“Can you do something special for me?” that’s something that hotel concierges here all the time. Yes, they’re the people that you turn to whenever you need anything – whether it’s asking for help getting to a destination, booking a tour or simply figuring out the exchange rate.

But sometimes, guests want to treat their significant others in a really memorable way. Sure, Valentine’s Day may be over, but for these modern day Cupids, it seems like every day is Valentine’s Day.

At The Fullerton and Fullerton Bay Hotels here, for example, there are at least four to five special events organised for couples every week. And the concierge team, led by Roszel Marop, was kept extra busy this Valentine’s Day: They had to sort out guest requests to fly bouquets back to their loved ones; and a total of 15 rooms had to be decked out in style.

It’s not just here. The head butler of Bangkok’s The Siam, Khun Mac, told us not a day goes by without some romantic occasion taking place somewhere in the hotel (which, incidentally, was was fully booked over Valentine’s Day weekend). At the W Maldives, its most popular request is an underwater wedding — and the entire resort is off-limits to children under 12 years.

These concierges have to arrange all this and more – and do it all with a smile. Here, three of them tell us about the extraordinary things they’ve done.

> ROSZEL MAROP (director of guest services/concierge, The Fullerton Hotel And The Fullerton Bay Hotel)

Roszel Marop oversees a team of nine to ensure every guest request is met. He is also the honorary secretary of Les Clefs d’Or Singapore (The Society Of Golden Keys), an organisation of elite concierges dedicated to providing “guaranteed, quality service”.

Q: Between The Fullerton and Fullerton Bay Hotels, which of the two properties is more romantic?

A: Personally, I prefer The Fullerton. I’m an old-fashioned guy and I like history. There are a lot of historical memories associated with it — and it was gazetted as a National Monument last December. I see couples taking wedding photos here and over at nearby Cavenagh Bridge almost every day. What’s also nice is we get old couples and tourists coming by and telling us how they used to have their dates here. Meanwhile, The Fullerton Bay Hotel is more popular with younger couples in their 20s and 30s. It’scontemporary and luxurious, with a great view of the Marina Bay precinct.

Q: So where are the most romantic spots in these two hotels?

A: We actually have seven buildings under The Fullerton Heritage, including Customs House and Waterboat House. I like Lighthouse at The Fullerton and Lantern at Fullerton Bay. I’m also very excited about our newly launched Lookout, at Customs House, with its 360 degree views of Marina Bay. It was where the customs police used to look out for smugglers. We’ve done it up and it’s only meant for a table of two people so it’s extremely private and romantic.

Q: What are some of the most extreme or extraordinary requests you’ve gotten from couples?

A: Last year, there was a Russian guest who was planning to propose to his girlfriend and wanted something spectacular. I arranged for a limousine to send them to Seletar Airport where they went on a 45-minute helicopter ride. There was also a guest who wanted a yacht to pick him and his girlfriend up from the pier of Fullerton Bay Hotel so they could sail out to see the sunset. However, Marina Barrage would have to open up its dam for the yacht to enter, and we would have get approval from the Urban Renewal Authority and the Public Utilities Board. That would have taken at least two to three weeks, so it was impossible. In the end, I arranged a dinner for them at Marina Bay Sands, followed by a visit to Gardens By The Bay as it was pretty new then. They were pretty satisfied.

Q: Have you ever said no to any request?

A: As long as it’s not illegal and intrusive to others, we’ll try our best to accommodate a request. So far, we haven’t had anything too crazy.

Q: How about a situation where things have gone wrong for couples?

A: It’s usually a case of miscommunication. I remember arranging a dinner at a restaurant for a couple celebrating their anniversary. For some reason, the restaurant thought they were celebrating a birthday and presented the lady with a birthday cake. The couple returned very upset. I had to calm them down by bringing them up to The Lighthouse and giving them a bottle of champagne.

Q: What do couples need to understand when making demands of concierges?

A: Last-minute requests are hard. I’ve had requests coming in an hour or half an hour before asking for a room to be decorated with balloons. Since we didn’t have enough resources, I suggested we decorate flowers instead. If guests give us ample time to prepare, we’ll be able to deliver. Another thing is to let the professionals do their job. For example, I’ve had guests telling me exactly how they wanted certain things at a certain place when decorating a room, where this coloured balloon should go, and so on. But we’ve been doing this for a long time so we know what works.

Q: What’s the most romantic thing which has happened to you personally?

A: Going to Europe with my partner. Rome was extremely beautiful. I’m not a romantic person by nature, but I can arrange for romance for others. For my partner, nothing wow just yet.

> KHUN MAC (head butler, The Siam, Bangkok)

At the three-year-old The Siam, the work philosophy of its team of butlers is “we make things happen”. Its head butler, Khun Mac, said 95 per cent of those who check into the the 39-room boutique hotel are couples and a quarter of these are on their honeymoon or celebrating their anniversary. In fact, he’s lost count of the number of special experiences he’s put together for them.

Q: What makes The Siam so attractive to couples?

A: Its small and intimate nature, and its location along the Chao Phraya River. There are only 39 rooms over three acres, which makes it a relaxing and peaceful setting; it never feels crowded. The Siam also boasts the only private pool villas in Bangkok, which are very popular among couples.

Q: What’s the most common request you get at the hotel?

A: I can’t name one common request. All of our guests are so different and they each look for unique experiences. What’s very popular, though, is the private sunset cruise onboard our antique golden teak rice barge called The Golden Naga. It offers guests the most stunning views of the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and the Bangkok skyline. We sometimes don’t have enough space to accommodate all guests who want to go for it.

Q: How about the most out-of-this-world request you’ve had so far?

A: We once had a couple from the USA who were on the verge of breaking up, and came to Thailand to fix the relationship. They both wanted Sak Yant tattoos — the traditional temple tattoos — and requested for a famous monk named Arjan Boo to do the artwork. We tracked him down and, in the end, they loved the experience and said it was a powerful bonding experience for them. From then on, we noticed a growing interest in Sak Yant tattoos and we decided to invite Arjan Boo to take up residence at the hotel. We built him a tradition Sak Yant tattoo studio at our Opium Spa. Since its opening, we have tattooed a dozen couples. And some have said the tattoos have been given them good luck in their relationships.

Q: What’s the most satisfying thing about your job?

A: Knowing that I have a positive effect on people’s lives. In my two-and-a half years at The Siam, I have personally arranged 15 proposals and I am happy to say I have a track record of 100 per cent success! I like knowing I made the time special for honeymooners and couples celebrating their anniversaries, and that they will always remember their stay with us.

Q: What’s the most underrated romantic spot in Bangkok?

A: The night flower market. What’s more romantic than being surrounded by an entire neighbourhood full of flowers? I like to go to the waterfront or anywhere in Bangkok’s historic district. The buildings are beautiful.

Q: What’s the most romantic thing which has happened to you personally?

A: I don’t have time for romance. But as a butler, I get to create romance for my guests.

> CHUNKY MATTHEW (W Insider, W Retreat & Spa Maldives)

Don’t call Chunky Matthew a concierge. As a W Insider, Matthew is a “secret brand ambassador” who knows the ins and outs of the atoll nation and has arranged just about everything for guests. These “Whatever/Whenever moments” — as what W calls them — have included mobilising a team to locate a satellite receiver and running around with said dish to catch the signals for a guest who wanted to watch a football match at their private island.

Q: Maldives has many stunning and sexy properties for couples. What makes the W stand out from the rest?

A: At the W Maldives, we have our very own house reef, which is truly breathtaking, and I can vouch that it is one of the best ones around. For people who want some peace and quiet, we have a policy of not allowing guests younger than 12 years old on the premises. There is also an air of exclusivity here, from the overwater bungalows to residences built in the middle of the lagoon to villas hidden amongst the foliage just metres from your own private stretch of beach.

Q: What are some of the most unique or over-the-top romantic requests you’ve gotten from guests?

A: Once, a guest wanted to propose to his girlfriend on a sea plane flying over Gaathafushi, our private island. You can imagine what we had to do down at the beach to get the message across, with all those fresh flowers laid out. I think the most out of this world request by far would have been a guest who wanted to skinny-dip in our public infinity pool. However, we could not block it for that particular activity.

Q: Was there an occasion where things did not go as planned?

A: We had a guest proposing to his girlfriend and he had ordered 1,000 red roses from Male, the capital city. The roses were scheduled to arrive by sea plane but it did not arrive at the scheduled time. With a few hours left before the proposal, we sent our speed boat to Male, which is a two-hour boat ride away, and we managed to get the flowers on the island on time. I nearly had a heart attack with that situation! The proposal was a huge success and the girl said “yes”!

Q: What’s the best thing about working on a remote island?

A: It is so peaceful. I breathe the freshest air every day and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. What’s also gratifying is seeing the smiles and tears of my guests when they leave the paradise. Most of my guests don’t want to leave. A lot them keep in touch with me via Instagram — and I love making them jealous and that makes them come back.

Q: Lastly, what’s the most romantic thing that happened to you personally?

A: I am still waiting for that day. I hope it happens soon!