtime and holidays are handled, and how changes are made. Compare vendors on the same staffing, because a lower price usually reflects fewer people at the door.
Can the vendor grow with you?
If you have more than one property, or events in several towns, it helps to work with one vendor that can cover them. VIP works across Denver, Colorado Springs, Northern Colorado, Vail, Aspen, Beaver Creek and Breckenridge, and provides more than valet: hotel bell and hospitality staff, front desk and concierge, and apartment concierge. See all services and corporate partnerships.
How do you start?
For a one-time event, use the event quote form or read about event valet. For an ongoing account, start with our Denver valet company page or call (303) 502-2340.
Frequently asked questions
Not automatically, but compare quotes on the same staff count and hours. A low price often means fewer attendants or untrained staff, which guests notice at pickup.
Yes. For an event, a written estimate and agreement. For an ongoing account, a contract that covers staffing, procedures, insurance and how either side can make changes.
Yes. See corporate partnerships for hotels, hospitals, office buildings and other recurring work.